Thoughts on this please ........... would cheato help to pull out phosphate while curing pukani live rock in an un cylcled system running a little carbon no lights on .....just letting the rocks leach ... just wondering would it thrive in a system that hasnt been cycled but has some phosphate ... Thank you for your imput
cheato while curing LR ?
- Thread starter Rob77
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
It should thrive, as long as ammonia is not too high, but I'm not sure it can keep up.
I actually done acid bath and soaked in bleach and have had the rocks in this new system for about 5 weeks doing some large water changes .... I have got the phosphate down from .25 to around .1 I have used some phos rx but I am planning on a fuge anyway so it was just on my mind could going ahead getting it online help
If it's a new system the cheato will likely slowly die off as there isn't enough nutrients broken down to feed the growth of algae. In theory you would think it would do great but I practice it doesn't. After the the system has cycled and Nitrates have started to form them it should do well. I wouldn't add it until you start to detect Nitrates.
I don't under stand the hysteria with Pukani and PO4. I know it has it and needs to be removed but it's not that bad, really. I added 50 pounds of dry Pukani right into my existing system, dropped it all right into the sump. There was a small algae bloom on its surface when I added it to the display a month after being in the sump but that algae was gone a month after that.
I would use LC (PhosphateRX) while your are cycling. Add as much as you need to keep it zero. Keeping it that low will pull more PO4 from the rock and into the water via equilibrium process. No water changes until fully cycled. Do a big water change then and add your cheato. Do some organic carbon dosing (NOPOX, vinegar, vodka, sugar, whatever), run a little GFO, and do your water changes.
You will have some algae no matter what being a new system starting out. Just keep your PO4 low, of you see algae growing you have too much PO4, even if your tests say zero. Just be aggressive now before you add corals for the first weeks or months. Can have fish but hold off on coral until you have the PO4/algae under control. Also keep your skimmer going now and throughout.
I haven't ever had a problem with PO4 despite starting with 100 pounds of new dry Pukani. I currently use all the following, skimmer, very large fuge and high power grow light, BRS high capacity GFO, every 1/2 hour add 2ml mix of vinegar sugar, grazers (Tangs and snails but PODS do most of it believe it or not), and large water changes. It's not necessary to use all these methods but I prefer to use a little of everything. First of all they have many more purposes than just PO4 control, secondly using a little of each prevents sudden swings up or down and I've completely cured the Pukani long ago.
The benefit of cycling while riding your rock of PO4 now is you kill two birds one stone, and now before adding livestock you can and should be aggressive. Use as much LC and GFO as needed, everyday. Of your worried about the LC not removing the PO4 completely from the system run filter socks, skim wet, and it's ok you do some water changes but I don't really see the benefit until your cycle is completed. LC (phosphateRX) binds up the PO4 so it doesn't actually get removed from the system. It's possible some is removed via skimming and very fine filter socks so if your are worried about that use lots of BRS high capacity GFO.
awesome thanks for your help ...... I was on the same page as you as far as gonna do a little bit of everything ......and yes that is my concern with the lc but I am using a 10 micron filter sock while using it ....so I do hope the most is being removed and I am skimming it wet and i have tons of flow .......gfo my reactor is all tied in just havent ran any yet .....I know I am going to have to use it but I really hate it and would love to be able to not use any wishful thinking I know .....when I do start the cycle on this tank I plan on trying the red sea reef mature pro system so I will be using nopox .....I plan on riding this out a little longer before I do start the cycle anyway at least a few more weeks if I can stand it anyway ! thanks alot for your input on this
I kinda figured that just havent been testing anything but phos ......this is just a 75 dt with 35 gallon sump .....but I have put alot in it! maybe I will post some pictures soon .... I am leaving for FL next weekend so I really tried to time really cycling until we return haha maybe I got ahead of myself huh
