SPS not consuming Alk

[exnisstech]

I agree with the comments on more time being needed. I set up a new tank February 2023 and added a bunch of SPS frags shortly after start up. It took a year before anything really started to grow.

 

[Dibi]

I agree with the comments on more time being needed. I set up a new tank February 2023 and added a bunch of SPS frags shortly after start up. It took a year before anything really started to grow.

A year without any growth? Maybe this is wrong isn't it? Or they manage to grow the base at least?

 

[Dburr1014]

A year without any growth? Maybe this is wrong isn't it? Or they manage to grow the base at least?

I wouldn't say a year to start growing.
I was saying a while before you see any alk demand before needing to dose.
In the beginning, water changes can take care of any demands.

 

[exnisstech]

A year without any growth? Maybe this is wrong isn't it? Or they manage to grow the base at least?

I'm sorry I should have said very slow growth. Slow enough I would have to look at previous photos to tell if there was any. Coraline grew way faster than frags. It just seems like at the 1 year mark most frags really starting to lay down a base. I also started AFR about that time so maybe that helped or maybe coincidence.

 

[Lavey29]

How old is your tank?

 

[Dibi]

How old is your tank?

5-6 months

 

[Dibi]

I'm sorry I should have said very slow growth. Slow enough I would have to look at previous photos to tell if there was any. Coraline grew way faster than frags. It just seems like at the 1 year mark most frags really starting to lay down a base. I also started AFR about that time so maybe that helped or maybe coincidence.

Maybe I’ll start with, but very little. Since I am already dosing kalk at night.

 

[Dibi]

I'm sorry I should have said very slow growth. Slow enough I would have to look at previous photos to tell if there was any. Coraline grew way faster than frags. It just seems like at the 1 year mark most frags really starting to lay down a base. I also started AFR about that time so maybe that helped or maybe coincidence.

Btw very nice tank! I will follow

 

[exnisstech]

This is the tank was referring to that I started 2/23

 

[javajaws]

You have to remember that SPS growth isn't linear - it's almost exponential (but probably not true exponential). As the frags get bigger and have more branches or edges (for monti's, etc) they'll consume more and more ALK and nutrients in a non-linear fashion until one day they are stripping everything out of the water daily and you'll be adding more and more stuff in to keep up.

 

[Dibi]

You have to remember that SPS growth isn't linear - it's almost exponential (but probably not true exponential). As the frags get bigger and have more branches or edges (for monti's, etc) they'll consume more and more ALK and nutrients in a non-linear fashion until one day they are stripping everything out of the water daily and you'll be adding more and more stuff in to keep up.

I really want this to be true. Sometimes I think something is wrong. I'll post some 45 days growth. Basically the base grew.

 

[Lavey29]

5-6 months

Therein lies your problem. Very experienced reefers can manage acros early on but the majority of us can not. Tanks take time to be mature enough to sustain acros. When you see abundant coralline growing that is a good indicator that your tank is stable and ready to grow acros

 

[Dibi]

Here are some 60 days pics:

 

[Dibi]

Therein lies your problem. Very experienced reefers can manage acros early on but the majority of us can not. Tanks take time to be mature enough to sustain acros. When you see abundant coralline growing that is a good indicator that your tank is stable and ready to grow acros

Check the photos and see if its good or not

 

[Lavey29]

Check the photos and see if its good or not

Looks like a typical new tank almost way to sterile. Obviously your biome is just getting started and you don't have sufficient biodiversity and microfauna yet to support it. The most important element in this hobby is patience and perhaps you should embrace it if you want to be successful. You have a nice set up and good lighting but the key aspects of a successful reef take time. You may be able to sustain your corals because you have a nice set up but to see good growth and color takes time especially with acros. I would be satisfied that they are not dying out at 6 months. That means you are on the right path but real growth needs for tank maturity in my opinion.

 

[twentyleagues]

There

Here are some 60 days pics:

There is some growth. It looks good, you really cant expect a lot of growth at first especially with sps. I have had new sps frags added to a seasoned tank take 6 months to show any growth at all when I had to frag other corals in the same tank 2 times before I saw it do anything. Some sps just take a bit to settle in. I've never had luck with gonis so I'm out on that one.

 

[exnisstech]

Step back and remember the word that no one likes to hear but it is so true that it's frustrating.
Patience

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Hi all,

I have a 80g tank, currently, with 14 AcroporaFrags for about 15-20 days. Colors look fine, I have 2mp40 + gyre and 8x39w ATI T5 for lighting.

I am monitoring my KH with trident and salifert. I was doing 15% water change weekly with tropic marin salt.

Also dosing power elixir from Aquaforest daily + Zeobak (once a week).

My kh does not change over the week, so I suppose that is no consume happening. KH is currently in 8.5 and does not change a lot, like it does to 8.4 and 8.7.

Any ideas?

Thank you so much,

Roberto Denadai is that you? the tank and aquascaping technique looks very familiar.

 

[Spare time]

With nitrate near (or possibly at) 0, I would consider dosing amino acids

 

[Dibi]

Roberto Denadai is that you? the tank and aquascaping technique looks very familiar.

I also from Brazil! I appreciate, but Im not him. Just a guy that decided to have another reef tank ten years after the first one. Here is my old tank!;