Help! High phosphates in Nuvo 10

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 19, 2019

Ok guys I need help I have a Nuvo 10 that I have had running for 8 months now. I do weekly 3 gallon changes, I have 2 firefish in at the moment (clowns moved) and also my clean up crew, parameters are as follow
Nitrite 0
Amm 0
Nitrate 5
Alk 8.6
Cal 450
Phosphate 22 ppb
Filtration I have chemi pure elite, seachem matrix and filter floss. I feed once a day and only enough for my fish. I have been using benepets coral food for my corals. And once a week I feed my fish mysis and brine shrimp. I feel bad for feeding so little but my phosphates are constantly up! One of my monti coral has died. My torches and anemone seem ok but my corals will not grow and it’s irritating me. I don’t understand what could make them go up soo much. If someone could give me some advise on what to do to lower my phosphates that would be awesome! I hate starving my corals and fish that way. I want to feed a little heavier but I’m terrified my tank will crash

mta_morrow · Mar 19, 2019

Elsa Vasquez said:
Ok guys I need help I have a Nuvo 10 that I have had running for 8 months now. I do weekly 3 gallon changes, I have 2 firefish in at the moment (clowns moved) and also my clean up crew, parameters are as follow
Nitrite 0
Amm 0
Nitrate 5
Alk 8.6
Cal 450
Phosphate 22 ppb
Filtration I have chemi pure elite, seachem matrix and filter floss. I feed once a day and only enough for my fish. I have been using benepets coral food for my corals. And once a week I feed my fish mysis and brine shrimp. I feel bad for feeding so little but my phosphates are constantly up! One of my monti coral has died. My torches and anemone seem ok but my corals will not grow and it’s irritating me. I don’t understand what could make them go up soo much. If someone could give me some advise on what to do to lower my phosphates that would be awesome! I hate starving my corals and fish that way. I want to feed a little heavier but I’m terrified my tank will crash

Hello!

Couple questions

You say 22 ppb. Are you using the Hanna ULR?

If so, you need to convert to ppm, which would be .067ppm

jtietz · Mar 19, 2019

G. F. O.

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 19, 2019

mta_morrow said:
Hello!

Couple questions

You say 22 ppb. Are you using the Hanna ULR?

If so, you need to convert to ppm, which would be .067ppm

Yes that is correct, is that ok? I was told it should be below .05 is that correct

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 19, 2019

jtietz said:
G. F. O.

I added a small mesh bag with some Rowaphos that I have. I don’t have a reactor for that tank but I’m just curious as to why it’s so high I’d my bioload is so small

jtietz · Mar 19, 2019

How long has the tank been running

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

jtietz said:
How long has the tank been running

8 months

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

jtietz said:
How long has the tank been running

Still pretty young I just figured my phosphates would be a bit more controlled at this stage

mta_morrow · Mar 20, 2019

Your phosphates are just fine where they are.

As long as they stay below .1 it’s just fine.

Do you have an algae problem?

jtietz · Mar 20, 2019

Agreed. Below 1ppm is fine. Your parameters seem fine. Are you using RODi water?

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

mta_morrow said:
Your phosphates are just fine where they are.

As long as they stay below .1 it’s just fine.

Do you have an algae problem?

Ahh I see, so actually what I want is 33ppb or lower! Got it, thank you, I guess I was just told incorrectly OR I miss understood lol I am starting to see GHA and it’s annoying me unless it’s bryopsis

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

jtietz said:
Agreed. Below 1ppm is fine. Your parameters seem fine. Are you using RODi water?

Yes I am using RODI from my lfs but I have been thinking of getting a tds meter as they are never able to tell me the reading of it when I ask

mta_morrow · Mar 20, 2019

Algae will need nitrates, phosphate, and light to grow.

What are your nitrates measuring?

Also, here is a chart to convert ppb to ppm.

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

My nitrates last time I checked were at 5.0 the highes is 10 usually right before my water changes but that’s rare I’m using an AI Prime hd and using the saxby settings.

mta_morrow · Mar 20, 2019

Elsa Vasquez said:
My nitrates last time I checked were at 5.0 the highes is 10 usually right before my water changes but that’s rare I’m using an AI Prime hd and using the saxby settings.

Ok. Your nitrates and phosphates are fine. You have a good light.

How long has the tank been up and running?

First time seeing hair algae?

How long do you run your lights every day?

Does your tank receive any sunlight?

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

mta_morrow said:
Ok. Your nitrates and phosphates are fine. You have a good light.

How long has the tank been up and running?

First time seeing hair algae?

How long do you run your lights every day?

Does your tank receive any sunlight?

Tank has been running for a little over 8 months now
I went through the diatoms, then had a Cyanobacteria outbreak and after that is when I noticed the hair algea. I’ll see a pic of it in a bit so you can see how it looks.
Nope no sunlight at all

mta_morrow · Mar 20, 2019

Elsa Vasquez said:
Tank has been running for a little over 8 months now
I went through the diatoms, then had a Cyanobacteria outbreak and after that is when I noticed the hair algea. I’ll see a pic of it in a bit so you can see how it looks.
Nope no sunlight at all

Ok. Nothing bad or unmanageable so far. Try to get a close pic under white lights. Does the algae look like hair strands, or like ferns?

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

These are the best I can take. My snail is over here looking like afro jack too lol

Elsa Vasquez · Mar 20, 2019

I also have sponges which I don’t mind but I do have vermetid snails ugh!! I’ve tried to crush them with my nails and razors but they’re all over the place grrrr