hanknmorgan
Mon, 14th Apr 2008, 11:58 PM
This is a long post, but I appreciate the help if you dont mind reading it all.
I have a 12G nanocube that has been up and running for about 15 months now. While it has done well in that most things have survived, it really hasnt shown much progress in the way of growth. I have had very little, as in barely noticable, coral growth at all in the last year. Very bizarre as I have a pretty good setup and take good care of the tank. Any input or advice would be very appreciated.
Setup.
The tank has a variety of small frags most of which came from fellow maast members about a year ago. We have some xenia, a couple acro's, a couple monti's, torch coral, mushroroms, a few zoas, and a bubble tip anemone. All the livestock is small frags and the tank looks unfortuately bare. A few snails and crabs for cleanup, and two false percs.
Lighting is a 70w 10k ushio with 32w PC actinic. This setup was added 10 months ago.
about 20lbs of LR 1.5" sandbed. I run filter floss, LR rubble, purigen and chemipure in the rear chambers along with heater and pumps. CPR backpack skimmer was added about 5 weeks ago. I have a maxijet 900 (230 gph) with a hydor flo rotating thing and a rio 180 (120 gph) for return and circulation pumps into the display. The large (for the tank) skimmer also serves as the fuge full of cheato that was previously in the rear chamber until the skimmer was added. It is lit by a small flourescent bulb. Have had the cheato for a year and just rotate and thin it out when I do what changes.
I dose some bionic to keep calc and alk in check. Water temps and parameters have always been great. I dont test water like a crazy psycho, but I do fairly regularly and it's always right on. I have also had it tested at several different LFS's in the past at different times. Nitrates, phosphates, alk, calcium, salinity, temps are all in check. I use Instant ocean salt and RO water from the LFS. I feed very lightly. 2 gallon water change every 2 weeks. Lights on 12 hrs a day. Halide on for 10.
Ok, so I have done some research and have the tank setup fairly well. I'm not a fish tank newb, but no expert. All of my corals started as very small frags in hopes of them growing and filling my little tank quickly. A year later I have negligable growth. The montis and acros have grown a little over the rock at their base and some branching and tip growth. The Xenia has grown very little, and torch torch coral very little. Mushrooms have done nothing and zoos have done absolutely nothing. Everything is nice and spread out in the tank so there isnt any coral combat going on that i can see. Everyone seems and looks happy just wont grow at all. The anemone is about 4 months old and it was really small when we got it. It doubled in size in a few weeks (now about 5" when open) and hasnt grown in months, but seems ok. Not thriving though I guess. Clowns love it though. I keep seeing pictures of peoples tanks at 1 year that are just busting with coral that has grown on the rocks, glass, everywhere. What am I doing wrong. The tank started stock and all the mods except the skimmer we done in the first 6 months and I just let it do its thing other than routine maintenance for 10 months with nothing to show. Its fun to watch and always looks great, but I really want some growth to fill out the tank and do some fragging and trading.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time/help.
-Hank
I have a 12G nanocube that has been up and running for about 15 months now. While it has done well in that most things have survived, it really hasnt shown much progress in the way of growth. I have had very little, as in barely noticable, coral growth at all in the last year. Very bizarre as I have a pretty good setup and take good care of the tank. Any input or advice would be very appreciated.
Setup.
The tank has a variety of small frags most of which came from fellow maast members about a year ago. We have some xenia, a couple acro's, a couple monti's, torch coral, mushroroms, a few zoas, and a bubble tip anemone. All the livestock is small frags and the tank looks unfortuately bare. A few snails and crabs for cleanup, and two false percs.
Lighting is a 70w 10k ushio with 32w PC actinic. This setup was added 10 months ago.
about 20lbs of LR 1.5" sandbed. I run filter floss, LR rubble, purigen and chemipure in the rear chambers along with heater and pumps. CPR backpack skimmer was added about 5 weeks ago. I have a maxijet 900 (230 gph) with a hydor flo rotating thing and a rio 180 (120 gph) for return and circulation pumps into the display. The large (for the tank) skimmer also serves as the fuge full of cheato that was previously in the rear chamber until the skimmer was added. It is lit by a small flourescent bulb. Have had the cheato for a year and just rotate and thin it out when I do what changes.
I dose some bionic to keep calc and alk in check. Water temps and parameters have always been great. I dont test water like a crazy psycho, but I do fairly regularly and it's always right on. I have also had it tested at several different LFS's in the past at different times. Nitrates, phosphates, alk, calcium, salinity, temps are all in check. I use Instant ocean salt and RO water from the LFS. I feed very lightly. 2 gallon water change every 2 weeks. Lights on 12 hrs a day. Halide on for 10.
Ok, so I have done some research and have the tank setup fairly well. I'm not a fish tank newb, but no expert. All of my corals started as very small frags in hopes of them growing and filling my little tank quickly. A year later I have negligable growth. The montis and acros have grown a little over the rock at their base and some branching and tip growth. The Xenia has grown very little, and torch torch coral very little. Mushrooms have done nothing and zoos have done absolutely nothing. Everything is nice and spread out in the tank so there isnt any coral combat going on that i can see. Everyone seems and looks happy just wont grow at all. The anemone is about 4 months old and it was really small when we got it. It doubled in size in a few weeks (now about 5" when open) and hasnt grown in months, but seems ok. Not thriving though I guess. Clowns love it though. I keep seeing pictures of peoples tanks at 1 year that are just busting with coral that has grown on the rocks, glass, everywhere. What am I doing wrong. The tank started stock and all the mods except the skimmer we done in the first 6 months and I just let it do its thing other than routine maintenance for 10 months with nothing to show. Its fun to watch and always looks great, but I really want some growth to fill out the tank and do some fragging and trading.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time/help.
-Hank