How to lower phosphate
- Thread starter Yikesdoris
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Coral Passion
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Phosguard and GFO are two options but you will need to actively replace the media every two to four weeks.
Phosphate RX is a good soultion to instantly drop phosphates but there is more risk involved.
Ultimately there is a reason your phosphate are high and it will most likely be due to over stocking or over feeding. Its ok to overstock or over feed in some circumstances but you have to increase maintenance levels and have a higher risk of failure.
Phosphate RX is a good soultion to instantly drop phosphates but there is more risk involved.
Ultimately there is a reason your phosphate are high and it will most likely be due to over stocking or over feeding. Its ok to overstock or over feed in some circumstances but you have to increase maintenance levels and have a higher risk of failure.
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Yikesdoris
Community Member
i believe it may be due to over feeding
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Yikesdoris
Community Member
i am noticing that my torch is not opening all the way up here are my levelsHow is the tank doing? How old is it? And what are your other current test results like?
sal- 1.023
ALK- 10
cal 420
phos 1.0
Coral Passion
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Feeding your fish is one of the greatest things to watch in the hobby and as hobbyist we tend to over feed, who could resist feeding a hungry looking fish.
The reality is you may be doing more harm than good as the water quality is generally poorer in tanks that are over feed resulting in fish that are less healthy.
Its hard to say how much to feed your fish as its down to stocking levels and nutrient export levels. I personally under feed as it gives me greater control over my nutrient levels. I class my corals as the most important thing in my tank and the fish 2nd.
BoomCorals
2500 Club Member
What is your nitrate level? I’d use chaeto or an ATS.
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Yikesdoris
Community Member
does any one recommend the use of phos guard,
mcarroll
10K Club member
I would get your nitrates tested.
Phosphates aren't going to hurt a coral...or anything really. That's a misconception. Phosphates might help algae grow, but that's a whole other topic.
If phosphates aren't being used up (ie. coral growth, algae growth, et al) then there's a pretty good chance of there being another limiting nutrient at work.
Nitrogen is the most likely, and nitrates are easy to test for.
I suspect you'll get a number that's effectively zero when you test, but get it tested to be sure. Any LFS should be able to test it for you, but NO3 kits aren't expensive.
Anything else interesting about the tank or the way it was started, etc?
How old is your tank. There are many ways to lower phosphate, but the best one might depend on a lot of variables. If you have 1.0 phosphate in the water, there is a massive amount bound like a reservoir in your sand and rocks. Please post on how old your tank is, if you have sand and how much and how much rock that you have.
ZoWhat
10K Club member
After reading a ton of articles.....then Randy Holmes Farley said RedSea NoPox is basically 50% 80proof vodka (ethanol) + 50% vinegar....
....I'm now a HUGE believer in forever dosing a vodka/vinegar mix.
I've seen my no3 and po4 at all time lows.
I've seen a dead sps that had a 1/32nd part of it alive and the rest, dead.....make a COMPLETE comeback
.
....I'm now a HUGE believer in forever dosing a vodka/vinegar mix.
I've seen my no3 and po4 at all time lows.
I've seen a dead sps that had a 1/32nd part of it alive and the rest, dead.....make a COMPLETE comeback
.
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Yikesdoris
Community Member
The tank is approximately 4 months old, it is a 75 gallon tank with 80 pounds of rock and 40 pounds of live sandI would get your nitrates tested.
Phosphates aren't going to hurt a coral...or anything really. That's a misconception. Phosphates might help algae grow, but that's a whole other topic.
If phosphates aren't being used up (ie. coral growth, algae growth, et al) then there's a pretty good chance of there being another limiting nutrient at work.
Nitrogen is the most likely, and nitrates are easy to test for.
I suspect you'll get a number that's effectively zero when you test, but get it tested to be sure. Any LFS should be able to test it for you, but NO3 kits aren't expensive.
Anything else interesting about the tank or the way it was started, etc?
In a tank that young, the most possible reason for high phosphates is if you started with dry and dead rock? Did you start with dry or dead rock?
