Chalice Freaks..I got a question

[Emoney]

What do you run your ALK at for optimal chalice growth?

Would i have more sucess growing them under T5's ?

Me and a freind got into it about chalice growth last night...He runs his ALK at 7.6-8.0 and grows chalices and z's and p's like crazy..I run mine around 9.6-9.8 and get good growth out of SPS but not so much chalices and zoa's....Any thoughts?

Ty Ed

 

[lReef lKeeper]

Im digging my t5s, but acclimating them to the light is tricky.

I keep my alk at 11, i prefer the higher end cal, alk, and mg.

 

[soccerbag]

There are so many different things about water quality, that it's hard to compare. If you both used the same salt (and salinity) and your other parameters were exact (with same amount of live rock, flow, etc) it would be easier to compare. That being said, I am a chalice freak : ) and I run my alk at 8.0. I know others that grow chalices well with alk around 9.0 as well. As far as lighting goes, some of the best color that I have seen with chalices is under 250W 20K radiums. However, I run a 10 bulb ATI PM over my chalice tank and am thrilled with the colors and growth. Feeding can go a long way in helping growth too. Just a lot of external factors involved ya know? SPS can deal with a higher alk but I don't know anyone personally that runs an LPS tank with a high alk (not to say they aren't out there). So the best of both worlds would be around 8-9 IMO.

Do you intentionally run your alk that high? And what type of lighting are you currently running?

 

[Emoney]

Ive been trying to find a "happy balance" for everything in my tank as why ive been keeping my alk up...I dose so i thinking ill gradually dial my ALK down and see..I have a full on fully mixed reef tank..Running 3 250w 14ks over a 135 6' tank..running them on a blue ways ballasts.

 

[soccerbag]

That's a good lighting setup E. As long as the chalices are on the bottom, you should be fine. Are your chalices receeding or are you just not seeing the growth that you want? Chalices go through periods where they just don't grow much - and then, one day (as long as parameters are stable) they take off! If your SPS are doing fine and the chalices are looking okay, I would be hesitant to recommend a big alk change (I don't think that your alk is too out of line at all).

Perhaps the addition of some Oyster Feast or phytoplankton for feeding would stimulate some growth for you. I run T5's on my display which is mostly SPS but quite a bit of LPS as well. It's a 12 bulb fixture and puts out a lot of light. Good growth on everything.

 

[Emoney]

Just not seeing the growth i want...but i think ill just let it be and see what happens..Ty for all the advice and input

 

[KLR]

I have T5s and my chalices r loving it........the faster growers have about an eye per month slower grower eye every 2 months.........all are midway down

 

[FaviaFreak]

The thing with any coral is stability, figure out where you want to run your Alk and keep it there. Chalice's are notoriously slooow growers, feeding will definitely help but keep in mind that once they are fully healed and they reach a certain size (usually the size of a quarter) they will take off with growth.

 

[amore169]

I think Mg plays a big role in keeping my LPS happy too, I keep mine around 1400.

 

[Emoney]

I make sure and stay on top of my MG..runs around 1400 also..Noticed when it drops LPS dont look as happy

 

[Maximus]

Which mg test kit do you guys use?

 

[soccerbag]

I use Salifert but I take all test kits with a grain of salt...: )

 

[amore169]

I use Elos.

 

[Emoney]

Elos Hear too

 

[soccerbag]

You guys pleased with Elos? May have to try them. btw, that Gem Tang in your avatar is incredible amore!

 

[Novi]

I keep my Alk at 8.2. My Calcium is at 480 and my Mag is at 1400. Everything grows really good and fast.

 

[TheLivingReef]

In my experience chalices seem to grow in stages. You'll notice it spreading, then stop spreading and start popping out eyes. Then it will spread again and repeat.