I need some Help - Little to no growth

Parker · #1 07-28-2010, 04:42 AM

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..

Aquattro · #2 07-28-2010, 04:43 AM

Go look for a post I did a few weeks back on that exact question. Lots of good info there

The Codfather · #3 07-28-2010, 04:44 AM

Ca should be lower, around 420-430, 650 is way too high.

Aquattro · #4 07-28-2010, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Codfather

Ca should be lower, around 420-430, 650 is way too high.

Oh ya, way too high. Check salinity, and double check ca test kit. 650 should cause a lot of precipitate.

Parker · #5 07-28-2010, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Oh ya, way too high. Check salinity, and double check ca test kit. 650 should cause a lot of precipitate.

No precipitate, I'll go retest that one.

Skimmerking · #6 07-28-2010, 05:59 AM

Robb Nitrates are going to slow your growth down too.

#7 07-28-2010, 07:13 AM

get a mag test kit if it is low it will slow groth quite abit. +1 on nitrates. CA to high coral will eat it up just do not dose any ca till it comes down.

Bill

4lti7ude · #8 07-28-2010, 08:44 AM

I noticed you said 2 bulbs were over a year old?
Might be time to change them.

Parker · #9 07-28-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Go look for a post I did a few weeks back on that exact question. Lots of good info there

I read through the thread, good advice in there.

gobytron · #10 07-28-2010, 02:15 PM

without actinics, I would be running at least an 8 hour halide cycle...