Need some advice

[Carz]

Restarted my 250 MD back in April. I went bare bottom and reused my rock that was bleached and acid washed. I then ran the rock in a tub with heat and starter culture for 6-8 weeks before setting up the MD. My parameters are as follows:

PH= 7.91
Salinity= 1.025
Temp= 77.2
Alk=m 9.4
Cal= 430
Mag= 1350
Nitrate= 5.4
Phos-= .09

I ran these parameters for years with no problems. Corals are just not looking like I expected. I dont have many frags but they are just not growing as expected. I even had a few heads die on the frogspawn. I feed roids on Wed and dose eco balance on Sundays. Only dosing small amounts of nitrates and Alk and Cal. I run a T5 hybrid with 2 AI 26 lights. I have a par meter and got the par where it should be. Now the duncan looks great as normal.

Thoughts??

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

I think the tank looks good based on the tank's age. I think if you are having struggles it is likely from a young, bare-bottom, dryrock tank. Biodiversity comes much faster with liverock and sand IMO. You are still under a year old which is still young for a bare-bottom tank.

 

[Carz]

I do have a 5' sump and its loaded with marine pure blocks and 40lbs of sand as well. I know its still young. I am not in a rush to add new corals yet. What I have are the leftovers.