Facilitating Coral Growth

[Dom]

A while back, I had an issue with the overall heartiness of my tank deteriorating. I came to learn that calcium levels are directly proportional with salinity. By raising it to 35ppt from 32ppt, my coral growth has taken off and the overall appearance of the tank is very good again.

My Zoa frag has carpeted a piece of live rock in just a few weeks, but other frags are very slow to grow. Some have not grown at all.

I'm curious to know; what dictates the rate at which corals absorb calcium for growth? I assume that different coral grow at different rates. But is there some tweaks to water chemistry which I can make that may increase growth rate?

For example, if I increase the calcium level in the tank, will coral grow faster? To use a plant analogy; is there a fertilizer equivalent for coral?

 

[pga7602]

Yah there is. Fish poop!

 

[Lenny_S]

Yah there is. Fish poop!

+1 my tank was under stocked for its size, I added more fish and corals grew more.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

In the published studies I've seen, calcium is not the limiting factor in growth unless it is below about 360 ppm.

Generally, alkalinity is limiting to the rate of calcification. Higher alk gives faster growth.

 

[Dom]

In the published studies I've seen, calcium is not the limiting factor in growth unless it is below about 360 ppm.

Generally, alkalinity is limiting to the rate of calcification. Higher alk gives faster growth.

Based on what I've read, I should dose baking soda to raise ALK? I'm in the normal range, but it is the very low side of normal.

 

[nemo1017]

I would invest in "brs 2 part" if you want to go down that road. Its a good place to start....You could use baking soda but you have to bake it I believe. Anyways brs 2 part is where I started and it helped me figure out how much to dose daily and dial in my numbers to keep up with my lps and sps.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Baking soda is a fine way for an immediate correction, but long term, as nemo mentions, a balanced calcium and alk addition method might be better unless demand is very low and you only once in a while need alk and not calcium. :)

 

[Dom]

Baking soda is a fine way for an immediate correction, but long term, as nemo mentions, a balanced calcium and alk addition method might be better unless demand is very low and you only once in a while need alk and not calcium. :)

Today's Results:

dKH = 8.4
MEQ/L = 3.0

Good numbers; I'm not one to fix what isn't broken.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing. :)

 

[Fishresponse]

Randy - do you recommend using a calcium buffer as a one time correction to bring up calcium levels?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How low is it?

 

[Fishresponse]

It's around 320-360. I have a calcium reactor and consistently add 25-30 mLs of 2 part each day to help buff it but i'm only seeing my alk increase. My calcium seems to stay the same.

 

[Rob Lion]

A while back, I had an issue with the overall heartiness of my tank deteriorating. I came to learn that calcium levels are directly proportional with salinity. By raising it to 35ppt from 32ppt, my coral growth has taken off and the overall appearance of the tank is very good again.

My Zoa frag has carpeted a piece of live rock in just a few weeks, but other frags are very slow to grow. Some have not grown at all.

I'm curious to know; what dictates the rate at which corals absorb calcium for growth? I assume that different coral grow at different rates. But is there some tweaks to water chemistry which I can make that may increase growth rate?

For example, if I increase the calcium level in the tank, will coral grow faster? To use a plant analogy; is there a fertilizer equivalent for coral?

Corals need a whole host of thing to grow, just as we humans do..... getting one thing in the right ball park will not make them grow, they all need to be within the right range for each particular coral species.

If you can, try and stablize the following in this order;

1. Temperature
2. Salinity
3. Ca/Alk/Mg
4. pH / O2 / CO2
5. all the other trace elements (normally done for you in the salt mix)
6. Lighting
7. Water Flow
8. Nutrients (Nitrates, Phosphates, organics etc)
9. Absence of some toxins (Activated carbon will removed most of these)
10. Absence of some irritants (critters/sand/other corals too close etc)

The challenge is that different species require different things, high/med/low flow or lighting is easy to do by just moving the corals, but nutrient needs is where the fun begins :)