Odd coral growth?

Discussion in 'Coral' started by needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012.

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  1. needmorecowbell

    needmorecowbell Torch Coral

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    My tank is a 30 gallon reef with 120w chinese dimmable LEDs and near perfect parameters. I have abnormal growth in my corals though. It seems like the corals grow in spurts. My Monti grows like crazy, then stops. Then my acro sp grows, then stops. This happens more so with my sps compared to anything else, but my lps do this also. Is this normal? If it is, why, and if it isn't, what can I do?

    Thanks :)
     
    needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012
    needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012
    #1

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  2. Astrick117

    Astrick117 Stylophora

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    Do you regularly measure your water params?

    It may be that when you do water changes, it puts the vital mag/cal back into the water, so they take off, but then stop when it is depleted. Then you do another change and they take off again.

    That is the only thing I can think off that is cyclical like that.
     
    Astrick117, Jun 19, 2012
    Astrick117, Jun 19, 2012
    #2
  3. needmorecowbell

    needmorecowbell Torch Coral

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    I do test often, I don't think that's it because I do two water changes a week with water coming from a reservoir I have In my garage. That would also mean that it's the same cal/mag levels every water change.
     
    needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012
    needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012
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  4. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    That would depend on how many stony corals you have in a 30g tank. Some have to dose several times per day to maintain cal, mag, and alk; once you reach a certain usage level, periodic partial water changes cannot keep up.

    What are your current parameters?
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2012
    Mr. Bill, Jun 19, 2012
    Mr. Bill, Jun 19, 2012
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  5. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

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    subscribed.
     
    Seano Hermano, Jun 19, 2012
    Seano Hermano, Jun 19, 2012
    #5
  6. needmorecowbell

    needmorecowbell Torch Coral

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    Undetectable trate, trite, ammo. 430ca, 9alk, and I don't test for mag but it should be fine considering that reefcrystals has ideal levels and I do 3G water changes 2 times a week. My salinity is .026, temp is 78.8
     
    needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012
    needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012
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  7. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    Assuming that anything is fine with this hobby is flirting with disaster. You need to test and maintain cal, mag, and alk with SPS coral. Period.
     
    Mr. Bill, Jun 19, 2012
    Mr. Bill, Jun 19, 2012
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  8. DevinH

    DevinH Montipora Capricornis

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    Don't assume.
     
    DevinH, Jun 19, 2012
    DevinH, Jun 19, 2012
    #8
  9. needmorecowbell

    needmorecowbell Torch Coral

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    Alright, I'll be buying a test kit shortly then. But even if, that wouldn't account for spurts of growth. It would rather be very slow growth, along with alk and calc levels being off. As I'm sure you know, mag makes carbon and calcium not bind while in the water column, letting the corals get the most out of it.
     
    needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012
    needmorecowbell, Jun 19, 2012
    #9
  10. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    I agree with others. On a personal note - I've noticed this behavior with low alk especially. Before my doser, some of my corals were frozen in time.
     
    Matt Rogers, Jun 19, 2012
    Matt Rogers, Jun 19, 2012
    #10
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