Best way to reduce just phosphate.

[Biglurr54]

My Phosphate is getting out of hand. All my other parameters are in check but my po4 is continuously high. My hanna checker blinks 200 at me meaning it is over 0.62. I have dosed large amounts of Brightwell Phosphate E and it will drop it some but then it raises back up. My sps are doing well but my growth has dropped right off. My nitrate is in a good pace at 15ppm and holds there.

I dont really have an export for po4. I run a skimmer 24/7. I have an algae reactor that i have neglected for months. I am adding a full 30g fuge soon. I do monthly water changes (60g of 220g system).

I need to get just phosphate down as everything else is in check. id rather not keep dumping Phosphate E in but that is what seems to drop just phosphate.

What else can i do to reduce po4? Either as a treatment or as a routine thing?

 

[T-J]

First, figure out the source of all that phosphate. After that, I'd get that algae reactor back up and running. I prefer the natural methods vs chemicals when possible. Another option would be a GFO reactor, but you have to be careful that you don't strip it out too fast.

 

[jgirardnrg]

If you're looking for a chemical method, I've used this before with good results:

Phosphat-E - Liquid Phosphate Remover

Overview Begins to eliminate reactive phosphate immediately upon addition to aquarium. Safe for all inhabitants of reef and marine fish-only aquaria. Each ml eliminates 1 ppm phosphate in 4 US-gallons of water (250 ml treats 1,000 US-gal). Helps facilitate the removal of phosphate from aquaria...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[T-J]

If you're looking for a chemical method, I've used this before with good results:

Phosphat-E - Liquid Phosphate Remover

Overview Begins to eliminate reactive phosphate immediately upon addition to aquarium. Safe for all inhabitants of reef and marine fish-only aquaria. Each ml eliminates 1 ppm phosphate in 4 US-gallons of water (250 ml treats 1,000 US-gal). Helps facilitate the removal of phosphate from aquaria...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Second sentence of their post states they've been using this.

 

[jgirardnrg]

Second sentence of their post states they've been using this.

My bad... still haven't finished my 2nd coffee this morning.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

I would work on getting the algae scrubber in place.

 

[jgirardnrg]

For what it's worth, I was struggling with the same thing and could not for the life of me figure out where it was coming from. Turns out the TDS meter reading 0 on my RODI was a lie. Every water change just added more PO4. Every time the ATO fired off, more PO4 added. Nothing more than a PSA, but it's worth checking on your end.

 

[Jekyl]

Are corals suffering? Looked fine in the pics. What are you feeding?

 

[jpas]

Careful with dosing lanthanum chloride, your lanthanum levels will rapidly escalate and you will risk losing your SPS. Your tank looks pretty good for phosphate levels of over 0.5ppm. What types of food are you feeding?

 

[jpas]

For what it's worth, I was struggling with the same thing and could not for the life of me figure out where it was coming from. Turns out the TDS meter reading 0 on my RODI was a lie. Every water change just added more PO4. Every time the ATO fired off, more PO4 added. Nothing more than a PSA, but it's worth checking on your end.

TDS = Total dissolved solids, really doesn't tell you much about the purity of your water. You are right though, the OP should check his levels in his ATO water.

 

[nereefpat]

By the looks of those corals, you should be telling everyone else what to do.

That said, your algae scrubber and fuge will reduce phosphate, but it will take an awful long time. I would use GFO in a reactor, but use very small amounts and go slowly. LC will precipitate the phosphate right out, but you should drip it really slowly into a filter sock.

The reason the P will drop and raise back up is because the rock and sand are full of phosphate and will leach back out as the level in the water decreases. You just need to keep at it.

 

[Biglurr54]

Things are good but lately I have had a couple colonies STN from the base and my growth has just about stopped since the PO4 has raised. Ive done GFO and Lanthanum Chloride. I just worry about lanthanum chloride build up with the amount I am dosing. I am hoping the 30gallon fuge will take out some nutrients but my experience is that they take out nitrate more than phosphate.

i didnt like GFO because it was getting expensive with the amount and frequency i was changing it out. I prefer a more natural approach.

The source is most likely feeding. I feed heavily as I have a lot of large mature fish. They get pellets 1x a day and i feed homemade frozen food every other day. (approximately 3-4 cubes). All the food gets eaten within a minute. Nothing is left rotting away.

I lowered my feeding a year ago from frozen everyday to every other. Since then, my nitrates have come down but my phosphate has continued to climb!

 

[nereefpat]

I just worry about lanthanum chloride build up with the amount I am dosing.

Are you doing this?

LC will precipitate the phosphate right out, but you should drip it really slowly into a filter sock.

 

[Biglurr54]

Yes. I dose Lanthum Chloride and get PO4 down to around .20. Then it climbs back up in 2 months. Dumping all this lanthanum Chloride in ever 2 months seems like a problem waiting to happen.

 

[jpas]

I was using LC and lost several SPS colonies. I did an ICP test and my lanthanum levels were sky high. I was using the same product as you mentioned.

I am using an algae scrubber and a large cheato fuge to keep my levels very low. I can feed as much as I want now and N&P stay low.

 

[Uncle99]

That tank looks great, screw the number, I’d do nothing.
Many great tanks can run on high phosphate.
Great colour, what is it you would like to improve?

 

[Biglurr54]

Growth and to stop a few stn events.

 

[Potatohead]

I wouldn't do anything other than add the refugium.

 

[Trouble1375]

Everyone else chimed in with Phosphate-E already and that was my recommendation also. Works great.

 

[Uncle99]

Maybe run GFO till she drops by half, then pull.
Fuge is a great idea but it must be “dialed in” as well, however once set should lower and stabilize that nutrient.

Very nice tank, yes, I am jealous

Well done, or sorry, IMO, well done.