Dosing NeoPhos and Chaeto

immo · Aug 14, 2023

So I recently (7/7) set up a reefer 250. Completed my cycle on 7/20, made a 20 gallon water change, added chaeto on 7/23, and a fish on 7/26 (small clown). Added another small clown and a royal gramma a week later. I'm trying to use the chaeto and my main nutrient export (also running a skimmer, but not producing any skim, and ran with the cup drain open until a few days ago). The chaeto stopped growing, due to po4 being depleted (at least I'm pretty sure that's why). Got some NeoPhos, and dosed 6mL yesterday. Tested yesterday a couple hours later, and couldn't tell for sure, because I'm using the tropic marin po4 test kit, and it's showing a green color to the water now (when I tested previously my po4 was 0.03 and definitely had the blue color to it that the chart shows). The only reading that has a green color about it is the 0.00, but subjectively seems to be a darker green now than before. Again today, I tested, and reading the green or 0.00. Would it be acceptable to dose another 6 mL today? Do the po4 additives somehow mess with the coloration of test kits, or do I just have another 0.00 reading?

I plan to switch to a hanna phosphorous checker, but it will be probably a week before I have it in hand.

immo · Aug 14, 2023

I should also note, my nitrates are currently at 34. I am intending to reduce them to around 10-15 before I start adding corals.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 15, 2023

I'd dose again, yes. you may need to dose every day.

immo · Aug 23, 2023

Have my po4 up to about 0.03 and I’m not noticing any growth. I have still been dosing a “0.03” dose daily. Starting to notice what I believe is a film algae on the tops of the rocks. No reduction in no3. Did do a 30% water change to get my no3 below 30. Also have still been dosing chaetogro.