No growth in some corals, a lot in others.

[KonradTO]

What do you think about the flow?
In theory I should have 3500- 4000 gph in 32g but my impression from the flow is that I don't even have half of that..

 

[KonradTO]

Also a pic of the encrusting acro

 

[Timfish]

I agree that sps+softies+lps is asking for trouble, but when I added the duncan to the tank for example, I was running a "typical" lps tank with higher nutrients and lower light. Also I see many users with great lps growth on the sandbed and huge acros on the top. My sensation is that nothing really grows like it should aside for some exceptions. But maybe it's my expectations that are flawed..

I'd would say it's more that we are a long way from understanding what individual genotypes/varieties need, including microbial stuff.

This article on Acropora microclades suggest how importan tank mates may be for some genotypes. Reinforcing this idea, J. E. N. Veron's books shows some species are only found with conspicifics.

You Won’t Believe Where Strawberry Shortcake Acros Live | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Recently in Australia, together with Nic from Ultra Coral Australia we had the luck to go and observe Acropora microclados, aka the Strawberry Shortcake (SCC), in its natural environment.

reefbuilders.com

This paper shows how a genotype's innate immunity factors in it's survival

Intraspecific differences in molecular stress responses and coral pathobiome contribute to mortality under bacterial challenge in Acropora millepora - Scientific Reports

Disease causes significant coral mortality worldwide; however, factors responsible for intraspecific variation in disease resistance remain unclear. We exposed fragments of eight Acropora millepora colonies (genotypes) to putatively pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio spp.). Genotypes varied from zero...

www.nature.com

This paper shows how reefs alter microbail and DOC compared to ocean water

Depleted dissolved organic carbon and distinct bacterial communities in the water column of a rapid-flushing coral reef ecosystem - PubMed

Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems bathed in unproductive, low-nutrient oceanic waters, where microbially dominated food webs are supported largely by bacterioplankton recycling of dissolved compounds. Despite evidence that benthic reef organisms efficiently scavenge particulate...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This papers shows how different types of corals alter the microbial stuff in the water.

Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms

As coral reef habitats decline worldwide, some reefs are transitioning from coral- to algal-dominated benthos with the exact cause for this shift remaining elusive. Increases in the abundance of microbes in the water column has been correlated with an ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This was an interesting experiment and shows species specific responses to 3 different lighting conditions.

Coral Coloration and Incident Light: A Photographic Essay

Departments of Chemistry and Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802

reefs.com

 

[Lavey29]

Basically you measure at water surface and then estimate the difference by distance from the fixture? Or you actually dip your phone in the water xD

I just held my phone under the light at the water surface. Some people put their phone in ziploc bags and measure underwater too.

 

[KonradTO]

I'd would say it's more that we are a long way from understanding what individual genotypes/varieties need, including microbial stuff.

This article on Acropora microclades suggest how importan tank mates may be for some genotypes. Reinforcing this idea, J. E. N. Veron's books shows some species are only found with conspicifics.

You Won’t Believe Where Strawberry Shortcake Acros Live | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Recently in Australia, together with Nic from Ultra Coral Australia we had the luck to go and observe Acropora microclados, aka the Strawberry Shortcake (SCC), in its natural environment.

reefbuilders.com

This paper shows how a genotype's innate immunity factors in it's survival

Intraspecific differences in molecular stress responses and coral pathobiome contribute to mortality under bacterial challenge in Acropora millepora - Scientific Reports

Disease causes significant coral mortality worldwide; however, factors responsible for intraspecific variation in disease resistance remain unclear. We exposed fragments of eight Acropora millepora colonies (genotypes) to putatively pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio spp.). Genotypes varied from zero...

www.nature.com

This paper shows how reefs alter microbail and DOC compared to ocean water

Depleted dissolved organic carbon and distinct bacterial communities in the water column of a rapid-flushing coral reef ecosystem - PubMed

Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems bathed in unproductive, low-nutrient oceanic waters, where microbially dominated food webs are supported largely by bacterioplankton recycling of dissolved compounds. Despite evidence that benthic reef organisms efficiently scavenge particulate...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This papers shows how different types of corals alter the microbial stuff in the water.

Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms

As coral reef habitats decline worldwide, some reefs are transitioning from coral- to algal-dominated benthos with the exact cause for this shift remaining elusive. Increases in the abundance of microbes in the water column has been correlated with an ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This was an interesting experiment and shows species specific responses to 3 different lighting conditions.

Coral Coloration and Incident Light: A Photographic Essay

Departments of Chemistry and Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802

reefs.com

I mean I understand there is a huge amount of "complexity" in reef ecology and we only know a small fragment on how it works. But still many people here manage to get fantastic growth in their corals and fill their tank with color and shapes without having to buy $$$ of frags every month. I am just wondering whether I am doing something clearly wrong or it's just the peculiarity of my system to have slow growth rate. I am always a bit paranoid about having some heavy metal in the water or imbalance in elements. Maybe that particular individual has some disease or genetic problem, but I cannot rule out the important stuff before giving up and getting another frag of the same species.

 

[Timfish]

I mean I understand there is a huge amount of "complexity" in reef ecology and we only know a small fragment on how it works. But still many people here manage to get fantastic growth in their corals and fill their tank with color and shapes without having to buy $$$ of frags every month. I am just wondering whether I am doing something clearly wrong or it's just the peculiarity of my system to have slow growth rate. I am always a bit paranoid about having some heavy metal in the water or imbalance in elements. Maybe that particular individual has some disease or genetic problem, but I cannot rule out the important stuff before giving up and getting another frag of the same species.

Well, having kept reef systems for 4 decades I'm always paranoid. But I don't worry about heavy metals even using tapwater. What I worry about are the microbial processes that can be a severe source of stress for a coral and kill them.

FWIW I've seen older tanks and not look nearly as good or have the gorwth you've reported. And I would add pateince is definitely a virtue. Research has shown it can take weeks to months for corals to return to normal after a stress event (which shipping and acclimating to a new system certainly is) so adding new corals every month probably isn't the best way t go about it. Look at the growth of corals in the photographic essay paper. The time period for them was about 14 months. There was very pronounced species specific growths of the frags and some had hardly any growth under all three lighting conditions. And fast growth isn't necessarily good thing and has been shown to compromise coral immune systems.

 

[bushdoc]

I second Timfish opinion about creatures with different needs in one "box".
I logged 3000 dives all over the World, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, Fiji, Hawaii, Caribbean, Maldives, Socorros, Cocos Island......
Never seen reef like yours or mine.
Your post gave me an idea-my next tank will be a "Biotope Tank"

 

[KonradTO]

I second Timfish opinion about creatures with different needs in one "box".
I logged 3000 dives all over the World, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, Fiji, Hawaii, Caribbean, Maldives, Socorros, Cocos Island......
Never seen reef like yours or mine.
Your post gave me an idea-my next tank will be a "Biotope Tank"

Oh man Raja Ampat is n.1 in my travel wishlist. It looks amazing, but I don't want to dive, just snorkel 10 hours every day and explore every little rock in the reef.
Yes a biotope tank sounds definitely like an interesting idea! I am sure that species belonging to the same habitat are more likely to have developed synergies and adaptation to their neighbours. The question is whether generations of captive breeding in aquariums have over-wrote that?
One of the ideas I had was to try a monospecific tank and concentrate on that one species needs so I can be sure that params, flow, light etc are the best they can. But I know I wouldn't resist and add other stuff at some point .

 

[KonradTO]

pateince is definitely a virtue.

Well that's the hard part of having everyday the tank there and you hope to see some good progress from every frag. I learnt at least to not play with params when something is wrong (or at least to change them slowly) and that finally made the change in the tank.

Research has shown it can take weeks to months for corals to return to normal after a stress event (which shipping and acclimating to a new system certainly is) so adding new corals every month probably isn't the best way t go about it. Look at the growth of corals in the photographic essay paper. The time period for them was about 14 months. There was very pronounced species specific growths of the frags and some had hardly any growth under all three lighting conditions. And fast growth isn't necessarily good thing and has been shown to compromise coral immune systems.

Yes probably the issue is that I take as "baseline" what other people here reported on duncans growth for example. My impression was that they are quite fast growers and good indicators of water/conditions quality so when they don't grow means that something is off.
If I can rule out that the problem is in my setting than it's good because I know that I have to maintain things in that way and concentrate on getting few nice frags.
Also in less than a year I will have to move to some other place for the postdoc and my tank will have to start from almost zero once again and it will take some time again to recover after all the mess with being transported and the sand changed etc

 

[KonradTO]

Little update:
After almost 12 months, my duncans seems growing a little new head

I moved him away from where the bicolor blenny and porcelain crab hang out. It's never been so open and plump I think it was the porcelain crab irritating it.

 

[Leo.L]

Myself, I'd slowly increase your alkalinity to at least 8 (ideally 8.25-8.5 dKH), calcium to 450-500ppm and magnesium to 1400-1450ppm. I'd also try to maintain nitrates of at least 5ppm and phosphates of 0.1-0.15ppm. Beyond that, lighting (test your PAR levels) and flow are two other areas you can look at as well as your peak pH level during the day.

Agree with all the above. I would also start dosing one drop of concentrated iodine for zoas. Maybe add some trace minerals

 

[blaxsun]

Little update:
After almost 12 months, my duncans seems growing a little new head

I moved him away from where the bicolor blenny and porcelain crab hang out. It's never been so open and plump I think it was the porcelain crab irritating it.

That's awesome (and they're doing a lot better than my duncan cluster is!)

 

[KonradTO]

Agree with all the above. I would also start dosing one drop of concentrated iodine for zoas. Maybe add some trace minerals

I already dose from time to time some iodine drops, but very sparsely because I don't want to add another test in the list. Concerning trace elements, I was under the impression that 10-15% WC every couple of weeks should compensare for that right? I use very rich salts (red sea blue buckets)

 

[KonradTO]

Also the seriatopora caliendrum started to grow very fast finally! 4 new branches in a week. I recently set up a softies tank with xenia, some mushrooms and chalices (they seem to do better there?). Maybe I will move the zoas there. Should I aim for different parameters compared to my other tank (mixed reef)? Somehow last time I tested I had undetectable nitrates. It is a 10g with 2 clowns! I have a lot of macros though..
Plan is to feed a lot/dose amminos and reach 10-15ppm no3. But first I want to test with another test kit just in case..

 

[Leo.L]

I already dose from time to time some iodine drops, but very sparsely because I don't want to add another test in the list. Concerning trace elements, I was under the impression that 10-15% WC every couple of weeks should compensare for that right? I use very rich salts (red sea blue buckets)

You might not have to worry about trace elements then. I would just look at your corals and their needs. Maybe look into everything your salt currently provide and if something is missing maybe consider dosing. To be honest I dose because I don't do water changes frequently.

 

[Leo.L]

Little update:
After almost 12 months, my duncans seems growing a little new head

I moved him away from where the bicolor blenny and porcelain crab hang out. It's never been so open and plump I think it was the porcelain crab irritating it.

Nice. I would feed a few times a week for faster growth. I only have 3 months with mine and already have four new heads. Spot Feed 3-4 times a week. Best of luck