Coral Growth

[Gryz]

I am relatively new to reef, more into FOWLR and after several months just wanted to know if I was doing everything right.

The tank is a Nano Cube 12 DX with 48w of PC.

I have seen some pretty good growth from my Trumpet corals, but everything else seems to be about the same size. I have only soft corals, with only 1 or 2 LPS.

My favorites are the Zoas, which are doing fine but never seem to multiply.

My calcium stays at a constant 420 with no calcium supplentation, just weekly water changes.

I have the B-Ionic 2 part solution that I have never used, would the daily dosing of this help everything along?

There are no fish in this tank, and only hermits and snails.
Thanks.

[Gryz]

The tank has only been set up for about 7 months, I have read that once I hit the 1 year mark things will usually really start to take off. Just wanted to know if there is anything else I can do...

[gman0526]

Have you noticed an imbalance on your Ca/Alk readings? If not I wouldn't dose the 2 part. Is your nitrate/PO4 readings good? Those can inhibit growth as well. A lightning upgrade wouldn't hurt either.

[reefpaddler]

I know with most of my zoas and mushrooms they were slow to grow but once I saw them start they just kept multipling. I had two pink zoa polyp heads for several months with no change then one day it was four then a week later 6 and now after a year of having them I have about 20 heads. Just be patient. The best thing about nano's is that a little growth can look like a lot. A good piece of advice is to look for things that have fallen or broke off at your local fish store. That is where I got most of the diversity in my tank most for free or just $5.

[maxwellwhothunk]

A lightning upgrade wouldn't hurt either.
WOW that sounds interesting! LOL sorry George, mispellings can be fun!

[gman0526]

A lightning upgrade wouldn't hurt either.
WOW that sounds interesting! LOL sorry George, mispellings can be fun!

:beatdown:

[maxwellwhothunk]

Lightning upgrade, maybe thats why people claim that 'dosing electricity' is stimulating coral growth... I think you stumbled upon something George!

[Gryz]

Caclium and Alk stay pretty constant.

I was thinking about putting in two 10k instead of the two 50/50's.
Zero on all readings.

Perhaps I am just impatient. :oops:

[maxwellwhothunk]

Or maybe you can go with a 6500k :) LOL.... sorry I actually advise against it, because you will hate the look of your tank, and then blame me! But you could do that, put a 6500k in for 6 months or so... let everything grow big... then replace it with 10,000k or 50/50 once its where you want it.

I am sure you have a bit of the impatient bug...

[Gryz]

I have a 6500k on my 2g...absolutely hate it! :evil:
I would take my corals not growing as fast over a 6500k anyday.

I might start to use the B-ionic once a week and see where that gets me...

[maxwellwhothunk]

just make sure you monitor those levels (I probably don't have to tell you this but I figured I would anyway).

And yes 6500k is too yellow for most people's taste. I will have 6500k NOs on my Mushroom propagation tank in my Propagation system. I am also considering using a 250w MH 6500... still up in the air... I dont want to spend too much on this sytstem.

[gman0526]

... I dont want to spend too much on this sytstem.

Now that's a good joke :biggrin: :lol:

[maxwellwhothunk]

......... lol........ ok I would LOVE to spend millions of dollars on this system... but in honesty I can't :(

When all said and done the entire system will cost only about $400-500 not including corals. But I am going to start with corals that I already have.

Yes that is a chunk of change, but I am cutting costs, like having it plumbed into my tank reduces the cost, and time it takes for a tank to cycle.