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Unread 10/22/2019, 12:10 PM   #1
Daddyrawg
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My SPS wont grow

can you guys spot my issue as to why my SPS (ACROPORAS) look ok but just wont grow?

90 gallon with 20 gal sump

2 165w CBB's viparspectras for lights
Protien skimmer and L2 algae turf scrubber by Turboaquatics

Tank running for 1.5 years pretty stable all around
Parameters
Nitrates = 2
phoshphates = .04
magnesium = 1305
calcium = 420
dkh = 7.3
salinity 1.025
Temp 79

5% wkly water changes with red sea blue bucket
I don't dose. but have the supplies to start dosing.

I do use reef roids and marine snow once in a while
Thx


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Unread 10/22/2019, 12:14 PM   #2
mcgyvr
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Give us a timeframe..
Been growing SPS for ? months now
Have had corals that haven't shown growth in ? months..

Often times SPS growth is slow.. Sometimes taking pictures and comparing after a few months is the only way..

If I had to get "picky" your alk is lower than I would suggest if SPS growth is your target.. You could be 8.5-9 (or more) with your nutrient levels easily.. Same for calcium..

And of course lighting.. Got a PAR meter? Some report great results with CBB lights.. others not so much.. Thought about T5 supplement?


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Unread 10/22/2019, 12:18 PM   #3
Daddyrawg
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcgyvr View Post
Give us a timeframe..
Been growing SPS for ? months now
Have had corals that haven't shown growth in ? months..

Often times SPS growth is slow.. Sometimes taking pictures and comparing after a few months is the only way..

If I had to get "picky" your alk is lower than I would suggest if SPS growth is your target.. You could be 8.5-9 (or more) with your nutrient levels easily.. Same for calcium..

And of course lighting.. Got a PAR meter? Some report great results with CBB lights.. others not so much.. Thought about T5 supplement?
Ive had the tank for over 1.5 yrs and introduced my acros about 5 months ago. The lost color at one point and browned out but I think they are slowly coming back. don;t have a par meter, who does? havent thought about T5 supplements


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Unread 10/22/2019, 12:32 PM   #4
Daddyrawg
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcgyvr View Post
Give us a timeframe..
Been growing SPS for ? months now
Have had corals that haven't shown growth in ? months..

Often times SPS growth is slow.. Sometimes taking pictures and comparing after a few months is the only way..

If I had to get "picky" your alk is lower than I would suggest if SPS growth is your target.. You could be 8.5-9 (or more) with your nutrient levels easily.. Same for calcium..

And of course lighting.. Got a PAR meter? Some report great results with CBB lights.. others not so much.. Thought about T5 supplement?
so add say a couple T5 lights in addition to the lights I currently run?


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Unread 10/22/2019, 01:35 PM   #5
djryan2000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daddyrawg View Post
can you guys spot my issue as to why my SPS (ACROPORAS) look ok but just wont grow?

90 gallon with 20 gal sump

2 165w CBB's viparspectras for lights
Protien skimmer and L2 algae turf scrubber by Turboaquatics

Tank running for 1.5 years pretty stable all around
Parameters
Nitrates = 2
phoshphates = .04
magnesium = 1305
calcium = 420
dkh = 7.3
salinity 1.025
Temp 79

5% wkly water changes with red sea blue bucket
I don't dose. but have the supplies to start dosing.

I do use reef roids and marine snow once in a while
Thx


I don’t know much about the lights you’re using but your alkalinity and calcium look a little low. I’d (slowly) raise the dkh and calcium - maybe try dosing. That being said acros are terrible slow growers so maybe you just don’t see it yet.

One final note - I’ve never owned acros or similar to take my advice with a grain of salt, but that’s what I’d say based on the information I’ve gathered by experienced reefers.


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Unread 10/22/2019, 03:37 PM   #6
Uncle99
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Alk is low, I run a 65g with two Visparspectra 165w.
Your PH is likely a bit on the low side as well.

Not the best lighting for Acros, but easily grow all else.
T5’s seem to produce better growth and colour.

I would increase Alk to 8.5 over a few days,


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Unread 10/22/2019, 08:14 PM   #7
Daddyrawg
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Originally Posted by Uncle99 View Post
Alk is low, I run a 65g with two Visparspectra 165w.

Your PH is likely a bit on the low side as well.



Not the best lighting for Acros, but easily grow all else.

T5’s seem to produce better growth and colour.



I would increase Alk to 8.5 over a few days,
Ok, you think I should add a couple T5s? I would need to get a fixture.

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Unread 10/22/2019, 08:53 PM   #8
Daddi0
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So the alk on Red Sea is 8.2-8.5 yet your alk is only 7.3 - I would start to dose some alk to bring you tank level to your salt level. Dose calcium also. Bring nitrates up a bit maybe with some ME polyp extender (will add aminos). How is your flow?
Cheers! Mark


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Unread 10/22/2019, 09:22 PM   #9
Daddyrawg
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So the alk on Red Sea is 8.2-8.5 yet your alk is only 7.3 - I would start to dose some alk to bring you tank level to your salt level. Dose calcium also. Bring nitrates up a bit maybe with some ME polyp extender (will add aminos). How is your flow?
Cheers! Mark
Red sea is 7.7 not 8.2 to 8.5... I have 2 jebao wavemakers...I think getting nitrates up is a good idea tho.

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Unread 10/22/2019, 10:01 PM   #10
Daddi0
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I always thought it mixed a bit higher - my bad!


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Unread 10/23/2019, 09:32 AM   #11
Daddyrawg
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I am thinking of adding (2) ATI T5's along with my 2 Vipars 165w. tank is 4' long.
what is a good length for the T5's? I was thinking 1 coral plus and 1 blue plus.


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Unread 10/23/2019, 12:14 PM   #12
Uncle99
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daddyrawg View Post
I am thinking of adding (2) ATI T5's along with my 2 Vipars 165w. tank is 4' long.
what is a good length for the T5's? I was thinking 1 coral plus and 1 blue plus.
As long as will permit.
Yup, I think that's a great idea, the 1+1 will diffuse your light, that's mostly the problem with individual LED lights like VIsparspectra, this configuration does not blend the light well. In addition, the intensity and colour mix is preset.


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Unread 10/23/2019, 12:39 PM   #13
Daddyrawg
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As long as will permit.

Yup, I think that's a great idea, the 1+1 will diffuse your light, that's mostly the problem with individual LED lights like VIsparspectra, this configuration does not blend the light well. In addition, the intensity and colour mix is preset.
Thx, what does diffuse my lights mean?

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Unread 10/23/2019, 03:16 PM   #14
djryan2000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daddyrawg View Post
don;t have a par meter, who does? havent thought about T5 supplements

Bulk reef supply will let you rent a par meter. Your LFS might as well depending on the store.



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Unread 10/23/2019, 04:20 PM   #15
Daddyrawg
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As long as will permit.
Yup, I think that's a great idea, the 1+1 will diffuse your light, that's mostly the problem with individual LED lights like VIsparspectra, this configuration does not blend the light well. In addition, the intensity and colour mix is preset.
ok I am thinking 3' lights not 4'.. I think 3' is plenty long enough.


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Unread 10/23/2019, 05:11 PM   #16
Oldreeferman
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I use T5HOs & love them for coral growth over LED any day, don't short yourself get the 4" fixtures & bulbs or else the tanks ends will suffer. They spread the light wonderfully but its reflectors spread the light in width for no shadowing, not length. If you go a foot short that will give shadows at the tanks ends.


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Unread 10/23/2019, 05:42 PM   #17
Daddyrawg
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I use T5HOs & love them for coral growth over LED any day, don't short yourself get the 4" fixtures & bulbs or else the tanks ends will suffer. They spread the light wonderfully but its reflectors spread the light in width for no shadowing, not length. If you go a foot short that will give shadows at the tanks ends.
Thank you

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Unread 10/23/2019, 06:50 PM   #18
whiterushen
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I've been experiencing the same thing---slow growth

Hi, i've just returned to the reefing hobby and completely new to SPS corals. My parameters:
1.026 sal
450 calc
1370 mag
9.2 ALK
hydra 26 for a 20g shallow nuvo

My problem might be time---i've only been running this tank 2.5 months (but bought tank established so livestock started right away)---

I have noticed that keeping a close eye on them, corals will let you know if something else in the tank is affecting them. I recently treated my tank for red cyno bloom--and the algae bloom seemed to be affecting the oxygen intake for the corals (seeming to choke out the small polyps)---treated the tank, SPSs are showing stronger colors and the small polyps in some pieces are coming back out. I just figure it will take more time to see results. I acquired some larger SPSs from a 3 year old tank.


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Unread 10/25/2019, 07:11 AM   #19
Uncle99
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Thx, what does diffuse my lights mean?

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Spread out, not so focused, colours well mixed.


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Unread 10/25/2019, 07:14 AM   #20
Uncle99
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Your prob is time.
Each coral must settle.
Some take months
Parameters must stay stable


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Unread 10/28/2019, 02:35 PM   #21
hkgar
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http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2253547


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180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx

Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels
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Unread 11/05/2019, 02:33 PM   #22
Sk8r
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Be sure none of them are wobbling in the current. You might nudge your dkh up at least to 7.9. I prefer 8.3. And lighting. Lighting is major.


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Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low.

Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.
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Unread 11/05/2019, 02:35 PM   #23
Daddyrawg
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Be sure none of them are wobbling in the current. You might nudge your dkh up at least to 7.9. I prefer 8.3. And lighting. Lighting is major.
I got it up to 8.0 and added 2 T5 lights.4' .ati coral plus and blue plus..well see how it goes.

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Unread 11/05/2019, 06:16 PM   #24
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I think you will be very happy with the T5 lighting results in a month or so. Good tube choices for the T5s. Take a few pics now then do it again in a month.


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Unread 11/05/2019, 06:27 PM   #25
Daddyrawg
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I think you will be very happy with the T5 lighting results in a month or so. Good tube choices for the T5s. Take a few pics now then do it again in a month.
Good idea..ok thank you..the retrofit kit I got wasn't too bad to install.

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