I need some Help - Little to no growth

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

Originally Posted by Parker

I need some help all, I just can't seem to get any growth out of anything. Where should I start? I've had some SPS in the tank for 8 months and you can't tell if they have grown AT ALL.

Some specs:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 5-10
Phos - Undetectable
KH - 8
CA - 650 - Need to improve
MG - Can't find my test kit, I need to buy a new one
Salt - Seachem
RODI - TDS =0
Feed frozen and flake with garlic once a day.
I have zero algae in the tank, no hair, diatoms, cyano, very little film forms on the glass.

400W DE 14k - 2ea bulbs approx 1 year old 1ea approx 2 months old. The other two will get swapped out shortly, 1 this month and the last a month or two from now. ( I have the SPS under the new bulb in the sand bed )
Lighting is approx 6" from the water surface
No Actinic at this time
Lighting Runs from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Temp - 79
Flow - 2ea Darts running two closed loops
Return - Dart
Skimmer runs 24/7 and pulls a whole bunch of crap out and is rated for well above my tank volume.
Running Carbon in a reactor.
Running Bio Pellets in a reactor.

Help me please! I don't want to buy anything more until I can get at least some growth..

Seachem gives false ALK readings due to high Borate levels, you must subtract 20% from the your ALK test kits to get the true DKH.

Now based on the above info:

If you ARE running zeovit, or if you are NOT running zeovit but, trying to maintain alkalinity values that are close to NSW (6-8 dkH), THEN you must....

SUBTRACT 20% from the reading you are getting (this is only if you are using Salifert test kits, I am not sure if the Seachem test kits incorporate borate alkalinity).

For example;

You measure a dkH value of 8 on your Salifert test kit....In reality, you are ACTUALLY testing at 6.4 dkH

or

You measure a dkH value of 10 on your Salifert test kit....In reality, you are ACTUALLY testing at 8 dkH

[Parker]

Originally Posted by OceanicCorals-Ian-

Seachem gives false ALK readings due to high Borate levels, you must subtract 20% from the your ALK test kits to get the true DKH.

Now based on the above info:

If you ARE running zeovit, or if you are NOT running zeovit but, trying to maintain alkalinity values that are close to NSW (6-8 dkH), THEN you must....

SUBTRACT 20% from the reading you are getting (this is only if you are using Salifert test kits, I am not sure if the Seachem test kits incorporate borate alkalinity).

For example;

You measure a dkH value of 8 on your Salifert test kit....In reality, you are ACTUALLY testing at 6.4 dkH

or

You measure a dkH value of 10 on your Salifert test kit....In reality, you are ACTUALLY testing at 8 dkH

Good information to have.

I'm not using Salifert or Seachem test kits, I'm using ELOS. I am using Seachem salt though. ( Not really by choice but I'd hate to waste it )

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

Originally Posted by Parker

Good information to have.

I'm not using Salifert or Seachem test kits, I'm using ELOS. I am using Seachem salt though. ( Not really by choice but I'd hate to waste it )

From what I gather ELos does not take Borate into the reading either, so your Alk readings are likely off.

I don't use Seachem for this very reason, IO is the best in my opinion if you are willing to bump the MAG a little and possibly the potassium if needed.

[Parker]

So my wife just did some testing for me in case I was flubbing up. Unless the test kit is wrong the CA is actually 650. How does it even get that high without me dosing a thing? I don't have any fresh SW mixed up as I did a water change a couple of days ago but surely it isn't that high out of the pail!

[Aquattro]

Did you recheck your salinity?

[Parker]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Did you recheck your salinity?

I did

1.026 on both my refracs

[Aquattro]

I'd get a second test kit, I'm having trouble with 650