I've been in this hobby for a long time and made just about all the mistakes and learned from them, but I have never had the problems I have now and have had since I set up my tank here. Basically poor color virtually no growth on MOST corals some just bleach out over time or partially beach out. Green star polyps grow well, Xmas Favite, and some light green palys and grow well but that is about where it ends. Montis, zoas, acros, red mushroom and tonga blue mushroom, birdsnest, xenias, green leather exist but do not multiply and some have poor coloration. All open up and look to be feeding. I recently bought some zoas from Munch all look great but not a single new polyp. I have had the tank set up for 11 mos. I do water changes twice per month. I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt. I test weekly and adjust as necessary. I suspect lighting but it is the same type that I have had in the past that worked well- 4 power compact 55 watt 10k and 12k blue actinic running 12hrs and 1- 250 watt 14k phoenix MH and 1 250 watt 10k MH these run in two cycles, these run in two 3 hr cycles one in the am and another in the pm. I just recently switched to the 14k MH from a 10k and may switch the other 10k to a 14k. I did this after seeing how well Munch's coral were doing with the blue light. I also run 4 small blue LEDs from 8:30PM to midnight. I run a sump in the basement and pump up with Supreme 7 pump. I run a Eshopps skimmer old but it works. I run a carbon reactor and add GFO when phos gets up. I have a dosing pump and dose Alk, CA and Mg. I was adding a lot of CA but have cut back considerably and have raised MG. I use RODI water I go thru a lot of filters and DI resin but that is just the water here--its well water with high iron. What goes in the tank is 0. Parameters are listed below. All ideas appreciated!!
Sal 1.025
Phos .05
Alk 7
CA 550-600
MG 1400
temp 79-80
Sal 1.025
Phos .05
Alk 7
CA 550-600
MG 1400
temp 79-80