SPS growth

[Chuck239]

My coral seems happy but growth is extremely slow. The only thing I can think of is my kDH is on the low end and inhibiting growth. I have a blue acro that has grown maybe 1/2" in over a year. My tank has acro's, birdsnest, catspaw, monti's, frogspawn, etc. Should I just accept the slow growth or try to raise my alkalinty? Here's my tank and water parameters:

36 gallon display, 20 gallon sump/fuge
250w phoenix 14k MH with 48w blue actinic supplementation
high flow with 4 power heads on a wavemaker power strip
PH: 8.0 to 8.2
Calcium: 440 to 460
kDH: 7
Nitrates: 0
Phos: 0
Temp: 80 to 82
I feed the coral a couple times a week with zooplankton and phyto.

 

[wrassefan]

I find that if the corals are happy..don't touch them. It takes months to let them settle in and just grow. I had some sps that stayed brown for a year and then colored up and took off

 

[The Ng Thing]

I agree. Your corals will probably grow faster if you just maintain your tank. Some corals are slow growers anyways.

 

[newenglandreef]

I'd raise your ALK, 7's kind of low--near natural seawater.

 

[jamesdong009]

Half an inch in over a year is pretty slow. How's the growth on your other SPS pieces?

I'd raise your ALK, 7's kind of low--near natural seawater.

I don't think it's low. This is where I generally keep mine and I get moderate/good growth.

 

[Turbosnail]

I find that some sps don't grow until they encrust onto what ever they are attached to then they start to grow.

 

[Bobbofin]

Half an inch in over a year is pretty slow. How's the growth on your other SPS pieces?



I don't think it's low. This is where I generally keep mine and I get moderate/good growth.

My alk has been 7 to 8 dkh for years. All's good!

 

[stingythingy45]

14k phoenix bulbs = slow growth for sps, imo.
I plan to change bulbs back to Ushio this next time.