Controlling P04

[NShirke]

I'm dealing with P04 for a very long time. It used to 1 - 2+PPM but managed to now keep it between 0.4-0.6PPM nowadays. I thought the main source of Phosphate was dried flakes and pellet food, so removed dried food and started feeding frozen hikari mysis. I wash the frozen shrimp with RODI water before feeding my fish. Don't think I'm overfeeding, as fish eat all cubes of mysis shrimp. 3 cubes in morning + 3 at night. I have 1 dwarf angel, 1 long nose butterfly, 4 tangs(i know its small aquarium but they are doing good), 4 peppermint shrimp, 1 BTA, 1 Cardinal Fish. I have Kenya tree, some zoas, and clove polyp. Preparing my tank for LPS, and SPS corals.

I switch between Phosguard and RowaPhos to manage P04. I use 2x the recommended dose regardless of the media brand. As soon as i change the media, the phosphate starts to decline to 0.3ish. After a week or two, I can see rise in Phosphate. I have to change the exhausted media more frequently.

Why is there increase in phosphate in such a short span? Better question would be, why is the media getting exhausted in a week or two worths time? I do have sand bed and rock. Are they main source of Phosphate? Do I have to keep change the media more frequently until it rises less often?

Calcium - 400 (Salifert)
temp - 79-80c
Alk - 9.0(hanna)
Phosphate - 0.42(hanna)
Magnesium - 1020(Salifert)
Aquarium - 90g + 30g sump and refuge.
Water Change - 20% every 2-3 weeks.
Salt - Instant Ocean Reef Crystal

 

[Cory]

I'm dealing with P04 for a very long time. It used to 1 - 2+PPM but managed to now keep it between 0.4-0.6PPM nowadays. I thought the main source of Phosphate was dried flakes and pellet food, so removed dried food and started feeding frozen hikari mysis. I wash the frozen shrimp with RODI water before feeding my fish. Don't think I'm overfeeding, as fish eat all cubes of mysis shrimp. 3 cubes in morning + 3 at night. I have 1 dwarf angel, 1 long nose butterfly, 4 tangs(i know its small aquarium but they are doing good), 4 peppermint shrimp, 1 BTA, 1 Cardinal Fish. I have Kenya tree, some zoas, and clove polyp. Preparing my tank for LPS, and SPS corals.

I switch between Phosguard and RowaPhos to manage P04. I use 2x the recommended dose regardless of the media brand. As soon as i change the media, the phosphate starts to decline to 0.3ish. After a week or two, I can see rise in Phosphate. I have to change the exhausted media more frequently.

Why is there increase in phosphate in such a short span? Better question would be, why is the media getting exhausted in a week or two worths time? I do have sand bed and rock. Are they main source of Phosphate? Do I have to keep change the media more frequently until it rises less often?

Calcium - 400 (Salifert)
temp - 79-80c
Alk - 9.0(hanna)
Phosphate - 0.42(hanna)
Magnesium - 1020(Salifert)
Aquarium - 90g + 30g sump and refuge.
Water Change - 20% every 2-3 weeks.
Salt - Instant Ocean Reef Crystal

I think the same thing. My gfo is bulk but from canada jlaquatics and it sucks. I put a bag in my overflow and ill literally not even see a drop. Literally 1 cup doesn't drop it via hanna checker on 150 gallons total. Im goimg to use lanthanum chloride next time

 

[Reef.]

Sounds a lot of food, 6 cubes a day and about 6 fish?

I’m all for feeding a lot but that seems A LOT!

 

[NShirke]

@Cory, Lanthanum is on my mind too. Watched a YouTube video from Melevs reef, he recommends Phosphate RX. I’ve heard concentrated lanthanum chloride solution is to be used by caution, but Phosphate Rx is dialled down version of lanthanum chloride for aquarium use.

 

[NShirke]

Sounds a lot of food, 6 cubes a day and about 6 fish?

I’m all for feeding a lot but that seems A LOT!

Okay, so how much would you recommend? Thought as long as fish eat them all, we should be good.

 

[Reef.]

Okay, so how much would you recommend? Thought as long as fish eat them all, we should be good.

they still poo lol

I would feed a mix of different frozen foods, try 3 cubes a day see how you go and also some nori for the tangs.

 

[Lightspeed]

Assuming your temp quoted is a typo i would still wind it back to 77f.
Your water volume is relatively small and for your livestock i feel you are feeding too much for your fish, i run a 260g system and feed half as much. You could also have a crack at making your own food, use human consumption grade seafood as fresh as you can get, I use oyster, scallop, prawn, crayfish, mix in a small amount of vitalis pellets and a dash of reef roids with some aminos too, i also feed this in combination with hikari brine defrosted in rodi then filtered.
I think for the size of your system and feeding schedule and food type your po4 lvl is congruent with whats going in, soif you want to drop your po4 you need to export more at your feed lvl.
If you can do weekly water change of 25%, you are lucky here as your system volume is relatively small so its not so bad if you are using arti salt, i do around 250- 300 litres pw.
Next time you vac if you have a sandbed, try doing a deeper clean, you could also try dr tims waste away. Ensure you are changing your socks every 3 days max, possibly also try a finer primary mesh sock.
Maybe lift your Cal a tad and your Mag is a bit low.
If i was running a fuge and had po4 that high i really would have to assess what i was doing import and export wise.
Get that sorted before you make attempt at lps or sps, or your p04 will inhibit growth, melt and have you running in circles, i dont think you need to run lanthanum, i think first re assess what i have stated above before you turn to chemical augmentation.