I'll be darned...it actually worked! :)

reeferfoxx · Oct 23, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You need to convert those units if you want them in ppm phosphate. ug Atom/L is the same as micromoles per L. So you multiply by the molecular weight of phosphate to get 3 ug-atom/L phosphate = 3 micromolar = 290 ug/L or 0.3 mg/L

Darn it. Ok I converted 3.3 ug/L to ppm and came up with 0.0033? Is that still incorrect? You said 3 ug-atom/L is equal to 0.3 mg/L or 0.030ppm?

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Both graphs clearly show surface seawater has far less phosphate than the deep ocean

I agree surface water is different from deep water. However, in reefing we discuss parameters of 0.01ppm to 0.08ppm. That scale of difference is much different than 0.001ppm to 0.003ppm? Would saying they vary largly be dependent on ocean vs. aquarium perspective?

FWIW I suck at math. @mcarroll I'm about to get schooled lol

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 23, 2016

0.3 mg/L is roughly 0.3 ppm.

reeferfoxx · Oct 23, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
0.3 mg/L is roughly 0.3 ppm.

LOL! Oh my

I did 0.03 mg/L not 0.3...

So deep waters do reach levels of 0.3ppm?

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 23, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
I personally, don't go above 0.02ppm.

Oh you haven't lived!

reeferfoxx · Oct 23, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
Oh you haven't lived!

LOL! Let me rephrase. I personally, don't like going above 0.02ppm.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 23, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
LOL! Oh my I did 0.03 mg/L not 0.3...

So deep waters do reach levels of 0.3ppm?

Apparently.

reeferfoxx · Oct 23, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Apparently.

Crazy! But to clarify, most if not all of the coral we keep have never seen PO4 that high? What would the variance be? Roughly 0.002 - 0.01? Or is that difference too much?

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 23, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
LOL! Let me rephrase. I personally, don't like going above 0.02ppm.

lol. Not coming to the dark side yet? we'll wait.

it actually most fascinating watching the reactions of the different corals to the higher and lower nutrient levels. (assuming i keep my cal levels correct), both growth and color and "apparent health" fluctuate from coral to coral in the same tank.

reeferfoxx · Oct 23, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
lol. Not coming to the dark side yet? we'll wait.

it actually most fascinating watching the reactions of the different corals to the higher and lower nutrient levels. (assuming i keep my cal levels correct), both growth and color and "apparent health" fluctuate from coral to coral in the same tank.

I can show you some examples of high po4 and the effects on coral. I have a tank full of browning out coral

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 23, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
I can show you some examples of high po4 and the effects on coral. I have a tank full of browning out coral

need more light

reeferfoxx · Oct 23, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
need more light

I wouldn't be able to keep up with just manual dosing LOL! Might tap into that with the new tank via auto doser etc etc

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 23, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
I wouldn't be able to keep up with just manual dosing LOL! Might tap into that with the new tank via auto doser etc etc

haha!

BoneXriffic · Oct 23, 2016

I just registered. 27 today, all is well =)

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 24, 2016

FWIW, tanks with very high phosphate can be OK (1 ppm, for example), but they may be limiting the growth of algae and zooxanthellae in other ways, such as limited availability of iron.

BoneXriffic · Oct 24, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
FWIW, tanks with very high phosphate can be OK (1 ppm, for example), but they may be limiting the growth of algae and zooxanthellae in other ways, such as limited availability of iron.

1ppm is huge though! But ive seen it. Ive noticed color differences, and things seem nicer with a higher dkh when my po4 is up

G8trBait16 · Oct 24, 2016

My phosphates is .04 and Nitrate is 2ppm. Is ok for an SPS Dominated reef? Or do I need to bring them up or down. Thank you for the help!

BoneXriffic · Oct 24, 2016

G8trBait16 said:
My phosphates is .04 and Nitrate is 2ppm. Is ok for an SPS Dominated reef? Or do I need to bring them up or down. Thank you for the help!

Mines prinarily sps at .27(usually .08) and 5ppm no3 generally. And everythi g grows good. 9.5dkh.

My numbers went crazy after the power outage from mathew

G8trBait16 · Oct 24, 2016

Yea Matthew was a heck of a storm for me as well. My alk is usually around7.5 or 7.6dkh. I am slowing trying to raise it to 7.8-8.0.

madweazl · Oct 24, 2016

All this nitrate and phosphate talk was riveting but I wanted to address the monti with the white along the edge; this is typically a sign of good growth vice something going wrong

I wouldnt change anything based on that alone.

Edit: this would depend of the monti but I was assuming a red/brown.

najer · Oct 24, 2016

Back to the o p, I would just stop fiddling with it.
You said you have a monti, it will react differently to your lps, they will love the water a bit grubby!
Kh stability around 8 with cal and mag balanced will be fine for everything.
My tank was tested for the first time at it's 1 year old birthday a few weeks back, .03.
Watch the tank and algae growth, it will give you some idea as to where the happy medium is.