How fast to reduce phosphates?

Humble_Reefer · Apr 26, 2020

Current measured params:
PO4 0.353 ppm
N03 10-25 ppm
Alk 7 dkh

Clearly 0.353 phosphates is too high. What's the best way and rate to bring it down?

I've been reefing for 2 years using API test kits. Just got a hanna phosphorus checker and salifert nitrate test, and for the first time I have detectable N03 and P04. I thought I was low in nutrients and actually dosed flourish nitrogen the other day. I don't have much algae just this green mat of cyano (see pic), which is why I thought my nutrients were too low. Now they are too high. Dont know which tests to trust... Corals look fine except for my acro colony that is looking pale. Any advice?

Webslinger · Apr 26, 2020

slow and steady...GFO/ Macro Algae

mike550 · Apr 26, 2020

I put a bag of GFO in my sump where it got good flow. It will work really fast.

quick tip rinse out the GFO in the media bag before putting into sump. Otherwise you end up with super fine particles in the sump.

dwest · Apr 26, 2020

I would suggest doing nothing. If your corals are doing well, why mess with it?

If you decide to lower phosphate, go really slow, especially with GFO. About a month after I lowered my nutrients too low, dinos killed half my livestock and I dealt with them for about a year. I had been reefing for about 20 years before that.