Can't raise Phosphates while dosing Nopox

[WVReefJunkie]

I have had a high nitrate issue for some time. So I started dosing Nopox around three weeks ago. The nitrated have reduced from 60ppm but has seemed to stall at 16ppm. I was a gfo reactor before Nopox with a reading of 0.03 ppm. Since dosing Nopox my Phosphates has went to zero ppm. I have took the reactor offline, but it seems as I am dosing Nopox and feeding heavy that the Phosphates are still undectable. What would you recommend that I do to raise my Phosphates levels? Iam using a Hanna checker for phosphate monitoring. Thanks, Reefers!

 

[psirex]

Cut back dosing

 

[WVReefJunkie]

That makes sense, but I am trying to lower Nitrates to 5 ppm. If I cut back dosing it would slow down the process.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

I am following because I have the same freaking problem!

 

[blkhwkz]

Is the 16ppm causing a problem that you need to lower it to 5? Or just because that's a number people throw out as what they should be?

 

[Zack K]

I have nitrates 180ppm. I have had this problem in 2 tanks. I did 3 50% water changes over a 6 day period and it brought them down drastically. Currently doing this in my 65 Corner. Maybe if you quit dosing all together and just do a bigger water change like +10% of your current 2x a week should change nitrates for the better yet not effect phosphate as much as dosing.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

Iam having issues with Sps coral, browning and recession.

 

[morpheas]

I've had a similar experience but have great success increasing phosphates using Phyto-Feast. Any time I bring them low, I start putting some phyto in there for a week and they go back up.

 

[blkhwkz]

Iam having issues with Sps coral, browning and recession.

So on my new tank I ran biopellets from day 1 and had no nitrates so all my SPS browned. Removed biopellets and had to dose nitrates to get them above 0, got to 5 and SPS went from brown or pale to more color. Got lazy and stopped testing, next time I tested they were at 40 and SPS never looked better. That is why I was asking, but every tank is different and all that. I would personally just cut back the nopox dose and see if you can get them to raise by feeding a little more, or there are several products you can dose to raise them up a bit.

 

[Rick.45cal]

You're bacteria are stalled because they need 3 things to process nutrients, Organic carbon (your NOPOx) and NO3 and PO4. If you run out of any one of these then the bacteria cease to be effective. You can dose PO4 via a food grade tri sodium phosphate solution, or you can order something like brightwell aquatics NeoPhos and dose it. As you administer PO4 the bacteria will continue to consume NO3 and the NOPOx. Basically right now you are building up an organic carbon surplus in your system, which will lead to bleaching and other bad things. So reduce/stop your NOPOx dosing or add PO4 in some way. (Feeding won't fix this in your situation, your nutrients levels are too imbalanced).

 

[WVReefJunkie]

Thanks Rick, I knew I needed to raise Phosphates but didn't know what product to use. Thank you for explaining that to me, and the processes of my aquarium.

 

[blkhwkz]

I've used Brightwell NeoPhos before, just make sure to follow the directions about dosage and testing. Had SPS in another tank that didn't like when I stripped the water to quick with GFO and then added it back quicker than I should have with NeoPhos. Eventually they all recovered though.

 

[javman9]

From the description it sounds like cyano, and with the weekly w/c and you still have it time for a little help (no shame in modern medicine) go to your LPS they will have what you need, I got some chemicalclean aquarium treatment (actual name of the product ) I only had to use it once as directed.
Keep an eye on the skimmer it will go crazy for about 2 weeks, if it were me id slow down on the carbon 1/month and w/c I'd go every 2 week then go for 3-4weeks but thats just me keeping 100 g display w 70 g sump. Id go broke w weekly w/c good luck