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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 just held my phone under the light at the water surface. Some people put their phone in ziploc bags and measure underwater too.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 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.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 16802reefs.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.
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.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"
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.pateince is definitely a virtue.
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.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.
Agree with all the above. I would also start dosing one drop of concentrated iodine for zoas. Maybe add some trace mineralsMyself, 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.
That's awesome (and they're doing a lot better than my duncan cluster is!)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.
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)Agree with all the above. I would also start dosing one drop of concentrated iodine for zoas. Maybe add some trace minerals
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.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)
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 luckLittle 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.