What do devils hand eat?

Cory · Oct 21, 2016

Theve got polyps. But mine barely grows! Its been a year and it looks the same size. What do they eat? Tank is devoid of phyto or plankton though.

Po4 and no3 are undetectable. Due to my ats sucking it out. No skimmer.

mcarroll · Oct 21, 2016

Everything you just listed as missing or undetectable is coral food. You've been starving him! :)

Either dose up PO4 and NO3 or reduce flow or light or both to the ATS....or something.

But remember to make any changes small and gradual!

Cory · Oct 21, 2016

I wont dose po4 or no3, just because im scared lol. But i would dose phyto to try and grow the pods. Would it work?

mcarroll · Oct 21, 2016

Dosing nitrates and phosphates is arguably safer because at least you have a test kit that can tell you when you've gone too far.

Yes, dosing food would probably help, but there may be some question of the corals can access those particles....it will only help if it gets eaten. ;)

As long as you have patience to make small additions that will seem "too small" and wait for results that may seem to take "too long" then you really won't have problems in any of those avenues.

Feeding your fish more is also an option....but not sure how far you're already pushing that envelope.

Generally, there's always room to add some NO3 (maybe the safest compound we dose....seems impossible to overdose) and PO4 to make up for shortfalls....and it's easy to dose small, controlled amounts. (I haven't had to dose PO4 persoanlly...yet.)

Cory · Oct 21, 2016

mcarroll said:
Dosing nitrates and phosphates is arguably safer because at least you have a test kit that can tell you when you've gone too far.

Yes, dosing food would probably help, but there may be some question of the corals can access those particles....it will only help if it gets eaten. ;)

As long as you have patience to make small additions that will seem "too small" and wait for results that may seem to take "too long" then you really won't have problems in any of those avenues.

Feeding your fish more is also an option....but not sure how far you're already pushing that envelope.

Generally, there's always room to add some NO3 (maybe the safest compound we dose....seems impossible to overdose) and PO4 to make up for shortfalls....and it's easy to dose small, controlled amounts. (I haven't had to dose PO4 persoanlly...yet.)

The fish get fed lots. 3-6 times a day with micro pellets. But its a bb tank. Sand collects too much nasties lol.

I also have exenia and they also dont grow. Must be the po4/no3. Everything looks healthy