SPS growth pic, and question about growth

[ShagMan]

OK, so I got this frag from...... Terry I think... two months ago. Since I got it, it's been healthy, and seems to be encrusting it's base VERY slowly... as you can see in the pic, the polyps are out, and it's colored well... my question is: how can I accelerate growth? Should I be making sure my calcium levels are like 450+? What should I be watching to "make it all happen" with SPS?

[Xster]

Josh, maintaining water chemistry is very important. But, right now the coral is encrusting very slowly because, IMO, it is trying to figure out where to grow given the conditions that it was placed in. From the picture it looks like it a making a base for itself to grow towards the light. Keep it up and it should grow into a nice little colony soon.

IMO, calcium levels at 400 or 450 does not make that much of a difference as far as the calcium intake of each coral is concerned. It is the total environment that matters most. Some sps do great in certain areas of my tank, but another coral sitting right next to it, doesn't do half (grow)as well. Go figure.

Certain SPS encrusts alot more than others, before they grow "up" towards the light. Good luck and keep up the good work and make sure calcium levels and alkalinity are up to par at least.

Sorry about the lengthy post,
John

[Scott]

Keep your calcium ~450, alk ~10dKh and magnesium ~1300. As long as you don't have any NH4, NO2, NO3 or PO4 you shouldn't have any problems with growth. Sometimes it takes months for SPS to acclimate to your tank conditions and really start growing. I have had a frag for over a year with little more than a little encrusting.