Lps growth

[JReefaddict]

The tank is a 57 gallon deep blue professional rimless with t5s overhead with 2 ati blue plus and 2 ati coral plus bulbs. I do weekly 10 gallon water changes, no dosing, and the tank has acans, frogspawn, branching hammer, some zoas and other softies. I haven't seen any growth in any of my lps and polyp growth on my zoas seems to be quite slow as well. I have a 2 head branching hammer in the tank that opens nice everyday but it has been 2 heads since I bought it about a year ago. Same with the frogspawn. It seems like as soon as I see the coral start to split i end up with polyp bailout with my euphyllia. Should I be dosing calcium with weekly water changes? I try to feed the coral twice a week, once before the water change and once during the week if I have time. I was told by someone at an LFS that frogspawn will explode with growth within a few months. Now granted he was trying pretty hard to sell me a frogspawn but it did make me begin to wonder why I haven't seen any growth

 

[NanaReefer]

What are your water parameters, lighting schedule and what exactly are you feeding your LPS?

 

[JReefaddict]

I will get the water tested this week/weekend but the tank is normally within spec whenever I get it tested. I have half the lights come on at 7:30 so I can feed the fish before I leave for work and then the other half comes on at 9:30 and then half go off at 7 and the rest at 8. My lps I'm feeding frozen mysis with a turkey baster. Occasionally I mix some reefroids into the cup with defrosted mysis

 

[Reefing Madness]

Specs should read as follows:
PH 8.0-8.4
Temp 76-80
SG 1.025-1.027
Cal- 380-460
Alk- 7-12dKH
Mag- 1250-1350
Phosphates- under .05
Nitrates- under 15

 

[Tab28]

When you feed how are you doing it? I feed twice a week. A mixture of things. When i feed all pumps off and turkey baster food unto my euphyllia. They are not good at catching it. Within 20 minutes, they are slow to eat, the mouth opens and the food gets slowly eaten. I can visually see the large mouth taking in the food. Mine love PE mysis the regular are fine but not as big. Zoas and palys eat same way but will grab food faster. But it too much water movement before they can eat, They would only be basically filter feeding. Will survive but not thrive.

 

[JReefaddict]

I turn all the pumps off before I feed and I use a turkey baster and a bottle top on coral that the fish try and steal food from. My acans are all pretty quick to eat

 

[Tab28]

Are the corals you are asking about eating? If you are feeding but they are not eating then something usually in water is not right. Is your magnesium/calcium/alk is sync? If not they can not pull the calcium needed to grow. That would not be the same for zoas and palys.

 

[JReefaddict]

I can watch my acans eat within a few seconds of a mysis landing on them, the frogspawn I haven't been able to see physically ingest mysis. But neither of them seem to be showing signs of growth. The acans have been in there for 4+ months and I would expect to see some sign of growth by now. On the other hand I have a Duncan that has sprouted 3 new heads. I'm going to try and get some test results from the water and post them tonight

 

[Tab28]

I can watch my acans eat within a few seconds of a mysis landing on them, the frogspawn I haven't been able to see physically ingest mysis. But neither of them seem to be showing signs of growth. The acans have been in there for 4+ months and I would expect to see some sign of growth by now. On the other hand I have a Duncan that has sprouted 3 new heads. I'm going to try and get some test results from the water and post them tonight

My euphyllia open their mouths even if the head is at an angle where i can not feed it. The smell in the water causes them to filter feed. The tentacles go limp, no water movement. Body swells up and mouth is visible. Even if it is not actually taking in visual food. As big as the mouth on my dendros. My acan babies cluster around the botton of frag. If buried in sand it may hamper them. I place mine on frag stands on the sand bed.

 

[JReefaddict]

I have a piece of lr I picked up that has a bunch of conveniently placed crevices that hold frag plugs rele well that I have my acans on.

 

[JReefaddict]

So I got the water tested today

SG 1.025
pH 8.2
Alk 13
Cal 360
Nitrate 40
Phosphates 10

 

[JReefaddict]

I'm beginning to think I should start looking into brs 2 part dosing for calc and alk

 

[Tab28]

As you know phos and alk are high. Nitrates are also high and well take tje longest to lower. Water change is fast way. Alk will drop if you raise cal and mag for a awhile. Phos and nitrates can be lowered by water changes. Do you have a good skimmer and use gfo?

 

[JReefaddict]

I don't use gfo. One of the things on my to do list is a carbon/gfo reactor. I did a 10 gallon water change today and I'm planning to do another one this weekend. Hopefully I can get everything back and keep everything back in check before I lose pieces