Coral Growth Issues

[thedistance]

I've had my tank set up for about 7 months now and I haven't seen much, if any coral growth. They all seem healthy, but not growing. I seem to have a very small brown diatom issue as well. After doing some Reddit research I found this is due to my 0 phosphate and 0 nitrate. What do I dose? How much? Any recomendations? Does PH have an effect on growth as well? Thank you for your help in advance.

30G Mr Aqua Cube

Oase Biomaster Thermo 600

Seachem Matrix Bio Media

Chemi pure elite - might switch to Blue

Purigen

AI Prime 16 HD with BRS recommended settings for my cube (18x18x18)



Corals:

3 Hammers

1 Octo/Frogspawn

1 Elegance

1 Torch that got bleached

1 Hairy Mushroom

1 Green Star polyp

1 Purple Star polyp

1 Bubble Tip Anemone



Parameters

Mag -1470

KH - 161.1

Phosphate - 0

Nitrate -0

Calcium - 476

Salinity - 33ppt

 

[Garf]

I've had my tank set up for about 7 months now and I haven't seen much, if any coral growth. They all seem healthy, but not growing. I seem to have a very small brown diatom issue as well. After doing some Reddit research I found this is due to my 0 phosphate and 0 nitrate. What do I dose? How much? Any recomendations? Does PH have an effect on growth as well? Thank you for your help in advance.

30G Mr Aqua Cube

Oase Biomaster Thermo 600

Seachem Matrix Bio Media

Chemi pure elite - might switch to Blue

Purigen

AI Prime 16 HD with BRS recommended settings for my cube (18x18x18)



Corals:

3 Hammers

1 Octo/Frogspawn

1 Elegance

1 Torch that got bleached

1 Hairy Mushroom

1 Green Star polyp

1 Purple Star polyp

1 Bubble Tip Anemone



Parameters

Mag -1470

KH - 161.1

Phosphate - 0

Nitrate -0

Calcium - 476

Salinity - 33ppt

What’s the Alkalinity again?

 

[homer1475]

What’s the Alkalinity again?

9 DKH
UK they use PPM.

 

[homer1475]

Do you have any algae growing anywhere?

I wouldn't necessarily believe the 0 nitrate if there was algae present.

 

[Garf]

No fish or clean up crew?

 

[blasterman]

Feed more.

 

[thedistance]

Do you have any algae growing anywhere?

I wouldn't necessarily believe the 0 nitrate if there was algae present.

No. Slight brown Diatom on a rock and on the glass. That is it. I also top off with fresh water with Seachem Safe FYI.

 

[thedistance]

No fish or clean up crew?

A pair of black snowflake clowns
1 Midas Blenny
1 Purple Firefish
1 Fire shrimp
15 blue leg hermits
5 Astraea snails

 

[Flippers4pups]

I've had my tank set up for about 7 months now and I haven't seen much, if any coral growth. They all seem healthy, but not growing. I seem to have a very small brown diatom issue as well. After doing some Reddit research I found this is due to my 0 phosphate and 0 nitrate. What do I dose? How much? Any recomendations? Does PH have an effect on growth as well? Thank you for your help in advance.

30G Mr Aqua Cube

Oase Biomaster Thermo 600

Seachem Matrix Bio Media

Chemi pure elite - might switch to Blue

Purigen

AI Prime 16 HD with BRS recommended settings for my cube (18x18x18)



Corals:

3 Hammers

1 Octo/Frogspawn

1 Elegance

1 Torch that got bleached

1 Hairy Mushroom

1 Green Star polyp

1 Purple Star polyp

1 Bubble Tip Anemone



Parameters

Mag -1470

KH - 161.1

Phosphate - 0

Nitrate -0

Calcium - 476

Salinity - 33ppt

First, diatoms won't take hold of you have low nutrients, they can grow from silicates from your water, rocks or sand.

Any "brown" stuff needs to be ID'd with a microscope to see what it is. Could be dinoflagellates, could be diatoms.....

Low nutrients can be elevated by reducing your water changes, taking a skimmer off line for a period of time or dosing N03 and or P04. Feeding move isn't something I personally would do as it may foul your water.

 

[thedistance]

First, diatoms won't take hold of you have low nutrients, they can grow from silicates from your water, rocks or sand.

Any "brown" stuff needs to be ID'd with a microscope to see what it is. Could be dinoflagellates, could be diatoms.....

Low nutrients can be elevated by reducing your water changes, taking a skimmer off line for a period of time or dosing N03 and or P04. Feeding move isn't something I personally would do as it may foul your water.

I just assumed the diatoms (if that's what I even have) are from the freshwater top off and having some silicates in it. I'm getting an ATO soon and I'll be using RO water in it.

I've only done 2 water changes since I started. I have no skimmer.

Any recommendations on specific products to dose? Brightwell NeoPhos/NeoNitro?

 

[Flippers4pups]

I just assumed the diatoms (if that's what I even have) are from the freshwater top off and having some silicates in it. I'm getting an ATO soon and I'll be using RO water in it.

I've only done 2 water changes since I started. I have no skimmer.

Any recommendations on specific products to dose? Brightwell NeoPhos/NeoNitro?

Have you tested for silicates with a test kit?

Brightwell products are fine.

 

[thedistance]

Have you tested for silicates with a test kit?

Brightwell products are fine.

I have not tested for silicates. Would low PH affect coral growth too?

 

[Flippers4pups]

I have not tested for silicates. Would low PH affect coral growth too?

Typically water parameter swings, lack of nutrients, general stability is key.

 

[thedistance]

Typically water parameter swings, lack of nutrients, general stability is key.

Ill test for silicates.

So the recommendation is to dose? Based on my parameters that is why I have almost zero coral growth?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Ill test for silicates.

So the recommendation is to dose? Based on my parameters that is why I have almost zero coral growth?

I would discontinue the Chem pure and Purigen. These will strip your water of nutrients that your trying to keep elevated. Do this for a few weeks and see if your nutrients come up first.

Coral growth in a fairly new tank is going to be slow anyway.

 

[thedistance]

I would discontinue the Chem pure and Purigen. These will strip your water of nutrients that your trying to keep elevated. Do this for a few weeks and see if your nutrients come up first.

Coral growth in a fairly new tank is going to be slow anyway.

I can try that.

 

[thedistance]

Update - I discontinued the Chem pure and Purigen on 11/26/20.

New Parameters:

Mag - 144o

Cal – 472

Phosphate – 0.25

Nitrate – 0 -5.0

The only growth I've noticed is in my GSP. One of my hammers doesn't look as good and my bubble tip anemone might be dying.

Since I stopped with the Chem Pure and Purigen I have brown algae/diatoms growing on the glass everywhere all of the time and I have hairy brown algae growing on some of my rocks and sand.