How do I lower my phosphate

[SDReefing]

Filtration:
75gal hob- 75gal sponge , bio rings, carbon , floss
Tunze 9400 skimmer

 

[fishski13]

I would start with a large water change and cleaning the sand bed.

What is your flow looking like in the tank?

Also how much do you feed and what do you feed?

If possible I would get a protein skimmer or a refugium going to help reduce them after the water change.

 

[SDReefing]

I would start with a large water change and cleaning the sand bed.

What is your flow looking like in the tank?

Also how much do you feed and what do you feed?

If possible I would get a protein skimmer or a refugium going to help reduce them after the water change.

Its a 40 breeder,

75gal rated HOB
2 powerheads
And a tunze 9400 protein skimmer

I feed very light 2 clowns twice a day. ( barely let any food go uneaten) I do weekly 5 gal water changes.
Im thinking of buying another hob to make a small refugium. (I didnt drill so cant do a sump sadly.)

 

[sixty_reefer]

I wouldn’t look at the phosphates going up as a bad thing, I may just means that your biological filtration is being made mainly by nitrifying bacteria and you may just need to step up with phosphates removing medias.

 

[Idech]

What do you feed ? Pellets and flakes are nutrient dense and will increase nitrates and phosphates a lot compared to feeding frozen.

My nitrates and phosphates started going down when I stopped feeding them. I have a similar set up as you, no sump, and I feed lightly twice a day.

Also, if you tank is immature and doesn’t process phosphate and nitrates enough, feeding reef roids and the like will also increase them.

 

[Chrisv.]

Try using GFO.

 

[SDReefing]

Try using GFO.

Gfo?

 

[SDReefing]

What do you feed ? Pellets and flakes are nutrient dense and will increase nitrates and phosphates a lot compared to feeding frozen.

My nitrates and phosphates started going down when I stopped feeding them. I have a similar set up as you, no sump, and I feed lightly twice a day.

Also, if you tank is immature and doesn’t process phosphate and nitrates enough, feeding reef roids and the like will also increase them.

Yes its about 2.5 months old. And I do reef roids 2 times a week. Alsoni feed frozen lightly as well with only 2 clown ls and a blenny. I just bought another hob ima set up chemicalnftration for phosphate
.

 

[SDReefing]

I wouldn’t look at the phosphates going up as a bad thing, I may just means that your biological filtration is being made mainly by nitrifying bacteria and you may just need to step up with phosphates removing medias.

I just bought a new filter ima use it as a chemical filtration only to battle nitrates

 

[jsbzcmcdaniel]

Whats wrong with 0.27? I think that number is pretty good. Are you having algae issues or coral look bad?

 

[doubleshot00]

Yes its about 2.5 months old. And I do reef roids 2 times a week. Alsoni feed frozen lightly as well with only 2 clown ls and a blenny. I just bought another hob ima set up chemicalnftration for phosphate
.

There’s your problem. Stop with the reef roids and triple rinse frozen food. No more pellets or dry food.
Im going through this same issat the moment. This is what I’ve done so far.

Idk what your nitrates are but if they are around 7-15 you should be good.

I first did 30-40% WC every 3 days. I did about 5 WC in 2.5 weeks. I was at .4 now at .21. Then I started using Rowaphos and am currently at .15 after 5 days. Go slow.

You will get mixed reviews what to use but going the gfo route on a new tank is excessive imo. My tanks only 4 months old.

 

[Chrisv.]

Gfo?

Granular ferric oxide. Take it slowly and read a bit first. Strong stuff. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-bulk-gfo-granular-ferric-oxide-high-capacity.html

 

[Chrisv.]

There’s your problem. Stop with the reef roids and triple rinse frozen food. No more pellets or dry food.
Im going through this same issat the moment. This is what I’ve done so far.

Idk what your nitrates are but if they are around 7-15 you should be good.

I first did 30-40% WC every 3 days. I did about 5 WC in 2.5 weeks. I was at .4 now at .21. Then I started using Rowaphos and am currently at .15 after 5 days. Go slow.

You will get mixed reviews what to use but going the gfo route on a new tank is excessive imo. My tanks only 4 months old.

To be clear, for the OP, rowaphos is a brand of gfo.

I totally agree with doubleshot that you should cut WAY back on reef roids. We went decades in this hobby with no reef roids. It's a great product in moderation, but dumping it into a new tank is sort of asking for trouble.

 

[SDReefing]

There’s your problem. Stop with the reef roids and triple rinse frozen food. No more pellets or dry food.
Im going through this same issat the moment. This is what I’ve done so far.

Idk what your nitrates are but if they are around 7-15 you should be good.

I first did 30-40% WC every 3 days. I did about 5 WC in 2.5 weeks. I was at .4 now at .21. Then I started using Rowaphos and am currently at .15 after 5 days. Go slow.

You will get mixed reviews what to use but going the gfo route on a new tank is excessive imo. My tanks only 4 months old.

Copy all ima try this out

 

[doubleshot00]

To be clear, for the OP, rowaphos is a brand of gfo.

I totally agree with doubleshot that you should cut WAY back on reef roids. We went decades in this hobby with no reef roids. It's a great product in moderation, but dumping it into a new tank is sort of asking for trouble.

Yes im aware of that just using what i was told to use. Apparently rowaphos doesn’t clump as bad. Idk

 

[Chrisv.]

Yes im aware of that just using what i was told to use. Apparently rowaphos doesn’t clump as bad. Idk

I really like the high capacity one from bulk reef but honestly they are all pretty similar.

 

[CoralB]

Phosphat-E from brightwell

 

[doubleshot00]

Phosphat-E from brightwell

That stuff is terrifying. So many mixed reviews. And no real good how tos. Apparently you should dose very slowly or dilute. Idk not taking the chance.

 

[CoralB]

That stuff is terrifying. So many mixed reviews. And no real good how tos. Apparently you should dose very slowly or dilute. Idk not taking the chance.

Been using it for years , directions pretty straight forward .ive never had any issues and I never put in enough to zero out . You really need to know how much water is actually in your tank and it’s not something I do on a regular basis only when it gets too high .

 

[doubleshot00]

Been using it for years , directions pretty straight forward .

You got bigger you know what than me. Ive heard it can be to much. I definitely considered it. And really wanted to use it.

Yeah my tank is 90 a gallon. So its 90 gal to me

more like 78-80 im sure