What works for you?

[funkyseamonkey]

I have been looking at pictures of yalls tanks and then looking at mine and I feel like mine is not up to par. Yalls seem to have so much growth. Mine all the stuff in it is alive and seems to be doing well, but it is not spreading. So heres my question. What works for you and your tank? What I'm asking is for all those people who have awesome looking tanks can you comment with what you do on a weekly baisis. As far as what chemicals you dose, when you do water changes, when and what you feed your corals. I want to see what yall are doing thats working for you, that maybe im not doing. That way maybe I can improve my tanks. Please if you can also post a picture or 2 of your awesome tanks doing well. Thanks!
Sarah

[Europhyllia]

Sarah I think it might depend on what you are trying to grow. For example Acans have always spread like crazy for me because I like to target feed things anyway. SPS however don't do well in my tanks because of the water conditions they require.

[Big_Pun]

what Karin said find what you like and work your system on that, i went bio pellets on my tank, because i want to keep nitrates low for my SPS also dose 2 part,amino acids and feed coral frenzy. ide give you more tips but i dont have an awesome tank :cry_smile:

[Gseclipse02]

i love to use fish poop ( really heavy bio load) it seems to work ok .... im sure i could have better growth if i did other things but that cost money and time

[funkyseamonkey]

Well right now this is what I have in my tank so that you can get an Idea. I have lots of mushrooms which I love! I have lots of zoas, a toadstool, a bubble tip, gsp, and brown stars, I had xeinas but they died...I thought it was impossable to kill them. I also have a frogspawn thats hanging on but doesnt seem to be doing to well. I have a coralife light fixture with 10k bulbs one normal and one actinic

[Gseclipse02]

pc lighting ??

[funkyseamonkey]

yes pc

[funkyseamonkey]

and this is in a 45 gallon tank

[alton]

I have grown and fragged frogspawn under PC lamps in the ole days. Keep them high in the tank under PC and no flow! Okay maybe a little. I like all of your coral selection but the leather. Change lamps around 10 months if you do not have access to a meter. I did not dose when I had a softy/LPS tank, like someone said fish poop all the way.

[Regric25]

You might think about adding more light. 2 PC bulbs might not be enough. I would think about adding at least 2 more bulbs to the mix. I would imaging your bubble tip is moving around or maybe its tips are not "bubble" but extended out. From my experience bubbly tip anems like alot of light.

[cbianco]

I know equipment can be expensive but I would say your limiting factor is your PC lighting.

My JBJ NC never looked that good either. Once I got my Finnex with T5, it was a game changer.

I attribute my (moderate) success to the T5s. They really do a lot for coloring and growth over PCs.

JMO.

Christopher :)

[funkyseamonkey]

I am getting a 125g next week and it comes with 3 t5 light fixtures and lights i was planning on putting every thing in both my 45s in to the 125g andjust having one big tank. maybe the change in lights will help.

[cbianco]

...maybe the change in lights will help.

If you get the right bulbs, it will be a world of difference! No doubt.

Christopher :)

[copperband]

I definetly agree with t5's. You will see a change in color of the colors, polyp extension, and growth. Also I have all softies and i dose with iodide! And i add phytoplankton and every since I started using phytoplankton and iodide my ricordias have starting splitting and all mushrooms are growing as well as green star polyps and all other corals in the tank! Good luck

[ErikH]

MH, 2 part, and bio pellets.

I have PE all day long.