why do my corals not grow?

kimll · Feb 4, 2015

Please can some one help, what do you need to provide for your corals to actually grow? we give them the supplements etc but they don't spread, why?

Greenstreet.1 · Feb 4, 2015

Need more info on your setup

kimll · Feb 4, 2015

i have an aquareef300 we use two of the original lights and have two of the fluval led lights. parameters all as they should be.
what else do you need to know?

Greenstreet.1 · Feb 4, 2015

Salinity,cal,alk,mag,temp do you dose. What kind of corals are you talking about lps SPS or both. In order for anyone to try and help you out you need to provide this info also how new or d is your setup

kimll · Feb 4, 2015

My salinity is 1.024, my calcium etc are all in the normal range. I dose with salient additives, coral food, amino acids, trace hard and soft. I check my calc and mag every week at least and if necessary add the salient additives to adjust. Temp is set at 25 and tank has a chiller so it doesn't go above that. Lights are two t5white bulbs as came with tank, but we have replaced the other two bulbs with fluvall led strips (advised by Lfs) we have mainly lps corals. Tank been set up 3yrs although we did have ku crash about 6mths ago which wiped out most of the hard corals. But they were not growing and spreading before that either.
Want yo try to encourage grow now we are replacing them. Kh is now between 9-10.

macscale · Feb 4, 2015

Unfortunately "Normal Range" doesnt help.
List them like this so people can easily recognize and help you.

Alk:
Calc:
MAg:
Phos:
Nitrate:
(what ever else you test for)

Now according to what you have said it sounds like you are dosing without need.
What is your water change schedule?
Equiptement? (flow, skimmer, filtration)
Odds are that your fluval strips aren't going to do much. I had a friend use on of their LED's on a 10g tank and it was leaving mushrooms for light.

Greenstreet.1 · Feb 4, 2015

Info is the key to anyone helping you out

kimll · Feb 4, 2015

Ph 8.2
Alk 9/10 dkh
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphate 0.2ppm
Mag 1300
Calcium 425
Iodine 0.08
Strontium 12
That's them all I think

macscale · Feb 4, 2015

kimll said:
Ph 8.2
Alk 9/10 dkh
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphate 0.2ppm
Mag 1300
Calcium 425
Iodine 0.08
Strontium 12
That's them all I think

Thank you,
Your equipment would be great too.
IMO your phosphate is a little low, but wouldn't cause a problem like that.

fishroomlady · Feb 4, 2015

sounds like lighting might be the issue.

sdogatvman · Feb 4, 2015

Spend some money on some decent lighting

macscale · Feb 4, 2015

fishroomlady said:
sounds like lighting might be the issue.

sdogatvman said:
Spend some money on some decent lighting

Absolutely agree.
Look into some more powerful lights.

kimll · Feb 5, 2015

suggestions for lights please?

Reefing Madness · Feb 5, 2015

fishroomlady said:
sounds like lighting might be the issue.

Bingo. Those Leds are not strong enough to allow corals to thrive. Keep them alive yes, but no growth.

kimll · Feb 5, 2015

Thanks for the help. The lights I have were brought upon recommendation by lfs. I am now looking into new lighting

Reefing Madness · Feb 5, 2015

120W Dimmable LED Aquarium Light Coral Marine Reef Fish Tank Full Spectrum Lamps | eBay
LT SL-A008-90 Professional LED Marine Aquarium Light Unit Reef Fish Tank Sunrise | eBay
You'll need to acclimate your corals to these LED units.

declanisadog · Feb 5, 2015

kimll said:
suggestions for lights please?

depends on how much you are wanting to spend/what you expect to get from your lighting. You can get halides for cheap. If you are wanting to stick with LED's, you'll most likely spend a little more up front, but will save in the long run because you won't have to change bulbs like you would with halide and T5's.