Almost no measurable phosphate for days.

[Propane]

So here is the broad strokes of the situation.
17g of water
0.6 nitrates
.00 phosphate both measured using Hanna.
It’s been like this for about 3 weeks except every now and then I get .03 phosphate.
I dose 3.0 of the RHF ammonium solution and plan on upping it to 3.5 tomorrow.
I put 5 drops ME coral phosphate in a day sometimes 6
I put 3 drops of ME coral nitrate a day as of 2 days ago.
I feed my 2 mollies as much as they will eat twice a day
I have no idea what my tail spot blenny is eating I’m putting nori in tomorrow.
Fish are doing good and my cleaner shrimp and 5 cerith snails seem to be happy.
Corals are growing and all have good color so I wouldn’t think they are starving.
I’ve started leaving my filter floss in for 4 or 5 days now before I change it. There’s 2 sides so I offset changing them so there’s always a dirty on in.

I know chasing numbers is not advisable and I also know that if things are going well that I shouldn’t mess with the program. However I don’t know if this situation is 1 misstep from disaster and I keep thinking I should get the numbers up. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lavey29]

How old is the tank? Rock and sand probably binding it. I had to double dose neophos for multiple months when my tank was young to get measurable phosphate numbers and I feed like crazy and use coral supplements.

 

[Propane]

This tank has been set up for about 1.5 months with rock and corals from a 2.5 month old tank.I did use new sand though.

 

[Lavey29]

This tank has been set up for about 1.5 months with rock and corals from a 2.5 month old tank.I did use new sand though.

Yea it's just binding to the rock and sand then like mine did early on.

 

[Propane]

Yea it's just binding to the rock and sand then like mine did early on.

So if it binds it does it start appearing later on? Does something unbind it?

 

[Lavey29]

This tank has been set up for about 1.5 months with rock and corals from a 2.5 month old tank.I did use new sand though.

Dose reef roids twice a week for corals.

 

[Lavey29]

So if it binds it does it start appearing later on? Does something unbind it?

Eventually rock and sand get saturated then start leaching back out.

 

[Propane]

Dose reef roids twice a week for corals.

I’ve been doing benepets 2x a week and AB+ 2 times a week. I quit dosing phyto 2 weeks ago. Are reef roids better for getting nutrients in the tank?

 

[Propane]

Eventually rock and sand get saturated then start leaching back out.

Is it a fast acting event or will I be able to adjust when it starts happening?

 

[Lavey29]

I’ve been doing benepets 2x a week and AB+ 2 times a week. I quit dosing phyto 2 weeks ago. Are reef roids better for getting nutrients in the tank?

Roids are good for raising phosphate in the tank but monitor closely.

 

[Lavey29]

Is it a fast acting event or will I be able to adjust when it starts happening?

No you will know when they are fully saturated as phosphate number will slowly start to rise then you need to reduce import and increase export accordingly maybe needing GFO or phosguard

I didn't hit the saturation point in my tank till like 1.7 years though.

 

[Lavey29]

Pellet food better for phosphate and frozen better for increasing nitrates too.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So here is the broad strokes of the situation.
17g of water
0.6 nitrates
.00 phosphate both measured using Hanna.
It’s been like this for about 3 weeks except every now and then I get .03 phosphate.
I dose 3.0 of the RHF ammonium solution and plan on upping it to 3.5 tomorrow.
I put 5 drops ME coral phosphate in a day sometimes 6
I put 3 drops of ME coral nitrate a day as of 2 days ago.
I feed my 2 mollies as much as they will eat twice a day
I have no idea what my tail spot blenny is eating I’m putting nori in tomorrow.
Fish are doing good and my cleaner shrimp and 5 cerith snails seem to be happy.
Corals are growing and all have good color so I wouldn’t think they are starving.
I’ve started leaving my filter floss in for 4 or 5 days now before I change it. There’s 2 sides so I offset changing them so there’s always a dirty on in.

I know chasing numbers is not advisable and I also know that if things are going well that I shouldn’t mess with the program. However I don’t know if this situation is 1 misstep from disaster and I keep thinking I should get the numbers up. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Feeding 2 mollies is not enough food to raise your po4 levels. Additionally you can feed the corals Reef roids planktonic foods which raise po4 easily. You can while I wont do it by preference dose phosphorus-based supplements to the tank. Raising this level is one thing, but then maintaining them can at times be a challenge.
Also remove any GFO if you have it in the tank and often adding carbon to the system will actually balance po4 level.
Lastly , adding iron supplements will actually increase po4 levels but be sure to add an amount that wont in time become high

 

[Propane]

Pellet food better for phosphate and frozen better for increasing nitrates too.

Funny you should say that I quit feeding frozen mysis and the pellet food as nothing but the cleaner shrimp was eating them. I’ll put some frozen in and see what happens from there maybe just toss a few pellets in as well. I’m guessing that my assumption of being a misstep away from disaster is correct and I need to get these numbers up.

 

[Lavey29]

Funny you should say that I quit feeding frozen mysis and the pellet food as nothing but the cleaner shrimp was eating them. I’ll put some frozen in and see what happens from there maybe just toss a few pellets in as well. I’m guessing that my assumption of being a misstep away from disaster is correct and I need to get these numbers up.

Yea, tank is young but if you get to 3 or 4 months with o phosphate then you may have issues. Neophos dosing is easy and safe. I hand dosed it once per day but double dosed.