has this been proven or is it still being speculated?

[ddc0715]

issue
i am, IMO unbalanced (106:16:1) in my tank mix reed 10% softies, 10% lps and 80% sps. This unbalance is visble with small patches of cyano and turf algee and hair algee.. SMALL spots. enought to spark the lightbulb in my head..

i started doing monthly icp tests and here are the past several month results.

11-22-22 no3=22.5 po4 = .06, phosphorus= 21.29
12-23-22 no3=27.96 po4 = .05, phosphorus= 17.48
1-23-23-- no3=31.99 po4 = .04, phosphorus= 12.37
2-9-23-- no3=33.14 po4 = .01, phosphorus= 11.00
3-???? pending

mistakes made..
I did incresase feeding a hair since the november levels were ok with me. however now i see that the feeding is not raiseing p04 an phosphorus. its dropping. i have reduced feeding now to lower my NO3 but i fear that my phos will be 0 when my 3-??? test comes back.

dosing
--i do does kalk, alot of kalk, evap amount at 5200 mls daily/24hrs
--alk and ca when needed as a backup for kalk mixing days
--i run zero NO3/P04 removal or reduction media,
--dose zero NO3/P04 aditives. may have to start running no3 only media but im not sure about what to select.
-- i dose biodigest bb every two weeks.
-- i dose a trace element program daily
thats all

question
-I heard that kalk precips out phos. has it been PROVEN that kalkwasser preceps out phospahtes?
-could kalk be the reason my po4 and phosphorus keep dropping and no3 keep rising due to more food?
got a good no3 only lowering media that you could recommend.

Thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not think kalkwasser is the root cause of low phosphate. Many people, myself included did not have such an issue. It may contribute, but I’d focus on other answers.

I’d consider organic carbon dosing or growing macroalgae along with some phosphate dosing.

 

[Mystersynyster]

Are you running a skimmer often, if so may cut back on run time and monitor. I only run skimmer in my sump twice a week for 2hrs. Just filter socks and skimmer for filtration

 

[jimmypencil]

I do not think kalkwasser is the root cause of low phosphate. Many people, myself included did not have such an issue. It may contribute, but I’d focus on other answers.

I’d consider organic carbon dosing or growing macroalgae along with some phosphate dosing.

do you think neophos is the best solution to low phosphates? i have to dose daily to keep it above 0.0-0.02 and i feel that if i didnt have a phosphate additive i dont know what i would do lol. I feed pellets and flakes pretty heavy daily before feeding frozen in the evening. dont see a diffence in phosphates from dry foods. its a pretty new tank so i know theres phosphate instability but that doesnt change the question haha.

 

[jimmypencil]

do you think neophos is the best solution to low phosphates? i have to dose daily to keep it above 0.0-0.02 and i feel that if i didnt have a phosphate additive i dont know what i would do lol. I feed pellets and flakes pretty heavy daily before feeding frozen in the evening. dont see a diffence in phosphates from dry foods. its a pretty new tank so i know theres phosphate instability but that doesnt change the question haha.

i do run skimmer 24/7 and have to empty cup once or twice a week but i know you said its unnecessary to turn skimmer off while dosing phos. i know skimmer doesnt remove phos but wouldnt it significantly impact the systems ability to raise phos?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

do you think neophos is the best solution to low phosphates?

No. It is expensive and lacks a purity grade. But it is fine.

A better bet, IMO, is food grade sodium phosphate from Amazon.

 

[jimmypencil]

No. It is expensive and lacks a purity grade. But it is fine.

A better bet, IMO, is food grade sodium phosphate from Amazon.

ill have to switch to that when i run out of neophos, which will be soon! thanks

 

[Mystersynyster]

i do run skimmer 24/7 and have to empty cup once or twice a week but i know you said its unnecessary to turn skimmer off while dosing phos. i know skimmer doesnt remove phos but wouldnt it significantly impact the systems ability to raise phos?

I make sure my skimmer is not running when I dose anything

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I make sure my skimmer is not running when I dose anything

Skimmer will not impact phosphate dosing.