How fast are everyone's Small Polyp Stony Corals growing?

I was wondering how fast everyone’s SPS corals grow. My tank is 10 months old and I have 760 watts of lighting (6.33 watts per gallon). My Birdsnest is definitely my fastest grower. I would say it grows about a quarter inch every month, to month and a half. My Aquacultured Chips Acropora and Tri-Color Northwood’s Acropora purchased from LiveAquaria are my fastest growing acropora corals. I have just recently noticed growth on my Kimbeensis and Tortuosa. All of my frags were purchased from LiveAquaria and have been in my tank for 8 months. I haven’t noticed any growth with my Blue Tenuis. Also what are everyone’s levels and lighting conditions so I can get a better idea of how much faster corals grow under pristine conditions.


I use ESV two part calcium and alkalinity. I haven't had a problem with my calcium levels being low. I have a hard time keeping my KH (Alkalinity) and Magnesium stable. My current KH is 6.4 and my Magnesium is 1110. I added ESV's Magnesium and tested the levels the next day and they go up to 1190 and then back down to 1090 the next day. Maybe my skimmer is really taking a lot of my trace elements and Magnesium out. I want my Magnesium to be at 1300. My Calcium is 448 using Tropic Marin's Calcium Test Kit.

Page 1

 

My Montipora grows so much faster than my Acro's. And the Capricornis is faster than my Digitata!
I am using 250 watt metal halides 14000 and 20000K bulbs!!!
I am going to get a 400watt HQI DE metal halide pendant asap>

 

Your Mg should be in the 1,300's. Instead of buying that expensive Mg suppliment just go to Walmart and get some Epsom Salt, it's Magnesium Sulphate. :-/
Throw about a 1/2 cup in and test tomorrow to see how much it raised it, I don't know what your water volume is. I used 3 cups to raise about 325 gal of water 215ppm. I have been adding about a cup every 2 weeks to keep my Mg up. That may be your problem.
Sounds like you need to invest in a Ca reactor and be over dosing all the time.
Use this Calculators for Mg and just select Epsom Salt

 

Mag, plays a critical role in the uptake of cal. in the long run which can inhibit growth if not adjusted, but I would check your organic buildup levels. In larger tanks it is more likley than not that the flow is creating problems with breakdown of low order organics.

 

Ours grow rather quickly.. like almost doubling in size every 6 months or so.. I found high strontium levels along with DKH at 16 and ca at 450 to 500 and Mag at 1500 kicks them in to over drive. I make a stock solution of 8 Tsp. or Powdered stont to 16 ozs of R/O water and I does that over a week or so period.. About 2 ozs a day in a 180 Strontium is critical in growing and healing bones.. Coral skeleton are used to replace some bone damage.. But in the lst 5 yrs since doesing the Stontium the corals and clams grow so fast.. Its unreal..

 

Nitrates will aid in the increased growth of corals! Strontium acts much in the same way as calcium for hermatypic corals to be able to deposit calcium carbonate for their growth.
Bulb coloration and PSR can effect the growth of corals as well.
The amount of water flow and how it moves will, ultimately, plays a major role in the structure and how your stonies grow, much in the same way it effects corals in the natural habitat with waves, surges etc.