Balancing phosphates

[B-ridge]

Now I’m convinced my phosphate checker is broke. I measure during the day and my readings are 0. I measure at night and I get some sort of reading.
My buddy says these tests are done with the presence of light. I’ve tried bright light. I’ve tried medium light. I’ve tried just ambient light in the day and readings are still 0. I try at night with just dining room lights on and I get a reading.

 

[B-ridge]

@saltyfilmfolks which fritzyme? The turbostart900 or just the regular or it doesn’t matter?

 

[B-ridge]

Just checked it again. 0.06. Something definitely wrong

 

[Belgian Anthias]

Put the GFO in a refuge or a reactor with internal circulation. This way the phosphate level in a high or low nutrient system is controlled easily by controlling the effluent flow to the main system. Use small amounts of GFO.

 

[B-ridge]

Gfo is in a reactor. I’m thinking it’s my checker. Only works at night for some reason.

 

[jda]

Make sure that you are wiping the vials totally clean and you have waited the full three minutes to check the second vial. If you close the top, ambient light does not matter.

 

[B-ridge]

Yes I’ve done that. Wiped before and after. Doesn’t do anything during the day.

 

[B-ridge]

I just checked since it only works at night. Got s reading of 0.05. I’m gonna check again in the afternoon around 11-12 since my auto water change of 5 gallons is done st 8am. And before I feed. If I don’t get a reading at my testing time I’ll know for sure it’s the checker

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@saltyfilmfolks which fritzyme? The turbostart900 or just the regular or it doesn’t matter?

I didn’t get this tag.
Either. Or dr tims one and only.

 

[B-ridge]

@saltyfilmfolks
Since my tank is somewhat big I’m thinking about using dr Tim’s one and only and the regular frityme. I’m not sure if I really need the turbostart900. It seems like a more potent version of the regular one. Not sure it’s worth it in price. What’s your opinion?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@saltyfilmfolks
Since my tank is somewhat big I’m thinking about using dr Tim’s one and only and the regular frityme. I’m not sure if I really need the turbostart900. It seems like a more potent version of the regular one. Not sure it’s worth it in price. What’s your opinion?

Either. Dr tims is seven bacterias
Both the fritz are testing very well in the bacteria thread.

 

[B-ridge]

I’ll do both. Couldn’t hurt I don’t think to have different bacteria strains

 

[B-ridge]

@saltyfilmfolks
I just received my 1 gallon bottle of fritzyme 9. Looks like I’m gonna have to use the whole bottle. It’s goid for up to 320 gallons. My total water volume is about that. 240 main tank. Sump 125 gallon. Fuge 75 gallon. Estimation after rocks and sand 200 main tank. Sump half filled 60 gallons. Fuge 2/3 filled looking at 70 gallons. I’m gonna say 325 on safe side. I’m gonna do a large water change of at least 50-75 gallons. Then I’ll dose this. Says turn off skimmer for 4 days. My question would be should I turn off auto water change of 5 gallons daily for the 4 days?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@saltyfilmfolks
I just received my 1 gallon bottle of fritzyme 9. Looks like I’m gonna have to use the whole bottle. It’s goid for up to 320 gallons. My total water volume is about that. 240 main tank. Sump 125 gallon. Fuge 75 gallon. Estimation after rocks and sand 200 main tank. Sump half filled 60 gallons. Fuge 2/3 filled looking at 70 gallons. I’m gonna say 325 on safe side. I’m gonna do a large water change of at least 50-75 gallons. Then I’ll dose this. Says turn off skimmer for 4 days. My question would be should I turn off auto water change of 5 gallons daily for the 4 days?

If you have low no3 and Po4 and low all demand , yes I’d turn it off till you’ve balanced it.

 

[B-ridge]

@saltyfilmfolks
Now they say nothing good happens fast in this hobby. I did waterchange and dosed gallon of fritzyme bacteria. Skimmer has been off as directed. Auto water changes have also stopped. Now it’s only Wednesday so bacteria has only been working for 3 days. Do you guys think I should of seen s difference already with the dinos? I understand it takes time for good bacteria to grow and colonize. So I’m thinking just give it some more time or should I go ahead and do the dr Tim’s one and only this time?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Patience.

It’s the how to grow a tree kinda patience.

 

[B-ridge]

Ok. So just leave things and let nature take its course. Don’t add anymore bacteria ie dr tims?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok. So just leave things and let nature take its course. Don’t add anymore bacteria ie dr tims?

Add some when you do a water change.

 

[B-ridge]

I do a 5 gallon automatic water change a day. Minus the weekends. Haven’t been doing the water changes for the past 3 days since instructions on the fritzyme said turn skimmer off for 4 days.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If you’re running true Zeros, you’ll want to stop any major export.