High Phosphate

[A;exr54]

I recently got ICP results which show high phosphate. It’s at .70
I’ll retest at home. But usually don’t test. The tank has been running for almost a decade. Stopped doing regular tests for phosphate years ago. .70 phosphate is quite high.


I was surprised since I don’t have an algae issue and all corals look good.
Have what I think is normal growth on all established corals. Including SPS, LPS, Zoas.
Nothing is growing super fast. But it’s all growing.
And recently (2months ago) added a RBTA which is doing really great.

I have a phosban reactor (and media) which I never used before. Would it be wise to give it a twirl?
I would like to remove phosphate without causing any harm to healthy looking corals.
But if this can help with growth I want to do it.
I do waterchanges about every 3 weeks. Using NSW that I also got ICP tested. The NSW results for phosphate were also a bit high but closer to .15. Which I can live with.

 

[shwareefer]

If you have room to dose some nitrate, I find that knocks my phosphate right down. What's your nitrate at?

 

[A;exr54]

If you have room to dose some nitrate, I find that knocks my phosphate right down. What's your nitrate at?

Just checked nitrate and it’s at 0.4
Dose nitrate?
I was thinking just lowering phosphate slowly. But not sure the phosban recator is the best way.

 

[Jekyl]

Bag of chemipure elite

 

[shwareefer]

Just checked nitrate and it’s at 0.4
Dose nitrate?
I was thinking just lowering phosphate slowly. But not sure the phosban recator is the best way.

For sure. Do a test, bring it up to 2ppm with some neonitro and then measure your phosphate the next day. I guarantee it will have dropped some but the nitrate will get wiped out too. With 175g system volume I wouldn't make any crazy additions that's why I'm suggesting 2ppm target.

 

[Clarkjw2002]

If you are not having any issues why mess with it? I'd just keep an eye on the behavior of your tank.

If your corals are happy and there are no algae issues, trying. to fix a perceived problem may actually create a problem for you. Your tank is obviously happy with it's equilibrium set point.

What I would do is monitor more closely to determine whether this is just a stable level or if it is actually increasing--suggesting a possible problem down the line.

If I did anything I'd dose some nitrates. Trying to strip chemically could lead to other issues, especially since your system seems happy right now.

 

[shwareefer]

You should also examine what you're feeding the tank. Many foods, ie. reefroids, have boatloads of phosphate.

 

[fish farmer]

If you are not having any issues why mess with it? I'd just keep an eye on the behavior of your tank.

If your corals are happy and there are no algae issues, trying. to fix a perceived problem may actually create a problem for you. Your tank is obviously happy with it's equilibrium set point.

What I would do is monitor more closely to determine whether this is just a stable level or if it is actually increasing--suggesting a possible problem down the line.

If I did anything I'd dose some nitrates. Trying to strip chemically could lead to other issues, especially since your system seems happy right now.

I agree with this as well, don't fix a problem if there isn't one. Monitor to make sure it doesn't rise AND cause an issue.

 

[A;exr54]

I agree with this as well, don't fix a problem if there isn't one. Monitor to make sure it doesn't rise AND cause an issue.

I just feel I can get better growth.
There is no problem with algae and everything staying alive. I am getting growth but feel I can be better is all.
I’m waiting on a new Hanna phosphate checker to come in.
After it comes in and I test again I’ll make a decision.

 

[Clarkjw2002]

If that's your goal then your thinking is correct. Go slow so as to not shock the system. Reducing phosphates may aid in the ease of calcification and possibly increase growth, but this is only if calcium carbonate production is the limiting factor affecting your growth rates.

Slowly bringing phosphates down will answer this. Just be sure not to overshoot or you may do more harm than good. Another reason a nitrate dosing regimen might be your best bet. You can start small and slowly increase but you need to test consistently and have patience.

 

[A;exr54]

Well I should have known better than to trust the ICP results.
Just got the Hanna checker and ran a phosphate test.
Seems the ICP test I did was a total waste of money.

I won’t be doing anything except my regular water changes.
ICP tests caused a false alarm in my head…

 

[Dkmoo]

Just to be sure, did you maybe misread the ICP result? Maybe that report said 70 ppb?? That would be .07ppm

 

[A;exr54]

Just to be sure, did you maybe misread the ICP result? Maybe that report said 70 ppb?? That would be .07ppm

See for yourself.

ICP-ANALYSIS is never getting my business again.
And I will steer people clear of them.

Even the NSW test I did came back with wrong numbers. 510PPM Boron it said

NSW Results

 

[shwareefer]

750 ppb phosphorus is about 2.3ppm phosphate. Still higher than your hanna result.

 

[A;exr54]

Not sure how you got that calculation.
750PPB is equivalent to .75 PPM.

Either way the ICP results we’re wrong and they are not to be trusted.

 

[Spare time]

Not sure how you got that calculation.
750PPB is equivalent to .75 PPM.

Either way the ICP results we’re wrong and they are not to be trusted.

Phosphorus ppb is not a clean decimal move when converting to phosphate ppt

 

[A;exr54]

Oh I see what you did there.
Phosphorous to phosphate.

Yea I wasn’t aware of that distinction.

 

[shwareefer]

Formula from hanna: "Multiply ppb phosphorus by 3.066 then divide by 1000 to equal ppm phosphate"

 

[A;exr54]

Formula from hanna: "Multiply ppb phosphorus by 3.066 then divide by 1000 to equal ppm phosphate"

Thanks.
So basically the ICP readings were even worse then I thought.
Hanna reads .04
They read 2.29.

I tested with the Hanna kit 3x. Same results.

 

[shwareefer]

Thanks.
So basically the ICP readings were even worse then I thought.
Hanna reads .04
They read 2.29.

I tested with the Hanna kit 3x. Same results.

Yup.