Coraline growth

[odyssey1]

I can not seem to get any coraline growth in my tank. I have heard that it will not grow if there are nitrates in the tank is that true. My Nitrate readings are around 20 and I cant seem to get them under that. I have introduced some micro algae into the tank this week will that help with the nitrates?

[rbursek]

Light, Calc, Mag, and time!! 20 trates is not bad for a new tank, just bad for Corals.

[odyssey1]

THanks for the reply rbursek

what is the easiest way to lower the trates?

[Megalodon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12160332#post12160332 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by odyssey1
what is the easiest way to lower the trates? Dosing vodka or sugar, macro algae, deep sand beds, live rock, a denitrator, and/or water changes.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do not think nitrate is causing a lack of coralline growth. Elevated organics and phosphate may inhibit calcifying organisms like coralline, and low magnesium, alkalinity, and pH may all also contribute. You may also not have the right species present for your light levels, etc.

[odyssey1]

I have had a problem with getting my corals to grow. They seem to look fine but they dont grow!! I have 2 10,000k 65watt PC and 2 actinic 65watt PC and 2 175watt Oshio HQI Halides. Can you tell me what I should do to help with calcium. My Alk is 3.0 and my Cal. is 400-420. I dont have a PO4 or Mag test kit however I do regular water change every 2 weeks w/ RO/DI water. Please Help!!!!

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The alkalinity and calcium are fine. Many corals just grow slowly.

What corals are you referring to?

[odyssey1]

I have a small bubble coral and a small leather. The polups on the leather are out all of the time and the bubble gets full in mid day but by the evening it starts to shrink. Should you be able to see some growth over say a month or so?

[lastduke]

I have the similar problem. When I used IO salt, the coraline grew not fast, but they grew. I thought RC water has a better reputation and doesn't need me to dose CA, I switched over RC salt, the coralline started to fade off...... last weekend, I bought bucket of IO again......

salinity 1.026
No3 <10ppm
CA 420-450 ppm
alk 10
mg ???unknown:(

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would not assume there is a problem if those two corals do not grow measurably in a month, no. :)

I thought RC water has a better reputation and doesn't need me to dose CA, I switched over RC salt, the coralline started to fade off......

No, that would not be a good assumption. Do you measure calcium and alkalinity in the tank?

[lastduke]

Thank you for input Randy, yes, I did measure before and after I switch the salt. The sality, ALK are same, CA was boosted by your Part1, a little bit higher than RC now.
BTW, I put too much RO/DI water to make Part 1, the solution is diluted :( I have to make some experiements to figure out how much I should dose for the future.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If you know how much you put in you can just scale it, but if you aren't sure, then trial and error will have to do. :)

[lastduke]

Randy, I used two cups "Hardness Plus" by my wife's cooking cup, that is pretty accurate. but I dont' have a 1 gallon container, then I used the scale of my 5 gallon jug (normal white plastic jug). I think that is not accurate scale, more water was poured in.....