what can I do to stimulate growth?

[MMK1]

I've had my 24 gallon nano cube (PC lights) running for about 7 months and my coral doesn't seem to grow as fast as other people's. My nitrates and nitrites and phosphates are zero, calcium around 420, temp at 80, and all the other basic levels are good. I feed some corals table shrimp and feed the tank once a week. What else can I do to help stimulate growth?

[seabass]

Well, if nitrate and phosphate are both undetectable, that's a potential problem. Zero isn't the target for either of these parameters. For phosphate, I'd recommend keeping it around 0.02 to 0.03 ppm (you'll need a good low range test to detect these levels). Nitrate is more dependent on what you are keeping. For SPS, I'd keep it around 2 ppm; but for softies 10 ppm is fine. ULNS usually deal with the low levels by stocking more heavily, feeding more heavily, and dosing amino acids.

 

If flow and light are both adequate, and your levels seem within acceptable ranges, then stability is key (especially for alkalinity).