Could somebody recommend a regime? I am fighting phosphates Help!

[Steph1]

Hi Guys, I am quite new to marine aquaria and have been fighting my Phosphates> I have exhausted my recently gained basic knowledge of water chemistry (and my brain and body)
I am asking if you guys could assist in talking me through the next few days. I want to get to the magic numbers

kh:= 10
PH:=8.4
PO3:=0.04

Tank all in one 16Gal (58liters)

HISTORY
It has been wet for 6 weeks, 4 weeks running with heater and Bio media amd put in amonia starter and got up tp 2.0PPM it cyled in 21 days, sand rock (dry)with light off. Two weeks with lights on 2 adolescent Clowns. Some FPS corals. Temporary wavemaker Sicce 1000 (Am waiting for my MP10

Test equipment
I use API test kits and a Hanna Phosphate ULR

8 days ago Phosphates showing 0.6
7 days ago Phosphates showing 0.8
6 days ago Phosphates showing 0.9
5 days ago Phosphates showing 0.9+ Hanna URL only shows 0.9 (Blinking)
5 days ago 30%water change AddedPhosgaurd and Activated carbon in seperate socks in "sump"
5 days ago got PO3 to 0.83
4 days ago 20% water change got it to 0.73
Blah blah blah
TODAY PARRAMITERS ARE:
PH =8.0
Amonia =0.0 Maybe 0.015
Nitrite =0.0
Nitrate =0.0
KH =5
Phosphate=0.23

4 days ago I Buffered with half a teaspoon of kh buffer int RO water added to tank and have not since because of exhaustion with other things tank related
Intend on alternating between kh buffering and "Purple up"
2 days ago cranked up my protien skimmer
Where do I go from here guys? I cant keep these water changes up forever
Thanks in advance guys

 

[Crustaceon]

What are your nitrates at?

 

[Steph1]

What are your nitrates at?

Nitrates=0.00 Does not make sense does it?

 

[Crustaceon]

Nitrates=0.00 Does not make sense does it?

It does. Sometimes bacteria will peg nitrates, which will cause phosphates to creep up as we see in your system. Fixing this could be as simple as dosing a small amount of nitrates. Try to get them to 2ppm and see if you get a slight haziness in the water. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see a bacterial bloom. Let the water clear and repeat. Each time phosphates should drop a little. Take it slow and your tank should reach a nitrate/phosphate equilibrium.

 

[SPR1968]

Just start using something like rowaphos (GFO) in a reactor which will remove phosphate from the system. You will need to change it regularly to start as it becomes spent otherwise it won’t work.

Its also not very effective in socks, it really needs to tumble in a reactor

I use it 24/7 in both my tanks, and ‘heavy’ to keep phosphate locked down at less than around 0.03

 

[Steph1]

Thank you Mate, how do I get Nitrates for dosing?

 

[Steph1]

Thanks SPR I am familiar with GFO however I have no space for a Reactor as my tank is an all in one.

 

[BCSreef]

I use this:

 

[Steph1]

?

 

[BCSreef]

Nitrate for dosing.

 

[Steph1]

OK am new to this, how do i introduce Nitrates?

 

[BCSreef]

I make a 20% solution and dose enough each day to reach target. 10ml/day in 280 gallons keeps NO3 at about 8 ppm in my system. Start low, measure, adjust dose, measure...... I measure once a week.

 

[Steph1]

Thanks BC5, but how do I obtain nitrates? Where do I get it? Is it a product?

 

[BCSreef]

my link didn't show, Sorry, I'll try again.

 

[BCSreef]

Does it show?

 

[ScottB]

Thanks BC5, but how do I obtain nitrates? Where do I get it? Is it a product?

I use this:

I use this too.

However, at 6 weeks you shouldn't really be dosing anything. Your biome will be changing so much every month for the next 12 - 18 months. Your bacterial colony balances will be bouncing all over the place.

Just maintain temp, salinity. Change 20% water every 2 weeks. Let nature do its thing.

 

[Steph1]

No mate

 

[Jimmyneptune]

How does your tank look?
What issues do you have due to PO4?

 

[BCSreef]

ScottB is right. Let the microbiome balance out. I didn't notice how new the tank is.

 

[BCSreef]

I get it at Amazon.com. Search for this:
Sodium Nitrate, Reagent Grade (chemically Pure).

But I suggest following ScottB's advice.