No Coral Growth

[drm180]

After watching my 2 new clowfish in my BTA and thinking about how it was too small, I realized that nothing has really grown in my tank since I set it up. It has been almost a year now and the only thing I've been able to grow is halimeda algae. Everything I has looks healthy but just doesn't seen to thrive. Even my xenia has only two stalks, as it did when I bought it 6 months ago. I have 3 rics, a torch, zoas, and a BTA and none of them will grow.

Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate - 0
Phosphate - 0
Calcium - 480ppm
KH - 6 dKH, normally around 8 though

Any advice?

 

[Bifferwine]

What kind of lights do you have?

 

[drm180]

Nova Extreme 4 bulb. 2 10,000K and 2 Actinic. 96 watts in all of HO. They're on for 10 hours a day.

 

[Dana42078]

What kind of bulbs?

 

[lilduud]

have you replaced your bulbs since you first started using the fixture?and is that the fixture youve had all along?

 

[drm180]

I haven't replaced the bulbs. I've had it for 10months and had this one the whole time. I use the slimpaq bulbs or whatever that came with the fixure.

 

[yote]

Bring you alk up.Then test your magnesium.Whats your salinity and temp?

 

[drm180]

I don't have a mag test. I'll see if I can pick one up today. Specific gravity is 1.025 and temp is 78

 

[Dana42078]

I'd def change those bulbs out but that's just my opinion

 

[cageburn]

the bulbs are still probably good that shouldnt be the issue, either way Id replace the bulbs sooner than later. do you dose alk n calcium? If not definitly look into it. Water changes definitly help replenish nutrients too. Keep it mind some corals dont grow vary fast.

 

[drm180]

I don't dose anything. I just keep a phosban and carbon reactor from time to time and do water changes. Are my levels not right?

 

[yote]

Your DKH needs to come up to at least 8 DKH.

 

[drm180]

This is the first time my DKH has been below 8 so that wouldn't have caused the lack of growth before. I am doing a water change now to try to bring it up.

 

[yote]

You'd probably have to do a huge water change to move the DKH that much,depending on what brand salt your using.

When I first got into the hobby,it took nearly a year before I noticed ANY coral growth.So maybe its just something that needs time with your tank.:dunno:

 

[Bifferwine]

Don't feel bad. Nothing but zoas have grown in my tank in the last year either. :(

 

[jonasw]

4 things to make sure: water quality all within parameters, lighting and bulbs to be replaced every 6 months and water flow, minerals & supplements.

You have those variables in control and you will see your corals thrive.

 

[drm180]

Okay. I'm going to order new lights after Christmas. Is the slimpaq from Nova good or is there a better rand to get? Thanks to everyone. I'm going to get my DKH up and just keep working on it.

 

[MushroomXombies]

I like ATI

 

[jonasw]

Okay. I'm going to order new lights after Christmas. Is the slimpaq from Nova good or is there a better rand to get? Thanks to everyone. I'm going to get my DKH up and just keep working on it.

Good luck ! Sure you will be able to have beautiful tank very soon, need little work and persistence. My last advise: check the salinity, simple things but many times overlook. Not sure about the Nova brand, check review.

 

[sen5241b]

My trumpets and mushrooms are growing like crazy but then I feed them almost every day.