Zoas, torch, and hammers wont seem to grow within a few months (1 Viewer)

[Ranglin5o]

Im reaching out because I'm trying to figure out if I'm possibly doing something wrong or there is something I missed. Nothing is growing in my tank and most seem to just slightly want to open up at mid day. I've purchased the best to my knowledge equipment possible and still have some room to grow with the upgraded sump and skimmer I'm looking into. I am not dosing at this time because my Mg/KH/Ca levels are on the upper end and have not needed any supplements at this time. I have been using Red Sea Reef Energy Plus AB+ to feed the corals 6ml once every other day and Reef roids once every other week.

40G Breeder Tank
Life Support Equipment

• Current USA Orbit Marine IC Pro duel 36" lights
• Current USA 1050gph eFlux pump
• Current USA Duel Wave pump kit 660gph
• Current USA Bluetooth Loop controller system

*Lights are 14" above majority of all corals at around 110par
*Light start ramp at 7AM and ramp down at 5 followed by off completely at 12AM
*I am only using blue lighting at this time because the white light from my old lighting was causing algae growth. I have white at 22% mid day in the programming for the light schedule
*Wave pumps set to just slightly move torches/hammers back and forth
*Return pump runs around 80%
*Water is perfectly clear and hasn't had a single cloudy problem

Water parameters (Checked every 2 to 3 days)

• Salinity - 1.025
• Temp - 78*F
• Mg - 1400
• KH - 3.5 / 9.8
• Ca - 415
• pH - 8.3 (only parameter to change and lowest has been 7.9)
• Po4 - 0
• NO3 - 0
• NO2 - 0
• Cl2 - 0
• NH3 - 0

Looking at all these parameters please let me know what you think and possibly give me additional advice to help get my corals growing!

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

It sounds like a nutrient problem to me. You say your Po4 is 0, corals have to have at least some to grow. Every time my tanks get below .03 or so growth starts to slow down a bunch. Same with nitrate, the corals need it to grow. There is probably just enough food going into the tank to keep the corals alive but not actually grow. I'd try spot feeding more and see if it helps. Any fish? How long has the tank been running? It will take a while for hard corals to adjust and do well in a newer tank. I also wouldn't recommend the Current USA Orbit Marine IC Pro duel for anything beyond softies as 110 par is a bit low for hard corals. I've had a set on a tank for about 2 years and nothing but zoas get enough light in there, but they do grow like crazy.

 

[frankc]

I agree on the nutrients - you definitely don't want 0 for nitrate and phosphate. I think you would benefit from either increased feeding or dosing nitrate and phosphate.

110 PAR should be plenty when nutrients are good. My LPS corals are thriving under around 65 or less, and my hitchhiker Symphyllia grew from too-small-to-be-seen to several inches under around 30 PAR.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

110 PAR should be plenty when nutrients are good. My LPS corals are thriving under around 65 or less, and my hitchhiker Symphyllia grew from too-small-to-be-seen to several inches under around 30 PAR.

I'll have to take another whack at that tank then. I could never get anything with a skeleton to grow and assumed it was the lights since everything I moved to brighter tanks did well. Time to move in a hammer and see what happens. Mine is also a 40g breeder with near identical setup.

 

[gregg]

The fact that you don’t mention anything dying is good but It sure sounds like your not feeding your tank enough.. you got any fish in there?

 

[webster1234]

Good advice above. The first two things I would point to are nutrients and lighting. If you are feeding your corals and your nitrates and phosphates are still zero, then you aren't feeding enough (and that includes your fish). Your tank looks a little sparse at the moment (both fish and corals) so you're gonna have to waste a little food to get your nutrients up there.

Second, blues make your corals look pretty but IMO, they don't do enough for growth. You still need some full spectrum in there. Also....(again IMO), your par is a little low. I think they intensity needs to be turned up a little more. I don't know anything about your brand of lighting so I can't comment on how good they are at growing corals. That's why I like T5's. Its really really hard to screw them up.

 

[mitchell77546]

Good advice above. The first two things I would point to are nutrients and lighting. If you are feeding your corals and your nitrates and phosphates are still zero, then you aren't feeding enough (and that includes your fish). Your tank looks a little sparse at the moment (both fish and corals) so you're gonna have to waste a little food to get your nutrients up there.

Second, blues make your corals look pretty but IMO, they don't do enough for growth. You still need some full spectrum in there. Also....(again IMO), your par is a little low. I think they intensity needs to be turned up a little more. I don't know anything about your brand of lighting so I can't comment on how good they are at growing corals. That's why I like T5's. Its really really hard to screw them up.

So I have been experimenting with my tank. I’ve only been running the blue, royal and the UV for the last 6 months. I have had good growth (maybe it could have been better) I have followed advice from Webster, Cody and Betcao01. You need the NO and PO4 as far as what I’ve been told. I’ve noticed since I beefed up on live stock that growth has improved substantially. I feed everyday and I’ve got a oversized skimmer and too many fish for the tank size. I run a XR 30 on a tank that is 24” cube but the light intensity is down to 32% I’ll bet that you will see improvement once you get those vital nutrients in the tank. Side note here I’m just a noob but I’ve done a ton of research and listened to a lot of great advice. I may add a little white to the tank because even though my zoas grow great some of the polyps are closed all the time. I’ve given up on trying to figure out why...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cody]

Here’s a pretty basic write up that I did not too long ago to help you get an idea of what your corals are looking for. It’s not perfect, but it gives you the over all idea of what’s going on with the corals and their needs at a very fundamental level.

Coral Hierarchy Of Needs | Marine and Reef General Discussion

I had, what I believe was, an interesting perspective on our water parameters and corals and wanted to share. These amazing creatures can provide you with joy, pride, and frustration. When they’re doing well, you’re blown away and excited to look at your tank everyday! When they’re in poor...

marsh-reef.org

 

[Ranglin5o]

It sounds like a nutrient problem to me. You say your Po4 is 0, corals have to have at least some to grow. Every time my tanks get below .03 or so growth starts to slow down a bunch. Same with nitrate, the corals need it to grow. There is probably just enough food going into the tank to keep the corals alive but not actually grow. I'd try spot feeding more and see if it helps. Any fish? How long has the tank been running? It will take a while for hard corals to adjust and do well in a newer tank. I also wouldn't recommend the Current USA Orbit Marine IC Pro duel for anything beyond softies as 110 par is a bit low for hard corals. I've had a set on a tank for about 2 years and nothing but zoas get enough light in there, but they do grow like crazy.

I'm only keeping zoas, torches, and hammers.

On the excel sheet shows all my fish I have in the tank.

4 clowns, 1 snowflake eel, 2 Gobies, 2 stars, 1 powder tang, mainly.

This tank is almost a month up and running, tank itself ran for 6 years with sump.

 

[oguzman]

If someone hasn't asked already are you getting near 0 TDS in your RODI when it comes out?

Honestly your parameters look great (way better than the crazy crap i have going on in my systems). I'd just step away and just stop looking at the tank. You'll notice when you haven't been looking at it for a while that things tend to grow. I remember in my nano i used to get really impatient.

 

[Ranglin5o]

If someone hasn't asked already are you getting near 0 TDS in your RODI when it comes out?

Honestly your parameters look great (way better than the crazy crap i have going on in my systems). I'd just step away and just stop looking at the tank. You'll notice when you haven't been looking at it for a while that things tend to grow. I remember in my nano i used to get really impatient.

0TDS in the ro water. Just got my new 11 stage system broke in and cycled 30 gallons through it before testing.

 

[Ranglin5o]

So here is my current update.. after a small accident mixing up my RO and salt water, I had my salinity spike to 1.028. I corrected it immediately as I did the top off checked it that day. Since that day 3 days ago even after I removed them all and did a quick dip to help revive them they are not opening back up. Any advice?