Don't ya love it when your tank is doing well?

Yeah, The Colors have really intensified lately. My Red Planet has mostly been kinda brown now it's really turning red again. I think low low phosphates is a key there. I think the ability to test low range phosphates is important and often over looked since most people think theirs is 0 on those high range cards. But it's not really 0.. kinda misleading.

 

Just did a 50 percent water change in the 220 and 3 15 percents since for this same reason. I have noticed the corals have exploded! its great! I changed to reef crystals also.

 

Thanks for the pics. What "cheaper" salt were you using before?

 

I've used coralife salt and recently The regular instant ocean.

 

I have always done 10-15 gal per week with my 65gal and things from the get go have been great!

 

It's such a great feeling isn't when things get back on track. I had algae problem a while ago, and it wonderful to have it gone and things blossoming again.

 

My red planet is a slowww grower. Lots of others are growing fast. Not sure what the deal is. Mine is red with the green contrast on the base. The base has been growing out.

I'm using Coralife salt too. I've been a little lax on my water changes lately though.

 

Barebottom=Success

 

From your description I would say the large water changes(diluting/removing color killing and growth retarding organics) coupled with more light would be the reason for the growth and color improvements. The Reef Crystals are a decent salt but if you read anything of their history in the last 5 years you would most likely skip them...
Thats a different story though.

Kalkwasser is good for mantaining levels of Ca and alk but not all that great if your grow this significant but you don't have much evaporation.. For me for example to use strictly kalk I would have to cram multiple teaspoons per gallon of top off. So folks who get more top off can benefit from kalk more. The nice thing about kalk is that SPS tend to grow faster with higher pH levels...

 

I agree, it's growing, but real slow, especially compared to my other sps corals.