Best Method to Reduce PO4

[Joe31415]

I was not aware. We'll He**. lol

Same here. I don't use that much of it, but I do use some and I have been trying to get my phosphate number down.

 

[Bato367]

Are you seeing any ill effects? I do run phosguard as a precaution, but now that my tank is 5 years old, I have no algae issues so I doubt I even need the phosguard. Don't chase numbers if your tank is happy.

No algae issues. Just a few corals that aren't fully extending. Frogspawn, pulsing xenia (small frag) and banana hammock stick. Most all critters are healthy.

 

[Bato367]

Same here. I don't use that much of it, but I do use some and I have been trying to get my phosphate number down.

It says 1-5 teaspoons per 100 gallons. I was using about 1 teaspoon per my 112 gallons once per week.

 

[Tamberav]

Why not Chemi-pure? And do you think I can get away without a reactor? I like keep equipment and clutter to a minimum.

it’s mostly carbon with only a little tiny bit of GFO and it’s tiny bags. So it probably won’t have any impact.

It works better in a reactor. GFO is very fine and tumbles slowly.

 

[Lavey29]

I was not aware. We'll He**. lol

I was dosing it once a week but when I did my phosphate went from .1 to .3 I was broadcast feeding it per the instructions. Perhaps direct feeding might reduce the high phosphate number from it. It raised it as much as reef roids does.

 

[Pistondog]

Why not Chemi-pure? And do you think I can get away without a reactor? I like keep equipment and clutter to a minimum.

A reactor is most efficient, otherwise make sure the bag of gfo is in a high flow area. Maybe put the bag in your filter sox.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Gfo will reduce it in a few days, enough time to let your corals not go in shock

 

[Pistondog]

I do not feed heavy at all. I was using a powdered coral food only once per week. Also feed Brightwell marine snow Reef Nutrition Phyto-Feast about once per week. As directed. I feed my clowns mostly Omega One pellets.

This is a re-booted system as I bought it used. I am guessing it's from re-using the sand! Although I did rinse it multiple times until it was as clean as I could get it!

Phosphate binds to rock and substrate, so in a reboot you may be dealing with some historical problems. If before you got it, Phosphate was high, it might leach out of rocks for a while.
How long has the reboot been running?

 

[Bato367]

I was dosing it once a week but when I did my phosphate went from .1 to .3 I was broadcast feeding it per the instructions. Perhaps direct feeding might reduce the high phosphate number from it. It raised it as much as reef roids does.

Good to know thanks!

 

[Bato367]

Phosphate binds to rock and substrate, so in a reboot you may be dealing with some historical problems. If before you got it, Phosphate was high, it might leach out of rocks for a while.
How long has the reboot been running?

Very true. Apparently about 1.5 years and was professionally maintained as it was in the hallway of a corporate office.

Reboot has been running since mid December of 2021.

 

[X-37B]

I used gfo, phosgaurd, and carbon in a reactor.
Worked well but was going through alot of media.
My 120 now has a 30g remote fuge and I am using no po4 reducing media and po4 runs around .05.

Im not a fan of light in a sump, but, my 45 frag system with 40 breeder sump has a small led and cheato, ogo, and DB from my 30g fuge. Po4 is running .06ish since removing a small reactor with above said media.

So I am now a total believer in the fuge method as long as its sized accordingly.

No3 run <3 in all systems.

 

[jp_75]

MB7 or bacterial products have worked at reducing p04 and nitrate for me before

Do you dose MB7 every day or once a week?

 

[Nate Chalk]

.4 isn’t bad

 

[Lavey29]

I used gfo, phosgaurd, and carbon in a reactor.
Worked well but was going through alot of media.
My 120 now has a 30g remote fuge and I am using no po4 reducing media and po4 runs around .05.

Im not a fan of light in a sump, but, my 45 frag system with 40 breeder sump has a small led and cheato, ogo, and DB from my 30g fuge. Po4 is running .06ish since removing a small reactor with above said media.

So I am now a total believer in the fuge method as long as its sized accordingly.

No3 run <3 in all systems.

How long are you lighting your fuge? I'm running 12 hours. Chaeto grows like weeds but not seeing significant impact on my nutrients export yet.

 

[Lavey29]

Do you dose MB7 every day or once a week?

That's a good point. I started using PNS probio which is a natural bacteria that also reduces phosphate but man it has cleaned up my tank beautiful. Sand is white. Filter socks stay clean a whole week.

 

[TheDuude]

.4 isn’t bad

+1 if it's stable and your corals are happy I am not sure I would chase it. If it is continuing to rise then an increase in export is needed. You could try feeding less phosphate into the tank as well.

 

[jmichaelh7]

I used gfo, phosgaurd, and carbon in a reactor.
Worked well but was going through alot of media.
My 120 now has a 30g remote fuge and I am using no po4 reducing media and po4 runs around .05.

Im not a fan of light in a sump, but, my 45 frag system with 40 breeder sump has a small led and cheato, ogo, and DB from my 30g fuge. Po4 is running .06ish since removing a small reactor with above said media.

So I am now a total believer in the fuge method as long as its sized accordingly.

No3 run <3 in all systems.

Same here, I agree! once I started refugium my po4 is .04-.08.

I took gfo offline but I still run carbon for water clarity

 

[Bato367]

Do you dose MB7 every day or once a week?

I’ve only dosed MB7 when I set up this tank.

 

[X-37B]

How long are you lighting your fuge? I'm running 12 hours. Chaeto grows like weeds but not seeing significant impact on my nutrients export yet.

It runs the same as my display 9 hrs on the 120 and 8 hrs on my frag system.
Cheato grows like a weed and ogo is in second place. DB is a slow grower in my system.
Get some ogo and see if that helps.
How gif is your system and fuge?

 

[Billldg]

Question, how are you testing and with what kit?

I went thru the thread and didn't see any mention our make of test kit.