Rico45's 55 gallon reef

[Rico45]

I have a 55 gallon reef with an Aquatic life t5 ho double bulb light, about 60lbs of live rock and some soft corals. I have some questions though. I've had the corals about 1 year and they haven't grown at all. The corals include: zoas, green star polyp, leather, candy cane, pulsing Xenia, mushrooms. My levels are:
Salinity: 1.025
Phosphate: 0
Nitrate: 40
Nitrite: 0
Calicum: 400
Magnesium: 1250
So does anybody know why nothing has grown?

 

[Sniperhank]

Well, the nitrates are high for a reef setup. This would impede growth. There is also a chance that phosphates are at play as well.

 

[TommyP]

Another thing that I noticed besides the high trates are the lighting set up you're using. For the corals you listed besides the mushrooms which don't really need the best lighting but a 4 bulb t5HO system or better would be beneficial. IMO

 

[Rico45]

I added a breeding pair of clarkii clowns





Pic of the whole tank.

 

[TommyP]

I like the rock work. It looks really good. Do I see 3 clowns? If so it's best to remove one when they pair up they will attack the third or fight for the nem down the road if you get one after your tank matures obviously.

 

[Rico45]

Okay but there is 4 clowns. I have a black saddle back clown occelaris clown and the 2 clarkii clowns. Here's a pic of all of them



Do you think they will still fight? I've had the breeding pair in for about a week now and haven't notice any fighting.

 

[Rico45]

I haven't thought about getting an anemone because I didn't want it to kill my other corals by sitting on top of them. I was thinking of using another coral, like a torch coral, for them to host. What do you think?

 

[ddoss]

+1 on the need more lighting. An anemone yes has the chance to move and kill corals if you are wanting a reef tank would avoid nems IMO. Calcium is a little low, magnesium is a little low. What is your alk?

 

[Rico45]

My alk is 9

New polyp colony I got today. Only been in the tank for about 2hr.