Almost 3 years with no answer. Until today.

[saullman]

So I have been battling gha for years now. It used to be much worse than it currently is although it is still there. However, it seems to be under control now or at least not growing back as fast. My tank is a 45 gal JBJ aio. Up to now I have been using a salifert phosphate test kit. I have never seen any results from that kit. I'm not sure if it was bad or what. I finally raised enough money to buy a Hanna phosphate URL checker and I used it today for the first time. Here is what it said.........

 

[MelReefer]

Good job to you for sticking with it. It’s ok right now but keep trying to get it lower

 

[Copingwithpods]

Looks good, that's right around where I keep my po4

 

[saullman]

Good job to you for sticking with it. It’s ok right now but keep trying to get it lower

Since technically I don't have any experience with phosphate measurements, what is the acceptable range? And how would you recommend to lower it?

 

[MelReefer]

Since technically I don't have any experience with phosphate measurements, what is the acceptable range? And how would you recommend to lower it?

Well it’s a bit complicated but I think the general range you should be in is 0.02-0.05. If your on that range you should be good. You can lower it using a number of methods. I use a refugium but for some that unrealistic. You could use gfo or a algae turf scrubber. The turf scrubber is expensive though. I wouldn’t recommend the miracle in a bottle stuff cuz that usually does more harm than good. Probably the best way is just doing frequent water changes. Good luck!

 

[Snoopy 67]

People shoot for 0.03, natural seawater, but in reality many tanks will do just fine higher.
I would keep it under 0.15 if possible using a reactor with GFO. Granular Ferric Oxide.

 

[Dilan Patel]

i run .1ppm as it gives me a buffer to not strip all my nutrients out. I dose lanthunum chloride frequently to keep it at .1

 

[islander84]

Are you keeping any corals? If so what kind and how do they look?

 

[Uncle99]

Running .15 on phosphate, seems this is where the number falls without using anything to lower it.
I can bring it down to 0.05 with Rowaphos, but over time, it creeps back up, but, never goes beyond .15.
Since everything is happy, I just leave it there.

 

[Dilan Patel]

I keep all types of coral. I find this area allows my zoas/LPS to grow rapidly and keep my sps colored nicely. I have been told my corals/frags color look good. Don't want to derail the thread but if you would like to see some pics just PM me and I can shoot you some up to date photos of some current stuff.(I am currently rebuilding after a crash that happened last summer)

 

[saullman]

Looks good, that's right around where I keep my po4

So you mean something is right in my fishtank. It's a miracle.

Looks good, that's right around where I keep my po4

Well it’s a bit complicated but I think the general range you should be in is 0.02-0.05. If your on that range you should be good. You can lower it using a number of methods. I use a refugium but for some that unrealistic. You could use gfo or a algae turf scrubber. The turf scrubber is expensive though. I wouldn’t recommend the miracle in a bottle stuff cuz that usually does more harm than good. Probably the best way is just doing frequent water changes. Good luck!

I don't have room for a refugium in my 45. You are correct that I cannot afford a turf algae scrubber. I have never used any chemicals in my tank. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing. I do not own any kind of media reactors although I do have some rowaphos on hand. I have been doing water changes once a month only because I cannot afford to make my own water so I am doing it the old school way. I have to travel almost an hour to WWC to get my water. If I had the means to produce my own water I would do more frequent water changes.

 

[MelReefer]

So you mean something is right in my fishtank. It's a miracle.


I don't have room for a refugium in my 45. You are correct that I cannot afford a turf algae scrubber. I have never used any chemicals in my tank. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing. I do not own any kind of media reactors although I do have some rowaphos on hand. I have been doing water changes once a month only because I cannot afford to make my own water so I am doing it the old school way. I have to travel almost an hour to WWC to get my water. If I had the means to produce my own water I would do more frequent water changes.

I feel ya man. Tough world. I live about an hour away from wwc too. Where at in Florida do you live?

 

[saullman]

Are you keeping any corals? If so what kind and how do they look?

I only have 2 corals left. To be honest, they are just surviving. Not thriving. I have a Duncan and some palys. Nothing is growing or looking good.

 

[saullman]

I feel ya man. Tough world. I live about an hour away from wwc too. Where at in Florida do you live?

I live near Winter Haven, FL. in a small town called Dundee.

 

[MelReefer]

Oh cool. I live in Melbourne

 

[saullman]

People shoot for 0.03, natural seawater, but in reality many tanks will do just fine higher.
I would keep it under 0.15 if possible using a reactor with GFO. Granular Ferric Oxide.

Rowaphos is considered a gfo, correct? I do have some, but no reactor to run it through.

 

[saullman]

Oh cool. I live in Melbourne

I used to live in Melbourne. In Suntree. We should meet up sometime.

 

[MelReefer]

I used to live in Melbourne. In Suntree. We should meet up sometime.

Sounds good. When you get your tank going we could do frag swaps

 

[Rick.45cal]

I’m a central florida local as well. What are your other parameters? I personally don’t think 0.1ppm phosphate is a reason why your corals aren’t doing well. I personally wouldn’t be concerned with your phosphate levels.

 

[jsvand5]

.1 isn’t a big deal. If it were me, I wouldn’t waste money trying to lower it with anything but water changes.