Growing soft corals faster.

[jayman19]

Hello all,

I was wondering why my soft corals have slowed down in growth a lot. I have a 30 gallon tank with basically zoas/GSP/toadstool/Xenia. They were growing great for a while but have stalled. I don’t do water changes because my nitrates almost never increase (like ~5) and when I was doing water changes I was battling Dino’s because of low nutrients. I’m not sure how this is but I have a good amount of fish/2 big shrimp/many snails/crab/urchin/ and a starfish. I was wondering if my lack of water changes is contributing to the slowed growth of my corals? Is there anything I should dose?

 

[VegasReefer]

I would try some good carbon to filter out toxin's if you don't need water changes. They can be released into the water and deter coral growth.

 

[jayman19]

I would try some good carbon to filter out toxin's if you don't need water changes. They can be released into the water and deter coral growth.

I didn’t even think of that. Thank you!

 

[Ghost25]

I definitely think it's worth doing a water change if you haven't been doing them for some time. Even when my corals look fine after an extended period without a water change, when I finally get around to doing one, they all seem to perk up.

 

[Tamberav]

perhaps missing out on some trace elements the water changes were providing.

 

[Miami Reef]

What is the algae growth like in your tank? Have you noticed it slowed down?

 

[jayman19]

What is the algae growth like in your tank? Have you noticed it slowed down?

I don’t really get any algae growth. Aside from scraping the front and side glass each day from that hazy layer. My rock work has turned slightly green and the back wall has some tougher algae growth but it isn’t GHA or anything significant. My tank has been running since February and haven’t done a water change since probably early may

 

[jayman19]

perhaps missing out on some trace elements the water changes were providing.

Is there a suggestion on like what to dose from those lacking elements?

 

[Tamberav]

Is there a suggestion on like what to dose from those lacking elements?

I think you would want to do regular ICP tests and replace. Like how moonshiners do it. At least that would be ideal. Unless your tank is very large and water changes are inconvenient, it's probably easier to do water changes and dose PO4/NO3 instead that can be tested at home easily.

 

[jayman19]

I think you would want to do regular ICP tests and replace. Like how moonshiners do it. At least that would be ideal. Unless your tank is very large and water changes are inconvenient, it's probably easier to do water changes and dose PO4/NO3 instead that can be tested at home easily.

Yeah I might just end up doing that. I’m just so scared of those Dino’s coming back

 

[Miami Reef]

I think you would want to do regular ICP tests and replace. Like how moonshiners do it. At least that would be ideal. Unless your tank is very large and water changes are inconvenient, it's probably easier to do water changes and dose PO4/NO3 instead that can be tested at home easily.

I agree with the part about doing water changes and just dosing the nutrients he needs. Much cheaper than getting ICP and dosing different types of metals.

His tank is only 30 gallons.