Angry Phosphate Man: Mitigating High Phosphates In Your Reef Aquarium

[19frank90]

I voted "other." Hanna ULR tested .064 on Sunday but I've been having what I think are diatoms in the sand the last couple weeks.

Remaining parameters (all with Hanna testers except Ammonia and Nitrite (API) and Magnesium (Salifert))
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
pH - 7.9
Calcium - 540
Magnesium - 1440
Alk - 9.9
Temp - 78
Sg - 1.024

 

[RickSanford]

Rowaphos, chaeto in refugium, skimmer 24/7 and daily 15ml dose of Brightwell Phosphat-E.

Hi736 ULR reads between 6-8 ppb (.018-.024 ppm) Phosphate
Nitrate runs between 12-18

 

[jbilliel]

Phosphates are my nemesis! I have had my tank for about a year and run GFO, RODI water, refugium, etc and struggle to keep it under 0.20 ppm according to Hanna. As a result my Cyano loves my tank! Ugh...

 

[DeeEmm]

LaCl dosing here

 

[Biglew11]

My nitrates are high. Too high. Again using the salifert test it reads 25 to 50. Ive been trying to bring it down to no avail

My nitrates were also high. I then discovered that my phosphates had been at 0. Once I dosed phosphates and got them stable at .05-.1 I started vodka and vinegar and they came right down.

 

[Miguel Negron]

Hey guys I have a question, is it best to run GFO while feeding everyday to keep things fed & happy while keeping phosphates under control?

 

[Brian Coulter]

Where are your nitrates?

Also, it could be your test kit. While Salifert has a good rep when it comes to their test kits, but for phosphates, I recommend the Hanna ulr checker.

There is no reason to have to check for phosphates to that level of accuracy. A little blue on the Salifert kit and you're golden. No blue, time to get 'em up!

 

[Kfactor]

i cant get my p04 above 0 lol

 

[Doctorgori]

I use a combo of GFO and LAN. ... I run GFO at 1/2 the recommended dosage and adj with Phosphat-e
I like to run under .1 to .05

 

[richarddeweerd]

My phosphates are unmeasurable low, my hanna ULR phosphorus checker is normally never shows higher than 2.

I currently add po4 in my tank

 

[chaoticreefer]

There is no reason to have to check for phosphates to that level of accuracy. A little blue on the Salifert kit and you're golden. No blue, time to get 'em up!

Hmmm....you are missing the point. When it comes to Hanna phosphate checker, its about reliability. And...it's cheaper after the initial $50, only $10 refills.

 

[Villareef]

Whats LaCI and how do you dose it?

Check out Phosphate Rx by Blue Life. A 6 drops/10 gal dose lowers phosphates .5ppm. I dose on average once per month or as needed. Good skimming needed after dose. No negative effect on Lps corals. More persice effects than GFO.

 

[Sherrya62]

My nitrates were also high. I then discovered that my phosphates had been at 0. Once I dosed phosphates and got them stable at .05-.1 I started vodka and vinegar and they came right down.

I’ll try that method

 

[Lightspeed]

I dont run gfo, only carbon, i struggle to keep phosphates up, hanna yesterday phosphorous 3ppb or 0.003ppm , phosphate by conversion 0.009198ppm.

 

[Pistondog]

Should we be concerned about dosing lanthanum chloride if there is no phosphate in the water? Great tool, but can it be abused?

 

[chaoticreefer]

Should we be concerned about dosing lanthanum chloride if there is no phosphate in the water? Great tool, but can it be abused?

It lowers your alk too, so you will be wasting both the LaCl and alk. Some would not recommend phosphates at zero, it will cause coral problems and dinos.

 

[Pistondog]

It lowers your alk too, so you will be wasting both the LaCl and alk. Some would not recommend phosphates at zero, it will cause coral problems and dinos.

Any worries about free LaCl if no phosphate to bind to?

 

[chaoticreefer]

Any worries about free LaCl if no phosphate to bind to?

It will bind to alk. So there will never be free floating reactive LaCl.

 

[X-37B]

I understand vinegar and sugar, but why iron for carbon dosing? Is there literature on that? Or do you mean for macro algae?
I use DRS ez carbon and it has iron in it.
I do not remember where I read it but
the theory is iron can bind to organics and be skimmed out of your tank.
Bacteria use iron when growing.
When you carbon dose bacteria use the iron in your tank so adding it keeps it in your system.

 

[chaoticreefer]

I use DRS ez carbon and it has iron in it.
I do not remember where I read it but
the theory is iron can bind to organics and be skimmed out of your tank.
Bacteria use iron when growing.
When you carbon dose bacteria use the iron in your tank so adding it keeps it in your system.

I am only seeing DRS ez carbon overseas and in euros, is there an US supplier?