Hey is .30 phosphates too high???

[Natescorals]

Right now I’m only running phosgaurd. And my phosphates stay in the .20 — .30 range. It doesn’t really ever get any lower than .20... is this too high for corals to grow? I learned that high phosphates can slow calcification. Does anyone recommend any other type of filter media like GFO? I am also running a skimmer and refugium with chaeto.

 

[Spare time]

That is a bit high.

1. what light do you have for your chaeto

2. Do you have any idea where the phosphates are coming from (ie tap, overfeeding, rocks used previosuly but not cure, etc.)


I am not sure the exact amount of phosphates needed to slow coral growth but I am sure someone else can give you a better answer for that

 

[45ZoaGarden]

That is a bit high.

1. what light do you have for your chaeto

2. Do you have any idea where the phosphates are coming from (ie tap, overfeeding, rocks used previosuly but not cure, etc.)


I am not sure the exact amount of phosphates needed to slow coral growth but I am sure someone else can give you a better answer for that

+1 that’s a little high. Same questions and how much media are you using?

 

[Natescorals]

I’ll send a picture of the light I’m using. The rock has already been cured it’s been in the tank for about 6 months now. I use RODI water. I also noticed that when I mix my fresh saltwater the phosphates are at .20 in the newly mixed saltwater.

 

[lapin]

What test kit are you using? It could be the test kit as new rodi water is usually not high in phosphate.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Could be the salt.

 

[Natescorals]

I use instant ocean salt, also I am using a Hanna ultra low range.

 

[Natescorals]

I have a really good BRS RODI unit and the water reads 0tds. Do you think it’s the salt mix? Should I run some GFO and get a reactor?

 

[45ZoaGarden]

A reactor is your best bet imo.

I have a really good BRS RODI unit and the water reads 0tds. Do you think it’s the salt mix? Should I run some GFO and get a reactor?

 

[temfinger]

I used BRS RODI, and reef crystals, w/Hanna checker and I'm getting .03. I wouldn't jump to buying a rector without discovering what is causing it. How often do you feed, any chance you have a busted magnet, of any other types of metals possible leaching into the system.

 

[Malifry97]

How is coral health if you have any? I dont think 0.2 is CRAZY high. Maybe up lighting schedule on chaeto an extra hour or two. @Randy Holmes-Farley is 0.2 too high for coral growth?

 

[45ZoaGarden]

.2 isn’t too high but it’s very close to the limit.

How is coral health if you have any? I dont think 0.2 is CRAZY high. Maybe up lighting schedule on chaeto an extra hour or two. @Randy Holmes-Farley is 0.2 too high for coral growth?

 

[Whasmack]

No - it's not too high for coral growth. My display tank has phosphates in the 0.2 to 0.5 range & I still frag up corals usually every other weekend.

 

[Whasmack]

That said - you should implement methods to lower it - Algae scrubber, GFO / rowaphos, BW Phosphat-E, etc.

 

[ScottB]

I’ll send a picture of the light I’m using. The rock has already been cured it’s been in the tank for about 6 months now. I use RODI water. I also noticed that when I mix my fresh saltwater the phosphates are at .20 in the newly mixed saltwater.

Whoa. Something is really wrong here. I'll put out a few guesses:
a) Your cuvettes are not clean -- particularly #2
b) The Checker is busted.
c) You have the Phosphate Checker but are using the phosphorus reagents
d) The opposite of c)
e) You are not converting Phosphorus to Phosphates and using the Phosphorus Checker
f) Somebody took a dump in your mixing barrel

Does the sample turn BLUE when you mix in the reagent?

 

[45ZoaGarden]

No - it's not too high for coral growth. My display tank has phosphates in the 0.2 to 0.5 range & I still frag up corals usually every other weekend.

Ppm or ppb? Because at .5 ppm you would have a tank full of dead coral.

 

[ScottB]

I’ll send a picture of the light I’m using. The rock has already been cured it’s been in the tank for about 6 months now. I use RODI water. I also noticed that when I mix my fresh saltwater the phosphates are at .20 in the newly mixed saltwater.

Also, any chance you have your Waste water and your RODI output lines switched?

 

[Whasmack]

Ppm or ppb? Because at .5 ppm you would have a tank full of dead coral.

According to the hanna checker - ppm! Checker could be bad too. Definitely not dead. The tank is full of growing corals

Recently got an algae scrubber up & running and waiting for that to take effect. (And dosing Phosphat-E). Chaeto dies off every time I put it in & GFO causes necrosis in my SPS.

 

[KrisReef]

Hanna ULR, perhaps op is reading .005 ppb and not converting to ppm?

Source of number is curious!

 

[greg 45]

I’ll send a picture of the light I’m using. The rock has already been cured it’s been in the tank for about 6 months now. I use RODI water. I also noticed that when I mix my fresh saltwater the phosphates are at .20 in the newly mixed saltwater.

The water coming out of your ro/di should read zero . Test your tap water to see if it also read high . You might need to run more chambers of ro/di resin to reduce po4 in your make up water. Also dont purchase color changing resin you are cutting down on the amount of resin that cleans the water.