I'm puzzled by the lack of coral growth in my tank.

[Dom]

If the hammer and zoa's are different from what you had in the other tank then this is my thoughts. I have in my reef at least 6-7 Euphyllia (yes I know but that is what everyone calls them so back off) LOL. I have tons of zoa all different. My very first hammer has only maybe doubled in size and went from two head to three in three years. I have a hammer I purchased with two small heads and in now 5 inches across and has 13 heads and it's only been a year and a half. The rest of the Euphyllia are in-between these two in growth. My zoa's the same way. I have a a bunch on smaller head Zoa's that are beautiful and heathy but not much growth, while I have a few that are growing too plague Level and will not be going into my new 120. All of this in the same tank. The zoa's I have issues with are up in the acro zone and are receiving higher par. That being said I also have fast growing zoa's in the middle of the tank. So it may be just slow growing strains. The other is how long has the tank been set up? It can take a while for coral to adapt to a new tank and lights before they take off. I agree with vettguy on par and phos. This is my setup and parameters.

4ft 75
6 bulb T5 4 blue+ 1 coral+ 1 actinic.

Cal 425-450
Alk 9.5-10
Mag 1425-1450
Phos .03-.1
Nitrates 25-50
Ph steady 8.3
30 gallon water change in a 100 gallon system every two weeks using reef crystals
Reef crystals 1.025 refractometer calibrated every use. I make sure the swings are minimal and use an ATO.

I test my new water and dose to match my tank parameters prior to water changes.

I just started dosing AB+ at a quarter of the recommended dose. Am now using Tropic Marin NP Bacto Balance . This is carbon dosing for a tank with stable phos and nitrates and I've seen a different, whether in my head or not, in a short time. Supposedly it is a form of carbon that bad bacteria can't use but the good bacteria can.

This is the 125 in which you helped me deploy dosing.

Growth slowed to a crawl since I have stopped doing water changes and dosing only. It may be time for me to set up a legit mixing station and get back to doing them..

 

[Cichlid Dad]

This is the 125 in which you helped me deploy dosing.

Growth slowed to a crawl since I have stopped doing water changes and dosing only. It may be time for me to set up a legit mixing station.

Yes, I remember. My mixing station is a 32 gallon Rubbermaid, a cheap 25.00 return pump and a heater.. I add rodi, mix salt when water Is at temperature. Use the pump to pull 30 gallons out and then move the pump to the Rubbermaid to pump in new water. I know that if I skip water changes, do to laziness, my coral didn't look as good. Just my observation

 

[rtparty]

10% weekly water changes is plenty. 20% would be much better on a bi-weekly schedule.

I would look into possibly deploying a balling hybrid method by adding Tropic Marin Part C and then their A and K elements. The A and K elements are added to your current 2 part so it’s super easy

 

[sunshinesea]

Feeding Coral also helps, Are you feeding it?

 

[reefluvrr]

I am curious if you may altered the coral holobiont bacteria of your corals or of your tank?
When you switched from old to new tank, did you treat your corals with antibiotics or whole tank treatment of something? I also wonder sometimes if I dip my corals too long in a bath for pests, did I harm the beneficial coral holobiont that may be necessary for our corals to grow?

 

[Dom]

Yes, I remember. My mixing station is a 32 gallon Rubbermaid, a cheap 25.00 return pump and a heater.. I add rodi, mix salt when water Is at temperature. Use the pump to pull 30 gallons out and then move the pump to the Rubbermaid to pump in new water. I know that if I skip water changes, do to laziness, my coral didn't look as good. Just my observation

In terms of replenishment, I think I'm lacking a lot by dosing and not doing water changes.

My next thread: Building my mixing station and getting back to water changes.

 

[Borat]

Dont feel like a loser - just because your corals grow less than 1 inch a day!

 

[Dom]

Feeding Coral also helps, Are you feeding it?

I never feed my corals and always had plenty of growth. My Zoas were growing so fast, they actually became a bit of a pest. Perhaps feeding is something I should begin.

 

[Dom]

When you switched from old to new tank, did you treat your corals with antibiotics or whole tank treatment of something? I also wonder sometimes if I dip my corals too long in a bath for pests, did I harm the beneficial coral holobiont that may be necessary for our corals to grow?

I've never dipped a coral. And if I did, it wouldn't be these as I have owned them for years.

When I moved everything over, it was new water and substrate. Temp and salinity matched. Then I moved everything over.

 

[Dom]

Dont feel like a loser - just because your corals grow less than 1 inch a day!

I'm not sure how to respond to this, so I won't.

 

[Dom]

coral holobiont bacteria of your corals or of your tank?

I've never heard of this. Will you please expand on this point?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I'm not sure how to respond to this, so I won't.

Like this

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I'm not sure how to respond to this, so I won't.

Or like this

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I'm not sure how to respond to this, so I won't.

This also works

 

[reefluvrr]

I've never heard of this. Will you please expand on this point?

How much old rock did you transfer from old tank to new tank?
How old is the new tank now?

Coral Holobiont basically means the community of bacteria/virus/fungi that lives inside the coral that helps the growth of corals. Think of it like bacteria in our own gut. If coral holobiont bacteria is disturbed, then it could affect coral growth. (i.e. they could have been reduced or all killed by doing aggressive in tank treatment of antibiotics.)


Another possible scenario may be something like your tin level being too high. I believe it was Adam from Battlecorals that dealt with high tin levels from having new PVC plumbing on his new tank system. Do you have ICP test on your new tank?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

In terms of replenishment, I think I'm lacking a lot by dosing and not doing water changes.

My next thread: Building my mixing station and getting back to water changes.

Let me ask, how much are you having to dose at this point

 

[Reefering1]

Dont feel like a loser - just because your corals grow less than 1 inch a day!

I'm not sure how to respond to this, so I won't.

I believe he is saying that corals grow slow, don't feel like a loser because they aren't growing a inch a day. Sounds like words of encouragement to me

 

[Dom]

I believe he is saying that corals grow slow, don't feel like a loser because they aren't growing a inch a day. Sounds like words of encouragement to me

Without tone of voice and inflection, misunderstandings happen with the written word.

 

[Dom]

Let me ask, how much are you having to dose at this point

I'll look at the settings on the dosing unit and get back to you.

 

[jimk60]

How much old rock did you transfer from old tank to new tank?
How old is the new tank now?

Coral Holobiont basically means the community of bacteria/virus/fungi that lives inside the coral that helps the growth of corals. Think of it like bacteria in our own gut. If coral holobiont bacteria is disturbed, then it could affect coral growth. (i.e. they could have been reduced or all killed by doing aggressive in tank treatment of antibiotics.)


Another possible scenario may be something like your tin level being too high. I believe it was Adam from Battlecorals that dealt with high tin levels from having new PVC plumbing on his new tank system. Do you have ICP test on your new tank?

I think the whole coral holobiont think is a little understood or discussed topic which plays a very important role in our systems.