So far with all I've spent only on corals(that died), no equipment included. $700. 20 years to master cultured pearls. Hopefully I see the cultivation of nps corals.
What flow speed are you running through this system? Also what food particle density? I don't think any PH numbers or other parameters have been the issue. They're very picky about flow type, speed, and food as I said earlier.
Because the tank is half moon. Took me awhile to get flow right. They stay open 90% of the time. Also,sometimes I need to relocate some of them, till they open up. Cheap wavemakers on each side, three on left side do 900gph total, on continous, on rightside, 900gph total, on 1 second , off one second. Planing bigger tank after summer. Looking for a tank with 3 foot minimum height, for them to stretch and hopefully grow. Food in thread. There opening more.
One of the last frontiers, nps corals. I keep reminding everyone, it took 20 years to culture oyster pearls . And I keep forgetting it took longer to aquaculture LPS & SPS corals. Hopefully we'll all see aquaculture of these corals.