+1 on a lot of factors
IMO the one MOST UNDERESTIMATED factor in coral growth (in SPS corals) is flow. I also read an article (in CORAL?) a year of so ago that described how flow affects the actual COLORATION of the coral in question.
Another overlooked variable is STABILITY of parameters (given they are within a reasonable range to begin with). I know the urge is to tinker tinker tinker.... but I've noticed the MOST growth from my SPS corals when I get things set... maintain those parameters and just keep my hands off things a while.
IMO CA is around 450ish
IMO ALK is around 8-8.5 dKh
Here is my SPS tank before the great killer power outage :/ nearly ALL the corals were grown from 1 inch frags in less than a year. Everything has always been under T5 lighting, and I run a kalk reactor and a skimmer... nothing too fancy.
Hope this helps..
B
Edit: the tank is 48" long and 24" high for size reference
BTW.. to keep those steady parameters you will need to test (until you develop the aquarist's 6th sense haha)... to do that get GOOD TEST KITS... I also think that EASE OF USE is HUGE in whether or not you test on a regular basis. One thing that has helped me recently keep my alk in a good range is the Hana Checker... its so easy that I don't mind doing the test

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