Water Changes For Softies Tank

[Joey.S]

Hey everyone,

My 90 gallon softie dominant reef has been running for over 7 months now, and so far I’ve gotten little to no coral growth. The tanks got some sarcophytons/devils hands, vargas cespitularia, and gorgonians. The only growth I’ve seen is the cespitularia. All fish are reef safe and well fed so that’s not an issue. The only thing I’d say I haven’t been consistently doing is 10% weekly water changes. A few days ago I did buy reef roids and have fed the corals once already, so I’m seeing if that improves anything. I don’t dose anything like alk or cal yet because I’ve read it’s not really needed for soft corals. But if water changes are the issue please let me know, thanks a lot everyone.

 

[lapin]

It is not the water changes. Softies like (dirty tanks).
I feed my softies every Sunday afternoon something special
Its a mix of Reef Roids, Phytofeast, Oysterfeast, R.O.E, Calanus and Mysis.
Makes for 4 or 5 hours of a very cloudy tank.

 

[Joey.S]

It is not the water changes. Softies like (dirty tanks).
I feed my softies every Sunday afternoon something special
Its a mix of Reef Roids, Phytofeast, Oysterfeast, R.O.E, Calanus and Mysis.
Makes for 4 or 5 hours of a very cloudy tank.

My nitrates are around 10. But that was ever since I fed the reef roids for the first time. Anytime before that I’d say my nitrates were between 2 and 5. Is that too low?

 

[Joey.S]

It is not the water changes. Softies like (dirty tanks).
I feed my softies every Sunday afternoon something special
Its a mix of Reef Roids, Phytofeast, Oysterfeast, R.O.E, Calanus and Mysis.
Makes for 4 or 5 hours of a very cloudy tank.

What would you say is the best feeding and water change schedule for soft corals for best growth/colouration? I know lighting isn’t the issue either.

 

[lapin]

My N = 20
My P = .15

Feed fish and feed what I feed mine

 

[Joey.S]

My N = 20
My P = .15

Feed fish and feed what I feed mine

Also if I’m getting N and P higher than it is now how am I going to manitain trace elements if I stop doing water changes for that time being?

 

[lapin]

Also if I’m getting N and P higher than it is now how am I going to manitain trace elements if I stop doing water changes for that time being?

I do a weekly 10% water change. No need to stop that.

Do this:

I feed my softies every Sunday afternoon something special
Its a mix of Reef Roids, Phytofeast, Oysterfeast, R.O.E, Calanus and Mysis.
Makes for 4 or 5 hours of a very cloudy tank.

 

[pnuu]

It is not the water changes. Softies like (dirty tanks).
I feed my softies every Sunday afternoon something special
Its a mix of Reef Roids, Phytofeast, Oysterfeast, R.O.E, Calanus and Mysis.
Makes for 4 or 5 hours of a very cloudy tank.

I wouldn't say they like "dirty tanks" but excess nutrient removal isn't necessary, I have a 220 and a 125 both with leathers, gorgonians and clams, I have no skimmer or sump using only 3 Aqua Clear 500s on the 220 and 2 on the 125, I have Chemipure, Purigen and Phosguard in the Aqua Clears, I do a weekly water change of 25 gal on the 220 and 15 gal on the 125, there are about 10 fish in each tank and I have 0 nitrates, several of my leathers are huge and all are growing and multiplying, I do use live phytoplankton daily and I have 400 watt metal halides on both tanks, everybody is happy