what can i do to enhance coral growth

fish addict · 06-28-2009, 09:57 PM

what can i do to enhance my corals growth my bro and i share a frag tank and were wondering what can we do to help the coral grow

bioreefdude · 06-28-2009, 10:02 PM

what kind of lighting in the tank how much flow what do u feed ?

fish addict · 06-28-2009, 10:04 PM

um its a 5 gal we have 25 watt light soft coral good flow and we feed it pyto fest

bioreefdude · 06-28-2009, 10:08 PM

rotifers is what i would feed ,and 10k would be good for growth

Dr.Fragenstein · 06-29-2009, 05:40 AM

So you are trying to grow softies? What type of lamp is it? Just because its 5wpg doesn't mean you are getting much PAR in the tank....

When I tested a 13w CF lamps, the one everyone is using now to be "green", the PAR right next to the lamp was like 680uMol, but once I got to about an inch away the PAR was like 10uMol.....

Sorry, didn't mean to post yet...

So what I am saying is you are most likely not getting enough light INTENSITY and PAR into the water for good growth. Softies DO need to filter feed, but they need ALOT of light, most can handle as much light as clams and even more than most SPS can handle before bleaching.
Softies also require good water movement, this not only ties in with the filter feeding but many esp Sarcophytons like toadstools need the vigorous current to blast away the mucous they produce periodically.
If this doesn't get flushed off, then the polyps remain retracted which will lead to poor health if not worse...

I would think about a bigger frag tank, if not, get a strong light over it like a 70w MH or something, sounds overkill but that wattage of MH isn't all that efficient and as long as you keep good water flow those buggers will grow like crazy.

Screwtape · 06-29-2009, 07:55 AM

Some more information about the tank setup would help. Do you have an auto-topoff system? Stable salinity will be better for the coral in the long run.
What about your chemistry? Are you testing nitrates/phosphates etc?

fish addict · 07-02-2009, 09:19 AM

????

Nightstick · 07-04-2009, 03:58 AM

Oh boy sounds like you might want to establish a reef ecosystem first before you get into fragging. Otherwise you need good light and param's goodl luck!

ReefSparky · 07-04-2009, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish addict

????

This response indicates perhaps some research is in order.

cdeboard · 07-04-2009, 07:10 AM

LOL agreed..
Sounds like lighting and reseach will help your coral expedition

06-28-2009, 09:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
fish addict Fire Worm Join Date: May 2009 Location: orange county ca Posts: 174 Skin: Mint Karma: 879	what can i do to enhance coral growth what can i do to enhance my corals growth my bro and i share a frag tank and were wondering what can we do to help the coral grow

06-28-2009, 10:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
bioreefdude Pajama Cardinal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: stockton ca Age: 27 Posts: 1,434 Skin: Mint Karma: 10091	what kind of lighting in the tank how much flow what do u feed ? _________ Equipment: 65g DT.10g Sump.20g Refugium. Rio 1700 RT.Vortech mp20.2xHydro 1s.Phosban150.100g Skimmer. 2x39w t5 and 400w mh 20k .200w 50w heaters.100gpd ro/di.Refractometer. Fish.Juvi Tang.Pajama Cardinal.Black Sailfin Blenny.Tomato and Percula Clown.STBG Damelsx3.Dragonet Goby.Sixline Wrasse Coral.zoas.palys.mushrooms.hammer.torch.gsp.clove s.millepora.open brain Macros.Chaeto.Codium.Halimeda.Caulerpa.Gracilaria.Mangrov es

06-29-2009, 05:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dr.Fragenstein Panda Puffer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 2,108 Skin: Mint Karma: 26304	So you are trying to grow softies? What type of lamp is it? Just because its 5wpg doesn't mean you are getting much PAR in the tank.... When I tested a 13w CF lamps, the one everyone is using now to be "green", the PAR right next to the lamp was like 680uMol, but once I got to about an inch away the PAR was like 10uMol..... Sorry, didn't mean to post yet... So what I am saying is you are most likely not getting enough light INTENSITY and PAR into the water for good growth. Softies DO need to filter feed, but they need ALOT of light, most can handle as much light as clams and even more than most SPS can handle before bleaching. Softies also require good water movement, this not only ties in with the filter feeding but many esp Sarcophytons like toadstools need the vigorous current to blast away the mucous they produce periodically. If this doesn't get flushed off, then the polyps remain retracted which will lead to poor health if not worse... I would think about a bigger frag tank, if not, get a strong light over it like a 70w MH or something, sounds overkill but that wattage of MH isn't all that efficient and as long as you keep good water flow those buggers will grow like crazy. _________ Big glass tank lit by thin glass bulbs.... SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS! My Tank Thread... If you have T5 questions go here... T5 Questions ... Last edited by Dr.Fragenstein; 06-29-2009 at 05:48 AM. Reason: kids pushed button and it posted

07-04-2009, 03:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
Nightstick Coral Banded Shrimp Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Elgin,IL Posts: 351 Skin: Mint Karma: 1092	Oh boy sounds like you might want to establish a reef ecosystem first before you get into fragging. Otherwise you need good light and param's goodl luck! _________ 75 GALLON,MARINELAND C-360CANISTER,1 HYDRO KORALIA 4 and 2 nano,48" ODYSSEA 3 stage lighting (halides/actinics/led's) Live Sand,2 Damsels, 1 Clown, Long Nose Hawk, Six Line Wrasse, 8 Misc Hermit Crabs,7 NERITE SNAILS,1 Turbo Snail,In Tank Refugium,Yellow Polyps,Finger leather,Candy Cane Corals, Green Frogspawn, Pulsating Xenia,Ricordea,green Montipora Digita,Acropora Staghorn,Yellow Sebae,60lbs of Live Rock

07-04-2009, 07:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
cdeboard Montipora Digitata Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Grayson, KY Age: 26 Posts: 1,054 Skin: Mint Karma: 7463	LOL agreed.. Sounds like lighting and reseach will help your coral expedition _________ My 125G build thread: http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off...ild-66332.html

06-28-2009, 10:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
fish addict Fire Worm Join Date: May 2009 Location: orange county ca Posts: 174 Skin: Mint Karma: 879	um its a 5 gal we have 25 watt light soft coral good flow and we feed it pyto fest

06-28-2009, 10:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
bioreefdude Pajama Cardinal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: stockton ca Age: 27 Posts: 1,434 Skin: Mint Karma: 10091	rotifers is what i would feed ,and 10k would be good for growth

06-29-2009, 07:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
Screwtape Panda Puffer Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,120 Skin: Mint Karma: 15229	Some more information about the tank setup would help. Do you have an auto-topoff system? Stable salinity will be better for the coral in the long run. What about your chemistry? Are you testing nitrates/phosphates etc?

07-02-2009, 09:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
fish addict Fire Worm Join Date: May 2009 Location: orange county ca Posts: 174 Skin: Mint Karma: 879	????