Coral Troubles

[mcarroll]

I thought you always wanted Phosphate at 0, is that not true?

Definitely not.

That product is fine. Seachem also makes a nitrogen product in the same line. Brightwell NeoPhos and whaterver their nitrogen product is called would be equally fine if it was easier to get.

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium

That whole article is good...

...but most folks only seem to know about the Calcification Inhibition by Phosphate and How to Export Phosphate sections and ignore the fact that he said:

Because most reefkeepers don't want either of these things to happen, they strive to keep phosphorus levels under control. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to keep phosphorus concentrations at acceptable levels.

He did not say "take it to zero!"

Instead, make sure you pay extra attention to these sections:

• Phosphate Uptake by Organisms
• Phosphate Uptake by Organisms: Microalgae
• Phosphate Export by Organisms: Macroalgae
• Phosphate Export by Organisms: Bacteria

Since you're not only growing bacteria and algae you should also try this search on my blog for "coral" and "phos"...

https://reeformadness.wordpress.com/?s=coral+phos

...and you'll find these journal articles (along with quite a few more):

• Limited phosphorus availability is the Achilles heel of tropical reef corals in a warming ocean
• Control of phosphate uptake by zooxanthellae and host cells in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
  
• Tissue and skeletal changes in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata Esper 1797 under phosphate enrichment
  
• High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata