Coral growth lab results

[Aries360]

im reading this also... my question same as @KrisReef, what corals not growing? also based on fish list you posted, some of those angels may nib on corals.

also last time i checked my phosphate I was .55 and 90% of my acropora is growing

Yes the angels can limit but I’m lucky . They only seem to mess with zoas and certain polyp.

 

[Miami Reef]

In the first post, the ICP mentioned that you are going through STN/Tissue necrosis. It says only certain corals will grow, but the rest die.

Can you expand on that? Which corals are dying? Which ones are growing?

 

[Aries360]

In the first post, the ICP mentioned that you are going through STN/Tissue necrosis. It says only certain corals will grow, but the rest die.

Can you expand on that? Which corals are dying? Which ones are growing?

Yes. Mushrooms grow well. Specially cabbage leathers grow well. Frogspawn (newly added) seems to be doing ok. GSP seems stagnant, doesn’t grow but doesn’t die. All the rest shrivels up and everything dies. Some faster than others, some takes months to die but eventually do. None of them die fast after adding. Kenya trees and all other leathers die. Any hard corals die. Xenia dies fast after adding. I’ve tried so many coral types and at different depths.

 

[Miami Reef]

I think it’s very likely a fish might be damaging the corals; even a few nips per day can compound the issue until the coral dies.

The ICP looks OK. I’d make sure the flow is strong and par around 250-350 on the top.

Nutrients will be a constant battle with your current stock list.

I think you’d have an amazing FOWLR. The tank isn’t geared optimally for coral growth; there are too many non reef-safe fish.

 

[KrisReef]

Yes. Mushrooms grow well. Specially cabbage leathers grow well. Frogspawn (newly added) seems to be doing ok. GSP seems stagnant, doesn’t grow but doesn’t die. All the rest shrivels up and everything dies. Some faster than others, some takes months to die but eventually do. None of them die fast after adding. Kenya trees and all other leathers die. Any hard corals die. Xenia dies fast after adding. I’ve tried so many coral types and at different depths.

Do you have activate carbon or other absorptive water filtration to remove chemical warfare agents commonly associated with soft corals? Your symptoms and results thus far suggest this could be an issue, possibly?

 

[Jari]

Hello and good day everyone,
I sent my water out to be tested and these are my results. Anyone have any idea why my coral doesn’t grow? There are some things I can’t control because it’s a lot of fish in my 360g so I know my nitrates and phosphate will be a little elevated.

Are you still feeding only pellets, and if yes, how much?

 

[Aries360]

I think it’s very likely a fish might be damaging the corals; even a few nips per day can compound the issue until the coral dies.

The ICP looks OK. I’d make sure the flow is strong and par around 250-350 on the top.

Nutrients will be a constant battle with your current stock list.

I think you’d have an amazing FOWLR. The tank isn’t geared optimally for coral growth; there are too many non reef-safe fish.

I will increase my flow to see if any differences. Par I check and that was good. Thank you for the icp review. Yea it’s possible the fish are picking at stuff and I’m not seeing it and making the coral angry. I’m about ready to give up on the coral.

 

[Aries360]

Are you still feeding only pellets, and if yes, how much?

Yes only pellets and a couple times a day. I’d say I’m a heavy feeder

 

[Aries360]

Do you have activate carbon or other absorptive water filtration to remove chemical warfare agents commonly associated with soft corals? Your symptoms and results thus far suggest this could be an issue, possibly?

I have two bags in my sump. I was running it in my gfo reactor but now I’m trying to lower my phosphates so I put rowaphos in there . I also run polypads. Hmmm I will check the chemical warfare. Don’t know that was a thing . Maybe too much cabbage leathers

 

[Miami Reef]

I doubt it’s chemical warfare, especially since other leathers are dying and you already use activated carbon.

I would try Montiporas, especially the plating types. Perhaps torches might work — I’ve seen them in some angelfish tanks.

 

[Aries360]

Tried playing monti with no luck. I got large plates for free from my friend but they died too

 

[Liquid361]

Never mind

 

[Terry Le]

I have two bags in my sump. I was running it in my gfo reactor but now I’m trying to lower my phosphates so I put rowaphos in there . I also run polypads. Hmmm I will check the chemical warfare. Don’t know that was a thing . Maybe too much cabbage leathers

Have you try Tropic Marin Elimi-Phos Rapid to get your Po4 down and dose NP bacto balance to keep it down. I would use your reactor to run carbon for corals warfare. I did used GFO over the years on my 375 gallons but it’s get expensive and messy to change out. Make sure to check PO4 levels regularly to know it going down and not to bottom out

 

[Aries360]

Have you try Tropic Marin Elimi-Phos Rapid to get your Po4 down and dose NP bacto balance to keep it down. I would use your reactor to run carbon for corals warfare. I did used GFO over the years on my 375 gallons but it’s get expensive and messy to change out. Make sure to check PO4 levels regularly to know it going down and not to bottom out

I have not but I’m willing to try it

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

the nitrate and phosphate is very high.
But if your corals are not growing, the first thing I'm looking at are the lights. Do you know the par value's in your tank? Lights are 90% of it, and threads about corals not growing often come down to low lights. Some LFS's rent out par meters, it might be worth it to rent one to know exactly.

If he’s got healthy anemones, I don’t think light for soft coral is the issue

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

Phosphates inhibit growth for some corals, right?

Only hard corals, because it inhibits the mechanism by which polyps lay down calcium in the skeleton, won’t affect softies

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

im reading this also... my question same as @KrisReef, what corals not growing? also based on fish list you posted, some of those angels may nib on corals.

also last time i checked my phosphate I was .55 and 90% of my acropora is growing

The Angels were my initial red flag in all the info, as I don’t think the PO4 will be an issue to soft corals, and if the Anemones are getting enough light the. Should be OK for soft corals too….

 

[Aries360]

If he’s got healthy anemones, I don’t think light for soft coral is the issue

Plenty of healthy anemones, lol, too many. I wish they didn’t split. But I did borrow a par meter and the lfs said the reading were fine. Can’t find them anymore but they were more than fine. I actually had to turn down the new lights. I went from hydra 52s to radion xr30 and burnt my top corals. Was hoping stronger lights would make a difference but they didn’t

 

[Terry Le]

I don’t think lightning is your problem at all. Will you mind post a few pictures of full tank shots

 

[Aries360]

Yes see attached