Coral recovery from no phosphates

[Stephers]

I went a little crazy on the carbon dosing and didn't realize my phosphtes had been bottomed out at 0 for a while. Hanna checker phosphorus is reading 0 ppb with multiple tests. I've cut back on dosing and just put in my first dose of Neophos in today to hopefully get it up to 0.02 ppm. How long do you think it'll take for the sps to come back? The ones affected are very pale and acouple are experiencing stn.

All other parameters are good and stable.
Nitrates 2-4
Alk 7.5
Calcium 440
Magnesium 1450

Also, is that magnesium okay for running lower nutrient levels? I haven't been able to find much info. I haven't had to dose it. That's been the value from salt (reef crystals).

Thanks

 

[Diesel]

Only time will tell.
Some can bounce back after a few weeks some never bounce back.
Just go slow.
I had good luck fragging some and keeping them low on a fragrack.
If the colonie didn’t make it I had at least a few frags left.

 

[Stephers]

Only time will tell.
Some can bounce back after a few weeks some never bounce back.
Just go slow.
I had good luck fragging some and keeping them low on a fragrack.
If the colonie didn’t make it I had at least a few frags left.

Thanks. There's only one I think we'll be a goner. The rest I think will pull through.

I dosed 30mL of neophos, which should have raised it 0.02ppm. I'm still getting a 0 reading. I read this is common at first, but should I dose more today or just redose tomorrow?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm still getting a 0 reading. I read this is common at first, but should I dose more today or just redose tomorrow?

It probably doesn't matter, but it is expected. The organisms had time to take up some phosphate while the rock was doing so.

 

[Stephers]

It probably doesn't matter, but it is expected. The organisms had time to take up some phosphate while the rock was doing so.

Thanks randy. Do you think I should up my dose until I get a steady reading or leave it as 0.02 ppm target?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Personally, I'd stick with that amount for a week or so, and if nothing get's detectable (and nothing undesirable seems to be happening, like algae or closing corals), I'd raise it then.

 

[Stephers]

I'm happy to say that I got a reading today! 7ppb/ .021 ppm. Going well! Here's hoping my corals bounce back well!

 

[Diesel]

I'm happy to say that I got a reading today! 7ppb/ .021 ppm. Going well! Here's hoping my corals bounce back well!

Glad to hear that.
Keep up the good work.

 

[Stephers]

My tank seems to still be eating the phosphates up quick. I'm getting either 1 or 0 ppb readings 24 hrs after dosing. I stopped carbon dosing and my nitrates are now at 10. I'm concerned about them getting higher.

@Randy Holmes-Farley I've seen you say that carbon dosing should affect nitrates more than phosphates. I'd been dosing Vitamin C. Do you think that's still the case with the vitamin c? Or should I try switching to another method? I want to start lightly carbon dosing again to keep nitrates in check, but I want the phosphate to have a chance to build up. I have a very small fish load and a decent filtration system, but I think the nitrates are going to just keep going and going.