GSP not growing

[wrgoff]

I am new to keeping corals. So I thought I would start with GSP. I have had a fish tank for the past 30 + years, mostly fresh water (ie African Cichlids). I have had my salt water tank up and fish in it for about 4 years. It is a 240 Gallon Tsunami tank. I recently (almost a year ago) added a Synergy Reef CL-60 sump. I am having trouble getting my GSP to grow. My tank is somewhat dirty. My tank is 8 feet wide X 2 feet high X 2 feet Deep. I am running 4 Current USA Orbit Marine LEDs (36 inches). I do have an Aquamaxx ConeS DCQ-3 protein Skimmer.

Temp: 75 - 78 degrees F
PH: 7.7 (i know it is a little low)
Ammonia: 0.09
Nitrite: 8.0
Nitrate: 57.2
KH: 5.8
Phosphate: 0.9

Any ideas why my GSP is not growing? I know my Nitrite and Nitrate is a little high, and I am getting ready to plumb in a Bio Pellet reactor.
I am also having trouble keeping my Cheato.

Here is a picture of my setup.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!


Are there any corals in the tank of other species, how are they doing?

GSP sometimes takes a bit of time to get ramped up, but then tends to spread pretty fast. Are the polyps extended?

Could there be a general light intensity issue? Have you thought about renting a PAR meter to see where you are at?

Jay

 

[ScuttleBug]

I always had trouble keeping any macros alive until I started dosing chaeto gro. I assume for me its because my iron was too low. When this bottle runs out I'm going to try dosing iron and seeing what happens

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!


Are there any corals in the tank of other species, how are they doing?

GSP sometimes takes a bit of time to get ramped up, but then tends to spread pretty fast. Are the polyps extended?

Could there be a general light intensity issue? Have you thought about renting a PAR meter to see where you are at?

Jay

This! GSP can take a bit of time to take off especially if the tank is new. PAR, nutrients, and flow are key to GSP growth. Once these hit the sweet spot, it’ll take off!

 

[wrgoff]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!


Are there any corals in the tank of other species, how are they doing?

GSP sometimes takes a bit of time to get ramped up, but then tends to spread pretty fast. Are the polyps extended?

Could there be a general light intensity issue? Have you thought about renting a PAR meter to see where you are at?

Jay

No. I have no other corals. I do have anemones. I have no idea of my par readings. I have good lights.

 

[Garf]

No. I have no other corals. I do have anemones. I have no idea of my par readings. I have good lights.

You’ve got 8 ppm nitrite after 12 months? What’s going on there then? Lol.
I expect your nitrate is actually too low, not as you report because nitrite affects the nitrate test, a lot.

 

[jda]

I doubt that your nitrite is even detectable. This is most likely a testing error.

Phosphates at .9 will make it hard for some corals to thrive while others will not care at all. I would get this down.

Have you changed water recently? Both GSP and chaeto need trace elements to grow which can get depleted, but water changes are usually enough for these two thing. This can help your low kH too.

 

[Garf]

I am new to keeping corals. So I thought I would start with GSP. I have had a fish tank for the past 30 + years, mostly fresh water (ie African Cichlids). I have had my salt water tank up and fish in it for about 4 years. It is a 240 Gallon Tsunami tank. I recently (almost a year ago) added a Synergy Reef CL-60 sump. I am having trouble getting my GSP to grow. My tank is somewhat dirty. My tank is 8 feet wide X 2 feet high X 2 feet Deep. I am running 4 Current USA Orbit Marine LEDs (36 inches). I do have an Aquamaxx ConeS DCQ-3 protein Skimmer.

Temp: 75 - 78 degrees F
PH: 7.7 (i know it is a little low)
Ammonia: 0.09
Nitrite: 8.0
Nitrate: 57.2
KH: 5.8
Phosphate: 0.9

Any ideas why my GSP is not growing? I know my Nitrite and Nitrate is a little high, and I am getting ready to plumb in a Bio Pellet reactor.
I am also having trouble keeping my Cheato.

Here is a picture of my setup.

What’s the salinity?

 

[wrgoff]

I doubt that your nitrite is even detectable. This is most likely a testing error.

Phosphates at .9 will make it hard for some corals to thrive while others will not care at all. I would get this down.

Have you changed water recently? Both GSP and chaeto need trace elements to grow which can get depleted, but water changes are usually enough for these two thing. This can help your low kH too.

 

[wrgoff]

I have the Hanna HI97115UC Bluetooth Marine Master Multiparameter Checker. It is all digital.

I have only been keeping track of my temp, ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, salinity, and must recently started keeping track of KH, and Phosphate. Is there any others I should be keeping?

Sept 4 readings
Temp: 75.4
PH: 7.7
Ammonia: 0.04
Nitrite: 14.0
Nitrate: 62.5
Salinity: 34 ppm

Nov Readings
Temp: 75.4
PH: 7.7
Ammonia: 0.09
Nitrite: 8.0
Nitrate: 57.2
Salinity: 34 ppm
KH (just starting keeping this): 5.8
Phosphate (just started): 0.9

With all that said, my fish are really happy. But as I said the GSP is not looking real good.

 

[PotatoPig]

This! GSP can take a bit of time to take off especially if the tank is new. PAR, nutrients, and flow are key to GSP growth. Once these hit the sweet spot, it’ll take off!

What is the funnel like coral at the top right?

 

[wrgoff]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!


Are there any corals in the tank of other species, how are they doing?

GSP sometimes takes a bit of time to get ramped up, but then tends to spread pretty fast. Are the polyps extended?

Could there be a general light intensity issue? Have you thought about renting a PAR meter to see where you are at?

Jay

I have no other corals, I wanted to make sure I could keep at least GSP, before trying to add Zoas or anything else.

 

[wrgoff]

I have no other corals, I wanted to make sure I could keep at least GSP, before trying to add Zoas or anything else.

I have not tested the par. Could the light be too intense?

 

[jda]

There are folks who have kept low-light corals under Orbit lights, but not many. Only a light meter will tell you for sure. These are not powerful lights.

Not too many corals can fight off cyano like that.

Not all corals like nitrates and phosphates that high. Some don't mind at all. I have not kept GSP in so long that I do not know if they are OK with no3 over 50 and po4 close to 1.0.

 

[jda]

You can move the GSP up on some of the rockwork for more light... slowly.

 

[wrgoff]

I always had trouble keeping any macros alive until I started dosing chaeto gro. I assume for me its because my iron was too low. When this bottle runs out I'm going to try dosing iron and seeing what happens

At first my chaeto grew like mad. Then just died. I tried chaeto gro, but to no avail.

 

[EricR]

What's the dark substrate that you're using?

 

[wrgoff]

What's the dark substrate that you're using?

Black sand.

 

[wrgoff]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!


Are there any corals in the tank of other species, how are they doing?

GSP sometimes takes a bit of time to get ramped up, but then tends to spread pretty fast. Are the polyps extended?

Could there be a general light intensity issue? Have you thought about renting a PAR meter to see where you are at?

Jay

Would you recommend trying say Zoas?

 

[wrgoff]

What's the dark substrate that you're using?

Black sand