Advice starting PhosGuard

[b4tn]

My Nitrates are 0 and phosphates are reading between 0-.02 but I am still getting algae growth and one of my SPS is browning out so i am assuming they are being consumed before they can be detected. I got some zooplankton and made some new fish food and will be increasing my feeding schedule and running phosphate remover in hopes the corals will bounce back. I have run GFO in my reactor but I have never run phosguard before. As I understand it depletes quicker than GFO so I am not sure the best way to run it not knowing exactly what my real phosphate numbers are.

The instructions say to run 1/3 cup per 50 gallons of water volume and check after 4 days if phosphate levels have decreased and replace if necessary. So whats the best way to run this if the phosphate numbers are not readable? Should I run it in my reactor or in a bag in the sump? I was thinking to run 1/2 cup in my reactor for 4 days and see if there is any improvement in corals but then what? Keep running it the same amount? Looking for ideas.

I should also add that I am week 7 into vibrant dosing to get rid of bubble algae.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I wouldn’t run it. The algae is more likely feeding on ammoina directly as a nitrogen source then using the Po4.

What sps is browning , an acro? What’s your par?

It’s best if you run it to add table spoons. Then in a week add another, or, add the same plus one or two.

 

[marlinmon]

I wouldn't run any GFO either, period.

 

[b4tn]

Running GFO is based on a recommendation from the vibrant thread. I started this new thread so I would not clutter it up. While I do not know my specific par the Acro in question is under LED's and is my fastest growing Acro it went from an inch long frag to several branches the size of my hand over the year. Its been growing like a weed and coloring up just fine until recently (about a week).

@saltyfilmfolks It would be a pain to do a couple tablespoons in the reactor. Would you do it in a media bag?

My reef is well established about 4 years old 70 gallons of water volume with about 150 lbs of rock. Mixed reef with volleyball sized zoa colony, SPS, LPS, and lots of other livestock. just battling bubble algae.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Gfo depends on flow around the media , so put it in a high flow area.

Not sure about the vibrant thing. That would cause problems with low nutrients imo.

I just don’t know how nutrients that low would cause browning.

Ime , the whole low nutrients for algae thing is kinda outta hand. I nearly killled my tank lowering them for bryopsis. IMHO One acro Browning wouldn’t make me look at changing the entire balance. Just food for thought.

 

[b4tn]

I wouldn’t run it. The algae is more likely feeding on ammoina directly as a nitrogen source then using the Po4.

What sps is browning , an acro? What’s your par?

It’s best if you run it to add table spoons. Then in a week add another, or, add the same plus one or two.

Gfo depends on flow around the media , so put it in a high flow area.

Not sure about the vibrant thing. That would cause problems with low nutrients imo.

I just don’t know how nutrients that low would cause browning.

Ime , the whole low nutrients for algae thing is kinda outta hand. I nearly killled my tank lowering them for bryopsis. IMHO One acro Browning wouldn’t make me look at changing the entire balance. Just food for thought.

Thanks, you are correct it really kicks the nitrates out of the picture so I have been increasing my feeding schedule. Using Vibrant was a last resort for me, I had tried everything to get rid of bubble algae and nothing was working. Vibrant is showing progress but the corals are starting to suffer. Its more than just one Acro its several other corals as well this one is just the worse off. I am hoping to hold on for just a little longer.... This bubble algae is stubborn stuff.

 

[nano reef]

I sit safe to use phosguard or chemipure elite when dosing vibrant? I read a post on here the other day and someone said that combining the two killed his corals. I believe he said he had been using vibrant with no ill effects until he added the phosguard.