Huge Phosphate Spike-What to do?

[MichaelReefer]

Well, I had a huge Phosphate spike the last few weeks after noticing a ton of Cyano build-up on my sand (none on the rock, thank god). I am at .37 per my Hanna.

I got the GFO in (have had it but never ran because my Phosphate was always pretty normal). Added the recommended amount per the package into my reactor, I have carbon and GFO in it, separated by a foam insert I made.

Is there anything else I should do? I was dosing some Hydrogen Peroxide but didnt really notice much of a difference (unless that is what was keeping it off the rocks?)

This is the first time, after a few years of Saltwater Keeping that I have ever had a problem, so I am freaking out a little even though I guess it's pretty normal for you to get Cyano at least one time.

Appreciate any help!

 

[SPR1968]

It might be worth doing a series of water changes depending on the size of the tank to help bring the levels down quickly on the basis it’s a spike and the inhabitants aren’t used to high levels

The GFO will also help of course

 

[TheKyle]

What is the volume of the system? Gfo should do the trick but on larger heavily stocked systems it can be hard to keep up.

 

[TheKyle]

Btw I think many people have success running phosphate in that elevated range, but it’s all relative to what you normally keep it at. Stability is always king and what your critters are accustomed to.

 

[TheKyle]

Btw I think many people have success running phosphate in that elevated range, but it’s all relative to what you normally keep it at. Stability is always king and what your critters are accustomed to.

Haha nevermind I misread (thought is was 0.037) 0.37 is definitely too high!

 

[MichaelReefer]

Btw I think many people have success running phosphate in that elevated range, but it’s all relative to what you normally keep it at. Stability is always king and what your critters are accustomed to.

Its a reefer 250, so I am around 64 gallons.

Last time I checked (about a month ago) I was at .07

 

[TheKyle]

Its a reefer 250, so I am around 64 gallons.

Last time I checked (about a month ago) I was at .07

Gfo will probably work good, but if you have it separated in the reactor it can be hard to keep it tumbling since carbon will clog over time. People tumble gfo over time so it doesn’t harden into a solid block. The other option is to thoroughly mix gfo and carbon, maybe like 2 parts carbon 1 part gfo. This way gfo particles are separated enough you don’t need to worry about tumbling in the reactor.

 

[reeferfoxx]

My system gets po4 spikes when no3 plummets. Typically, i dose kno3 to counter that.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Gfo will probably work good, but if you have it separated in the reactor it can be hard to keep it tumbling since carbon will clog over time. People tumble gfo over time so it doesn’t harden into a solid block. The other option is to thoroughly mix gfo and carbon, maybe like 2 parts carbon 1 part gfo. This way gfo particles are separated enough you don’t need to worry about tumbling in the reactor.

The GFO I have is actually like Grannuals and instructions say not to tumble. So I packed them tight together in some foam pads between them.