SPS Not Growing

[strike2867]

No angels in the tank? Only the occupants you listed above?

FWIW, SPS will typically "base out" before they actually start to grow. Meaning, they lay down a very strong base(encrust onto your rockwork) to support the eventual long branches. Also some corals can go dormant for months before actually starting to grow. I've had many acro's do nothing(not even polyp extension) for months, to wake up one day to it being furry and adding skeleton(white tips).

When I first put some of the acros in, two created a small base, but now it's completely stopped.

 

[strike2867]

Also no Angels, just the simple fish listed. I did have an Emerald that was definitely messing with some acros. He's been banished. But that was a month ago.

 

[homer1475]

After going back and rereading the OP, if they are turning green, they are just adjusting to your system. Give them some time to adjust, and I'll bet you'll see a difference in a couple months.

As long as they are not dying(no bare white skeleton), they are just dormant. Give them some time. 3 months is no where near enough time. I've had acro's go dormant for 6 months or more to finally wake up and grow.

 

[strike2867]

After going back and rereading the OP, if they are turning green, they are just adjusting to your system. Give them some time to adjust, and I'll bet you'll see a difference in a couple months.

As long as they are not dying(no bare white skeleton), they are just dormant. Give them some time. 3 months is no where near enough time. I've had acro's go dormant for 6 months or more to finally wake up and grow.

Should I keep increasing the light? Based on my calculations, the par is still likely on the low side. The WD is probably the highest at around 250ish. I was thinking of tetitng them all up into the 300 range.

 

[homer1475]

I run most of my acros in 250 to 350 par. No issues with color, but most do turn green at the start, then color up after they get used to my system.

I honestly think you just need to sit and wait it out.

 

[strike2867]

I run most of my acros in 250 to 350 par. No issues with color, but most do turn green at the start, then color up after they get used to my system.

I honestly think you just need to sit and wait it out.

I'm going for the same par range, so need to keep upping it a little while longer. I'm doing it at a glacial pace.

 

[meermann]

I'm going for the same par range, so need to keep upping it a little while longer. I'm doing it at a glacial pace.

Hi, how's your acros growth in the meanwhile?
How long have you waited for the first signs of growth since last December?

 

[sgrosenb]

Hi @strike2867 - reviving an old thread here to see if you were able to get some growth out of your acros? I am having a similar issue - they are colorful but they just won't grow...

 

[strike2867]

Hi @strike2867 - reviving an old thread here to see if you were able to get some growth out of your acros? I am having a similar issue - they are colorful but they just won't grow...

After increasing the light, I was having some success. Tried a million different things and got some stability and was happy with the encrusting for a while. Even got a few tips. The colors were still never right. I'm of the opinion at this point AI Primes are just not the right light. Then everything went to hell as the Trident misread Calcium by 200+. Been down about the tank ever since and not paying it much attention.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Alk and calcium are a little on the low side. I have had much better results at around 9dKH and 450 Ca. Acros like stability, so increasing these will stop growth for a week or two, but in the long run should increase growth. I've seen increased growth even higher, but dosing consumption goes through the roof and it's too risky for me. A little alk swing or phosphate spike can kill pretty rapidly at 11, so I backed off to 9 to get the best of both worlds.

I would bring your fuge photo period back to normal. You want phosphates below 0.08 and nitrates below 10.

The first 3 months of new acro frags is going to seem a bit slow unless you bought colonies. The first month or two is mainly just encrusting IME with minimal overall size increases. Once well encrusted the growth gets exponential. I get almost as much growth in month 4 of a frag as I got the first 2 or 3 months. When I bought things as colonies though, the growth was pretty substantial after 3 months.

 

[strike2867]

Alk and calcium are a little on the low side. I have had much better results at around 9dKH and 450 Ca. Acros like stability, so increasing these will stop growth for a week or two, but in the long run should increase growth. I've seen increased growth even higher, but dosing consumption goes through the roof and it's too risky for me. A little alk swing or phosphate spike can kill pretty rapidly at 11, so I backed off to 9 to get the best of both worlds.

I would bring your fuge photo period back to normal. You want phosphates below 0.08 and nitrates below 10.

The first 3 months of new acro frags is going to seem a bit slow unless you bought colonies. The first month or two is mainly just encrusting IME with minimal overall size increases. Once well encrusted the growth gets exponential. I get almost as much growth in month 4 of a frag as I got the first 2 or 3 months. When I bought things as colonies though, the growth was pretty substantial after 3 months.

I've turned off my fuge completely at this point. But lost so much time and effort due to the misread CA, interest is almost completely gone. Really disappointed in the Trident.