Reef not maturing

[schooncw]

I have no experience with that light but 20% on any light is weak sauce.

Looks like a dead rock start that never took off if its 1 year old.

So many reefers would never have these issues if they used some live rock from day one. 50% minimum but any is better than none.

This is my 15g and its 1 year old.
I run a gen5 xr15, ab+ @ 100%.
20% on this light would be extremely low par. Your light is much weaker.

"So many reefers would never have these issues if they used some live rock from day one. 50% minimum but any is better than none."........100%.

 

[BryanM]

"So many reefers would never have these issues if they used some live rock from day one. 50% minimum but any is better than none."........100%.

true, but it also isn't in most peoples budget.

 

[X-37B]

true, but it also isn't in most peoples budget.

I always laugh at this statement.
You will spend much less long term starting with live rock.
Store dead rock $6-$9 a pound.
GLR, premium, to my door $12lb!
How much has this reefer spent the last year on this system vs startung with 20lbs of live rock?

 

[X-37B]

Actually live rock is the least exspensive thing you can buy for your system longterm.
You can have a functioning reef in a month with live rock.
35lbs live rock.
My current 1 month old 112 growout system. Corals in, coralline on powerhead already.
Uglies on the racks for 2 weeks and corals are already visably growing.

 

[commod0re]

I have 3 astrea and 2 mexican turbos but they dont seem to eat it . also have some white hair algae that they don't eat

This isn’t enough CuC, add some ceriths and banded trochus snails
you’d probably also benefit from some sand sifters like nassarius

 

[BryanM]

I always laugh at this statement.
You will spend much less long term starting with live rock.
Store dead rock $6-$9 a pound.
GLR, premium, to my door $12lb!
How much has this reefer spent the last year on this system vs startung with 20lbs of live rock?

For smaller, under 60 gallon tanks, its hard to argue with this.

For me most people with 200 gallon systems, 200 pounds of live rock, which is on the lighter side of needs, is 2178 right now to my door. And I'd argue I'd need 300.

And I dislike the idea of starting with 50/50 and having half my rock still have to go through ugly stages.

 

[X-37B]

For smaller, under 60 gallon tanks, its hard to argue with this.

For me most people with 200 gallon systems, 200 pounds of live rock, which is on the lighter side of needs, is 2178 right now to my door. And I'd argue I'd need 300.

And I dislike the idea of starting with 50/50 and having half my rock still have to go through ugly stages.

Still.got to laugh. Spend 6+k on the 200 system but 2K for live rock is a no go.
Yea I get it. 150lbs in my 150 worked well for $1500.
I started my 120 with 50/50. Uglies on the dead caribsea for 2 months. Turned out well.
Put dead on the botton and stack live on top of it. You wonnt see the dead.

So many smaller systems like the OP's would already be established and way ahead of where its at now for a couple hundred dollars.
Old 120
You wont see the rock when it grows in anyway.

 

[BryanM]

Still.got to laugh. Spend 6+k on the 200 system but 2K for live rock is a no go.
Yea I get it. 150lbs in my 150 worked well for $1500.
I started my 120 with 50/50. Uglies on the dead caribsea for 2 months. Turned out well.
Put dead on the botton and stack live on top of it. You wonnt see the dead.

So many smaller systems like the OP's would already be established and way ahead of where its at now for a couple hundred dollars.
Old 120
You wont see the rock when it grows in anyway.

I hadn't really thought about "burying" the dead rock.

Anyway, i tend to side on your side, but for larger systems it is daunting, especially if someone buys a "budget" used system.

One universal truth: Live rock is always better than dry rock.

 

[hellasinc]

I have no experience with that light but 20% on any light is weak sauce.

Looks like a dead rock start that never took off if its 1 year old.

So many reefers would never have these issues if they used some live rock from day one. 50% minimum but any is better than none.

This is my 15g and its 1 year old.
I run a gen5 xr15, ab+ @ 100%.
20% on this light would be extremely low par. Your light is much weaker.

Yeah i changed it to 80%blue and 5% white a couple of days ago

 

[X-37B]

Yeah i changed it to 80%blue and 5% white a couple of days ago

White at 5% might as well be off.
Alot of par comes from your white channel. 50% white and go from there.
Also a par meter would help.

 

[Bear22]

If you read some of ARC's research on coralline algae strong light actually IMPEDES growth of certain species that are common to our reef tanks. So, take the strong light recommendations with a grain of salt.

 

[schooncw]

true, but it also isn't in most peoples budget.

Compare the price of one decent size rock to any coral and with the inherent benefits, cost should not be an issue

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

if you want coralline, you have to introduce it and then make sure your alk is steady. That’s a really long time to not have any coralline but every tank is different

 

[gaby1088]

Do you use RO/DI water? That might be an issue with the algae

 

[Paul B]

Your tank looks fine to me. You can add some of these leather corals if you like. They are simple to grow and grow like weeds on little light. They grow wild in my tank and even reproduce.







These also grow like weeds with no care.