How does low Ca/alk affects softies growth?

[jcjule]

I have this readings constantly
alk 6 - 7
Ca 320 - 370

I am working on increasing calc and alk but i would like to know how this low parameters affect soft corals growth (xenia, polyps,zoos..) since they are growing very slow and since they dont build calcium structures

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The ones you mention, it may not help all that much. Some others have calcium carbonate structures inside, and for those it may help more. :)

[jcjule]

So, if high Ca and Alk dont increase growth in soft corals, what parameters should i monitor? Iodine perhaps?

My mushrooms reproduce very fast
A candy cane has tripled its size in 1 year
However i dont seem to be able to keep grow xenias, zoas and polyps

My other params:
Size: 38g
SG: 1.026
temp 73-79 (night / day)
NO3: 0ppm
PO4: 0ppm
ph: 8.2
weekly waterchange of 4-5 gal in a 40g setup using reef crystals

This is quite frustrating..
I don't feel like adding any more corals until i know whats going on.....

[CoralChris]

So, if high Ca and Alk dont increase growth in soft corals, what parameters should i monitor? Iodine perhaps?

My mushrooms reproduce very fast
A candy cane has tripled its size in 1 year
However i dont seem to be able to keep grow xenias, zoas and polyps

My other params:
Size: 38g
SG: 1.026
temp 73-79 (night / day)
NO3: 0ppm
PO4: 0ppm
ph: 8.2
weekly waterchange of 4-5 gal in a 40g setup using reef crystals

This is quite frustrating..
I don't feel like adding any more corals until i know whats going on.....


holy temperature swing, 6 degrees is a drastic change to have. anything u can do to get the temp more constant?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do not believe that soft corals require any supplemental iodine. I'm not sure what chemical issues might boost growth, but light and proper nutrient levels may be beneficial. I doubt a supplement of the typical reef type will help. :)

[jcjule]

PLEASE HELP...
STILL WITH PROBLEMS AND HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT TO DO

My mushrooms haven't look good in about a week. They are totally closed,
Lost all my xenias
Yellow polyps look really bad
A little zoanthid colony is not opening at all...
I'm afraid of a tank crash... except for a flourishing candy cane and a star polyp that seem to love the dying soft corals

I have stabilized temp. to 77-79 (night-day)
My other params are:
pH:8.4
SG: 1.027
NO3: 15ppm (probably boosted as i lost my xenias)
PO4: 0ppm (no traces of algae that might consume PO4 eather)
CA: 400ppm
alk: 7 dKH
ohh... and weekly waterchange of 5 gallons

Please help... i'm clueless

[Toddrtrex]

What lights do you have?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Salt mix?

Tap Water?

Any brass or other metal parts in the system?

[Frick-n-Frags]

temp swings are about the ONLY variable parameter in the real ocean.

also, lagoon critters can get cooked in tide pools to retarded temps. so, -1 on the temp issue.

those barely low parameters aren't going to slow happy softies down. it's something else.

[jcjule]

What lights do you have?

I have 3 x 10,000K T12s running 10 hours...

[jcjule]

Salt mix?

Tap Water?

Any brass or other metal parts in the system?

No tap water, i have a RODI system

[jcjule]

I just found out that i have a huge vermetid snail boom, they are next to corals, in the skimmer, powerheads and of course all over the rocks...
I just found out they can (sometimes) be detrimental to corals... however this is the first time they seem to bother corals...
I think i will have a nice "V snail elimination night tonight"... just in case!

Any more ideas???

[bearpeidog]

I would try larger water changes - can't really hurt. I believe you indicated that you are changing 5 gallons weekly on a 125 gallon system. Perhaps larger water changes might help you get through whatever is affecting your corals.

Updated: Sorry - you said 38 gallons in your tank. I read your signature which showed a 125 gallon. Sorry for the confusion! You might want to check your magnesium levels as well.

[Doobze]

Chemical warfare? The fact that you have one group thriving and another dying points leads me to suspect corals that are unhappy with each other's presence in the tank.