High Phospahtes and alk

[Clownshow]

My phosphates are at .5 and my alk is at 11 is there a good way to lower them? Mabey phosphate remover? All my corals are happy and are looking really good.

 

[guylaga]

If your corals are happy and growing, don't mess with success. What do you mainly have in the tank? If its LPS or softies your fine so long as your managing nutrient export to avoid any algae getting established.

However high phosphate can inhibit growth however by slowing carbonate update by corals. You could try GFO in a reactor, but start slow with 1/4 the recommended amount so you dont shock your system and remove all the phosphate at once.

 

[Clownshow]

If your corals are happy and growing, don't mess with success. What do you mainly have in the tank? If its LPS or softies your fine so long as your managing nutrient export to avoid any algae getting established.

However high phosphate can inhibit growth however by slowing carbonate update by corals. You could try GFO in a reactor, but start slow with 1/4 the recommended amount so you dont shock your system and remove all the phosphate at once.

Its pretty much 50/50 between softies and lps. I also have a birds nest frag that I wanted to try out in my tank and I know they don't like phosphates.

 

[guylaga]

So based on your current stock of LPS and soft corals I wouldn't change a thing personally.

If your going to venture into SPS, then yes potentially you might want to lower them a bit. However going too low and to fast will starve + stress your other corals.

You could try the GFO method, but start with 1/4 the recommended amount for your water volume and track after a week or two. If you getting results keep it up and if not increase the amount to 1/2 the recommended amount.

But to be honest Birdsnest are not as picky about water quality as say Acropora. You could try the frag with your current water parameters and see how it goes.

 

[blasterman]

The main problem with .5 phosphate is that while some tanks can ride it this high without issues it's in that 'concern' zone and if it gets any higher you likely will have problems. Always preferable to have some ooops buffer when it comes to nutrients.

I've actually found birdsnests to love some phosphate, just like digipora. I have a neon green that will stop growing within a few days if phosphate gets below .03. It's literally an on/off switch.