Keeping Phosphate in the required level

[balajeek15]

My over a year old 75g tank was too clean with zero nitrate and phos, noticed this after corals diminishing/dying, now that i dose nitrate to a desired level 3 to 5ppm, I couldn't bring the Phosphate to a desired level of 0.02.

I put the phosphate reactor offline and week later Phos was 0.05 then 2 weeks later to 0.12.
I also had the protein skimmer running without the cup, basically using as gas exchange rather than skimming. I turned the reactor online again and put the protien skimmer cup back on again and within few days Phos is back to zero.

Any suggestions?

 

[VR28man]

what corals? Zoas imle would be fine.


You might try feeding more, and having more fish, crusteceans, etc?

 

[road_runner]

This might indicate measurment error. You did not really increase po4 to above zero..
What kits you use? What's your system details? Filtration? Equipments?..etc
Some pictures of the coral would be helpful. Coral get a washed out color when po4 is really low..

 

[balajeek15]

Hey thanks for the feedbacks, its not about the corals i am concerned about (its better after i started increasing nitrate and phos), but its the question about how to keep it steady with phosphate to 0.02. When i turn off Phos reactor, it goes to zero, put it online it goes up to 0.12 and more.

 

[TexasReefer82]

I'd leave your skimmer running, with collection cup on like normal. With skimmer online I'd turn off the phosphate reactor and see where the phosphate levels out with just the skimmer. If it goes to zero using the skimmer alone then I'd start dosing a phosphate additive to the tank (could just be a couple drops per day) to maintain levels of 0.02-0.05. You likely won't have to dose forever - just until the tank stabilizes wrt phosphate.

If the skimmer alone isn't adequate to keep phosphates low enough then you need to: A) find a way to throttle down your reactor so that it still runs but removes less, or B) perform more periodic water changes.

 

[balajeek15]

I'd leave your skimmer running, with collection cup on like normal. With skimmer online I'd turn off the phosphate reactor and see where the phosphate levels out with just the skimmer. If it goes to zero using the skimmer alone then I'd start dosing a phosphate additive to the tank (could just be a couple drops per day) to maintain levels of 0.02-0.05. You likely won't have to dose forever - just until the tank stabilizes wrt phosphate.

If the skimmer alone isn't adequate to keep phosphates low enough then you need to: A) find a way to throttle down your reactor so that it still runs but removes less, or B) perform more periodic water changes.

As a first step i put phosphate reactor offline and kept the skimmer online for last two days, will wait for another two days and check the levels again. thanks.

 

[ZoWhat]

what are you feeding as far as fish food?

fresh homemade seafood like chopped shrimp and the like, are all sprayed with a Phosphate preservative spray to retain moisture and freshness at the seafood deli counter.

mfgr prepared frozen food may has traces of Phosphate as well. if it doesn't say Phosphate Free on the labeling, assume it does have a certain amount.

Phosphate is a naturally occurring substance in most foods. Almost unavoidable



.

 

[balajeek15]

what are you feeding as far as fish food?

fresh homemade seafood like chopped shrimp and the like, are all sprayed with a Phosphate preservative spray to retain moisture and freshness at the seafood deli counter.

mfgr prepared frozen food may has traces of Phosphate as well. if it doesn't say Phosphate Free on the labeling, assume it does have a certain amount.

Phosphate is a naturally occurring substance food in most foods.



.

So far i feed flakes, pellets, brine shrimp randomly, in addition to ReefRoids and RedSea Reef Energy once a week,
I was wondering to try that, may be i will get shrimp in a box from shoprite and try that, i believe those flakes and pellets is not enough to my bristle sea star as well. Not sure how long i can keep the shrimp in the freezer becaz i don't eat them.

 

[TexasReefer82]

As a first step i put phosphate reactor offline and kept the skimmer online for last two days, will wait for another two days and check the levels again. thanks.

I'd allow at least a week, maybe two, to observe how the skimmer alone performs.

 

[VR28man]

I'd allow at least a week, maybe two, to observe how the skimmer alone performs.

agreed.

 

[balajeek15]

keeping the skimmer alone running for a week and Phos reactor shut off, Phos came to 0.02, then again as of yesterday (another week later) tested the Phos is 0.08. All i remember is I did move some rock work and got the sand stirred up by this process and also fed grocery store bought shrimp (I would say half portion in one piece of shrimp) to fishes and nem one day after another day.

Now should i wait and see if 0.08 comes down or turn on the Phos reactor for few hours?