Picky corals?

[Bumblebeereefer]

Hi everyone, I have had my 75g reef tank up for about 2 years now and my corals dont seem to want to grow out onto the live rock around them?. They have grown but not spread except for one zoa colony. ive had hair algae issues in the past but not so much currently. I just dont know why they wont grow out onto my live rock. There are new polyps on my acan and a blasto but they wont grow out to new rock they stay cramped up on the frag plug it seems. I bought my rock from BRS and also cycled it 2 years ago . It was dry live rock but still after 2 years I would think it would be habitable. Please help me out with this. Also if there are any questions feel free to ask. Thanks guys.

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

Hi everyone, I have had my 75g reef tank up for about 2 years now and my corals dont seem to want to grow out onto the live rock around them?. They have grown but not spread except for one zoa colony. ive had hair algae issues in the past but not so much currently. I just dont know why they wont grow out onto my live rock. There are new polyps on my acan and a blasto but they wont grow out to new rock they stay cramped up on the frag plug it seems. I bought my rock from BRS and also cycled it 2 years ago . It was dry live rock but still after 2 years I would think it would be habitable. Please help me out with this. Also if there are any questions feel free to ask. Thanks guys.

Hey I'm having the same struggles. My gsp FINALLY seems to be growing a little and xenia is lookinga little healthier. I test my water parameters etc... But they just dont seem to want to really thrive. They are also super finicky. It's like if i mess with the tank at all they close up and take a while to open again. Only been in my tank like 6 months but man. I also have biocube stock lighting so that probably has something to do with it. Good luck and sorry i couldnt be more help.

 

[Roosterjack]

In my experience, which is admittedly limited, corals first grow in directions of need. If they want more light, more or less flow, or want to avoid nearby enemies/issue, etc.

What is your coralline level? My corals seem to prefer to adhere to that versus bare rock.

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

In my experience, which is admittedly limited, corals first grow in directions of need. If they want more light, more or less flow, or want to avoid nearby enemies/issue, etc.

What is your coralline level? My corals seem to prefer to adhere to that versus bare rock.

Well Ive had some issues getting coraline to grow as well so my rock is pretty bare or traces of hair algae. I do have small patches of coraline though not really near the coral. i have had one zoa explode and take over a whole rock a bit larger than a fist . but the other corla dont wanna spread out and there are no predators or other corals near them. but they are growing new polyps and just bunching up on the frag.

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

Hey I'm having the same struggles. My gsp FINALLY seems to be growing a little and xenia is lookinga little healthier. I test my water parameters etc... But they just dont seem to want to really thrive. They are also super finicky. It's like if i mess with the tank at all they close up and take a while to open again. Only been in my tank like 6 months but man. I also have biocube stock lighting so that probably has something to do with it. Good luck and sorry i couldnt be more help.

All good i appreciate the help. Yeah corals are annoying to me atm. Mine are making new polyps and growing in that sense but they wont spread out over the rock they just bunch up on the frag i bought them on when ive had one zoa colony take over a whole rock in a matter of weeks but these others just stay put I dont understand why.

 

[Brandon3152134]

When I first introduce a coral it stays in a shaded area for a week or so then I move it around week by week until I find the right spot it likes and then remove them from the frag plug and glue directly to the rock.

 

[Brandon3152134]

Pics?

 

[X-37B]

My 120 is 17 months old.
Many of my corals grow on the bottom glass.
I dont think live vs dead matters for coral growth as my tank has 50/50 live/dead.
All dead looks live now.
Stability of set parameters equals good growth, imo.
Here is a pic of a purple digi from intro to 1 years worth of growth.

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

Pics?

Ill take a few when i get home

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

My 120 is 17 months old.
Many of my corals grow on the bottom glass.
I dont think live vs dead matters for coral growth as my tank has 50/50 live/dead.
All dead looks live now.
Stability of set parameters equals good growth, imo.
Here is a pic of a purple digi from intro to 1 years worth of growth.

Good stuff ill try to focus on hair algae removal and really get on my water parameters

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

Ill take a few when i get home

Ill take a few when i get home

 

[vetteguy53081]

You mentioned past algae issues
What is your phosphate and nitrate levels like?

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

Pics?

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

You mentioned past algae issues
What is your phosphate and nitrate levels like?

im working on that at the moment but they are elevated. but those zoas took off pretty well so im confused even with elevated nitrate and phosphate it grew well why arent the others? I run a carbon reactor and a gfo reactor so my levels are generally low but i over feed and rarely get to water changes. but the zoa does just fine and the others are growing kinda just not spreading out even though they have new polyps. ive added pictures as well

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

My 120 is 17 months old.
Many of my corals grow on the bottom glass.
I dont think live vs dead matters for coral growth as my tank has 50/50 live/dead.
All dead looks live now.
Stability of set parameters equals good growth, imo.
Here is a pic of a purple digi from intro to 1 years worth of growth.

is your tank bare bottom?

 

[vetteguy53081]

im working on that at the moment but they are elevated. but those zoas took off pretty well so im confused even with elevated nitrate and phosphate it grew well why arent the others? I run a carbon reactor and a gfo reactor so my levels are generally low but i over feed and rarely get to water changes. but the zoa does just fine and the others are growing kinda just not spreading out even though they have new polyps. ive added pictures as well

Blow on them with a turkey baster giving them gentle blasts and see if any dust, mulm or detritus comes off of them which would be enough to irritate them

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

Blow on them with a turkey baster giving them gentle blasts and see if any dust, mulm or detritus comes off of them which would be enough to irritate them

ok yeah some dusty powdery looking stuff poofs up from them with baster blasting?

 

[X-37B]

is your tank bare bottom?

Yes.
Looks like your tank could use a fluconazole tratment for algae.
Post your current tank parameters.

 

[Bumblebeereefer]

Yes.
Looks like your tank could use a fluconazole tratment for algae.
Post your current tank parameters.

ill have to do tests tomorrow but the numbers are rough prolly but still the corals are open and the zoas went from 4 polyps to the whole dang rock in a few months so why are the other corals not branching out its like they dont like the rock i have , i feel like i got crappy rock from brs but it was the dry live rock and tanks been up for 2 yrs. the rock is super rough and like gritty feeling i was skeptical about it when i got it. i dose 2 part as well and use reef chili and spirullina powder weekly. ive taken out my tuxedo urchin out a few days ago and put him in sump as well i think he eats my coraline and snails and disrupts the corals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

ok yeah some dusty powdery looking stuff poofs up from them with baster blasting?

That would be enough to slow them down especially as that dust filters out valuable light need for zooanthele which is a production source for energy, color and growth