Is there a problem or am I a impatient reefer

Lavey29 · Feb 11, 2022

Have you ever completed an ICP water test to check all your parameters and RODI? Corals need nutrients, light and flow in proper percentages.

Impala67 · Mar 23, 2022

So it’s been 7 weeks since I posted this thread and a lot had happened!!

As you can see my corals are looking a lot better all except two. My rfa and my Duncan coral, they both are looking bad since the light change, as you know I have two Duncan corals ones looking good the other is semi retracted. The RFA is almost white!! He’s shriveled very small andactually has gotten worse. Any suggestions would be fantastic!!

Wasabiroot · Mar 23, 2022

He might be bleaching. If so, maybe lower him. Could also try feeding it. Everything else looks great. P.s. one day I would love to own and work on a classic car, that's super cool.

Impala67 · Mar 23, 2022

Wasabiroot said:
He might be bleaching. If so, maybe lower him. Could also try feeding it. Everything else looks great. P.s. one day I would love to own and work on a classic car, that's super cool.

Thx she’s my baby it’s a 1967 Chevy impala 4 door with a 327 V-8 Turbo-Fire 275-hp Powerglide engine she’s just one of my many projects lol. Well now you have me talking about cars lol, but I’ve tried feeding the RFA and he’s moved to that point by himself so idk what’s going on with him

Duncan62 · Mar 23, 2022

Impala67 said:
Ph 8.1
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
Calcium 400
Alkalinity 10
Magnesium 1300
Phosphate 0.02
Salinity 0.025
Temp 77 degrees
The tank is about 10 months old I have three wave makers on it it has great wavy flow, my lighting is a USA current orbit marine light that grows softies and lps great but I’m looking to change that very soon!

It looks like the duncans need more light and flow. Zoas are reaching for light. Feeding duncans and rfa isn't required but once a week will keep them growing . Be patient. Maybe turn up the lights a bit. Pumps too. Good luck with it. Your stuff looks healthy. It'll take off one day.

Duncan62 · Mar 23, 2022

Impala67 said:
This is the lighting I run it should be ok but I do need to get a different light.

Duel lights? I use the. Turn up the whites to 15. Red down to 5. One controller will run 2 of those bars. My duel curren tank has been very successful but you need 2.

P.S. my currents have been running for 4 years without a hitch and both have been dropped in the tank. Lol

CayeCaulker · Mar 23, 2022

I too would of expected more growth. Something must be sideways.

T-J · Mar 23, 2022

After reading all of this, I have one question, which may be the answer to everything: Did you ever get your tank parameters stable?

Earlier you mentioned that they swing from week to week and that you didn't have an ATO. Are parameters locked down now? If you still have things going up and down, it doesn't matter how good your lights are.

Impala67 · Mar 23, 2022

T-J said:
After reading all of this, I have one question, which may be the answer to everything: Did you ever get your tank parameters stable?

Earlier you mentioned that they swing from week to week and that you didn't have an ATO. Are parameters locked down now? If you still have things going up and down, it doesn't matter how good your lights are.

The parameters are pretty stable at this point I do need to get a dosing machine the salinity is steady as well as temp the only thing that fluctuates is the magnesium, alkalinity, calcium, iodine, trace, and strontium. And they only fluctuate every other week I don’t dose frequently because I don’t have much taking out of the water column.

Impala67 · Mar 23, 2022

T

Duncan62 said:
It looks like the duncans need more light and flow. Zoas are reaching for light. Feeding duncans and rfa isn't required but once a week will keep them growing . Be patient. Maybe turn up the lights a bit. Pumps too. Good luck with it. Your stuff looks healthy. It'll take off one day.

The lights are as high as they go, I want to buy a reefbreeders photon v2 48 really bad but I need to get the funds lol.

Duncan62 · Mar 23, 2022

Impala67 said:
T

The lights are as high as they go, I want to buy a reefbreeders photon v2 48 really bad but I need to get the funds lol.

I can relate. It took me 4 months to get enough goodies together just to get water moving. Lol. There are some really good budget lights out there that don't have so many functions but they will grow coral. I have one tank with big name lights and the sps tanks all have fixtures most people haven't heard of. Wattage per dollar. Of course spectrum counts but look for light penetration with it.

Impala67 · Mar 23, 2022

Duncan62 said:
I can relate. It took me 4 months to get enough goodies together just to get water moving. Lol. There are some really good budget lights out there that don't have so many functions but they will grow coral. I have one tank with big name lights and the sps tanks all have fixtures most people haven't heard of. Wattage per dollar. Of course spectrum counts but look for light penetration with it.

well my problem is I have plenty of income but way to many bills between bee keeping part time car restoration and just plain old bill I think my saltwater hobby is on the back burner sadly.

Duncan62 · Mar 24, 2022

Impala67 said:
well my problem is I have plenty of income but way to many bills between bee keeping part time car restoration and just plain old bill I think my saltwater hobby is on the back burner sadly.

I fully understand. Back in the 90s I gave up all my aquariums because I was spending so much money on blue water fishing and diving. Now I'm to old so my monthly budget is spent on new coral and such. Lol. As long as you have a fun hobby good for you.