Growing corals successfully is as easy as 1, 2 and 3!

[revhtree]

Growing corals successfully is as easy as 1, 2 and 3 or Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium. Get these BIG three in order and stable and you can grow any thing you want to grow!

Over the years I've struggled with certain corals that others have had high success rates with. Only when I achieved proper and stable levels of Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium was I able to be successful. STABILITY IS THE KEY!! I've found that corals will somewhat adapt to flow, lighting conditions etc. but not these big 3 elements.

Can you agree with this assessment and what would you add?

image via @Broadfield

 

[BestMomEver]

Water movement, light, water... in that order. At least that’s my experience. Corals can grow in less than ideal water. Case in point, most everyone has “different” water. Every tank is different, right?

But water movement and light are crucial.

 

[kkiel02]

Yes but you also need good flow and lighting.

 

[W.Lane]

Howdy, Revhtree

Yes that is the key. I test the water all the time about every 3 to 4 days. try to keep it spot on .
lots of keys in this hobby and the next key is lights
And flow..the next key..

 

[revhtree]

Yes but you also need good flow and lighting.

Yes of course but I feel like corals can adapt to lighting and flow better than the big three. You agree?

 

[ReefGeezer]

Stability of the big 3 is absolutely required... particularly for more sensitive corals. But, IMO, that needed stability extends to maintaining appropriate levels of nutrients (including dissolved organic levels), water current, and lighting.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I've always thought of successful reefing as a priority list:

1. Water Quality (aka stability)
2. Quality Lighting (correct PAR/spectrum)
3. Flow (appropriate for inhabitants while helping remove unwanted organics from the aquarium)
4. Food (not just for fish, but are the corals getting the correct nutrition)

 

[sfin52]

water quality light flow and food. Water is the most important followed by light and flow. But your right rev. Water and coral will adapt better to flow and light.

 

[MnFish1]

I think alkalinity is important - Ca and Mg much less so. Mainly because very little affects Mg - so once its there its likely to stay there with Occasional supplements. I think proper flow and lighting are more important than whether Mg is 1200 or 1300.

PS. Yes - Coral can adapt to flow and lighting - as well as to low or high 'big 3' within reason for all

 

[Crustaceon]

Stability, water parameters within an acceptable range, sufficient lighting, nutrients, flow and temperature.

Get any one of these things out of wack and you’ll have trouble keeping coral. The most common one I see is a lack of nutrients. This isn’t necessarily about not having nitrates. This is not having enough any food source circulating around inside the tank. If a tank has detectable nitrates, odds are there is a sufficient amount of aminos, lipids and other scrumptious stuff in the water as well. A rapid drop in nitrates from detectable to non detectable coupled with normal or decreased feeding (not adding more fish food or reef roids/fuel) will cause major issues. DO NOT skimp on feeding your critters and if nuisance algae is a concern, you can always increase your water change frequency (smaller amounts won’t affect stability too much), doing them before feeding time or add a refugium or a biopellet reactor/other carbon source + protein skimmer to your system.

 

[ks2509]

I have been in the hobby under 2 years but from the countless YouTube videos and threads I have read through my conclusions are stability is the most important. Some people run high DKH some run higher ph some run low cal and mag. When their tanks are consistent they all seem to say they have good success.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

In my experience corals can adapt to small changes in your water, nothing drastic, but small changes or swings. Corals can't live without light or flow to bring them nutrients. In the end, I think they are all just as important as the other.

 

[PatW]

I've always thought of successful reefing as a priority list:

1. Water Quality (aka stability)
2. Quality Lighting (correct PAR/spectrum)
3. Flow (appropriate for inhabitants while helping remove unwanted organics from the aquarium)
4. Food (not just for fish, but are the corals getting the correct nutrition)

I would agree with this.

As a proviso, I would add that for bullet proof corals, getting close most of the time is fine.

For more sensitive corals, it seems that you have to hit the sweet spot or awfully close. If you do, they flourish. If you don’t, they languish and die.

And there is a whole spectrum of corals in between the extremes.

 

[dantimdad]

I think that your corals will all die without a controller. LOL! Just kidding!

I think it comes down to three things and this is not particular order because they are equal in my book:

Water flow
lighting
water quality

I also think folks chase numbers way too much. Be it PAR, Alk, Cal, Mag, Phosphates, NO3, etc. Everyone seems so bent on wrestling the numbers into shape they lose sight of the real goal. ENJOY THE HOBBY!

 

[mta_morrow]

Add stable NO3 and PO4 and I agree.

 

[cracker]

Knowing & understanding the need Can be totally different then actually doing it . How to keep things stable is something that has evaded me for a long time .

 

[jgvergo]

I am certain there is more to it!! I have had the "big 3" very stable for a year (verified by multiple ICP tests, Hanna checkers, etc.). I am seeing success with most of my corals, BUT the growth has been very slow and ~20% - 30% have died. Coloration on the remaining corals is less than spectacular. I recently rented a PAR meter from BRS and tuned my T5/LED combo lights to the right level (~350 PAR at the surface). I was not too far off on my light settings, so I don't expect a huge change. My flow is cranked up pretty high. I do weekly 20% water changes.

P.S. I spot feed my corals a combination phytoplankton, zooplankton, mysis, Rod's food, flake food and Tropic Marin pellets (I mix it up, spot feeding 3-4 times a week). I also dose Red Sea Coral Colors A/B/C/D.

Soooo so I'm not sure what else to do, but there must be something other than the big 3.

 

[JoshF7]

I am no expert, but stability to me is more than just those 3 elements in the water. They are super critical, no doubt, but stability with lighting and flow are also critical while providing enough other nutrition in the water too. Yes, many can adapt easier to some flow or lighting conditions, but get flow or lighting wrong and I'm certain you will have dead corals too. Perhaps it is just that lighting and flow are easier to make stable for the most part and a bit better understood than some of the reef chemistry.

 

[dantimdad]

Where is your PO4 and NO3?

 

[Dana Riddle]

Liebig's Law of the Minimum states photosynthesis is limited by the least available nutrient and not by the most abundant. Alkalinity acts as the carbon source for photosynthesis (due to the fact that CO2 is often not sufficient. Calcium and magnesium concentrations can fall below 'natural' levels without serious impact on either photosynthesis or skeletal growth. With that said, low water motion can create stagnant water layers around the coral and gradients can exist where elements critical to photosynthesis (iron, copper, manganese) are limiting. IMHO, these are the most critical (in descending order): Water motion, lighting, water chemistry. But if any of these are out of whack, you'll have problems.