Alk and phosphate madness.

[endlessrealm]

My tank is 4 months old. I have 2 duncans, 1 leather, 2 candy canes, 2 gsp, 4 zoas, 1 frogspawn, and 1 hammer. And i just gor 2 rock anemones. All doing fantastic. Its just lately my alk goes from 7.5 to 7.1 in a couple of days. Is that normal? Im new to this.

My mag is is 1350, and calcium 400. Is that being used being my corals? I dosed 4 days ago and ir dropped today to 7.1 from 7.4 is that a normal drop? And my phosphate was 0.05, now im at 0.02. I dosed reef roids, and neophos... alk i understand why phosphate though?

 

[MERKEY]

Yup very normal
P04 and n03 will drop as nutrients are exported through skimming or water changes.... corals need it as well which would cause some drp age over time

 

[endlessrealm]

Yup very normal
P04 and n03 will drop as nutrients are exported through skimming or water changes.... corals need it as well which would cause some drp age over time

Okay now heres the funny part. My skimmer completely off. And its been off for few months now till my tank mature. So how my phosphate being consumed?

 

[MERKEY]

Rocks and sand absorb it as well.

 

[MERKEY]

Did you start woth dry or live rocl?

Once they are done absorbing it the rocks will start to release it and you will need to remove it so it doesn't climb too high.

 

[endlessrealm]

Did you start woth dry or live rocl?

Once they are done absorbing it the rocks will start to release it and you will need to remove it so it doesn't climb too high.

Im really hoping i get to that level, because its easier for me to remove it with water changes, then dose neophos, and reef roids to keep it in check. Caribsea rocks...

 

[MERKEY]

Ya it can take a little bit. But better than 0 on them.

Be careful on the neophos and reefroids.

That's like dosing phos twice.

 

[endlessrealm]

Ya it can take a little bit. But better than 0 on them.

Be careful on the neophos and reefroids.

That's like dosing phos twice.

So iv been dosing a 1 capful every 3 days. I keep checking nothing is registering idk why.

 

[MERKEY]

Sucks up fast.

Got a picture of your tank?

 

[CoachRichardson]

Stony corals are using phos and nitrate. That isn’t a bad thing. Just have to find the balance. I have used TM All for Reef to keep Alk balanced. Some love it, some don’t like it.

 

[endlessrealm]

Sucks up fast.

Got a picture of your tank?

I have a video.

 

[MERKEY]

Looking great

I'd stay the course and when you need to start the skimmer you know the rocks are releasing.

Corals look happy and are using all nutrients as well.

There is some algea in the right places and maybe some cyno on the left side but my eyes aren't the best on phone videos lol just suck it out if it is.

 

[IsaacHunt]

Okay now heres the funny part. My skimmer completely off. And its been off for few months now till my tank mature. So how my phosphate being consumed?

turn the bloody skimmer back on again as your rocks are absorbing the PO4 and will then start leaching it and it will take ages to get rid of it.


Skimmer will remove excess waste from the tank including the left over food which otherwise will rot in the tank