Low Phosphates an issue??

bt_oma · Aug 13, 2020

I constantly get a 0 read on the Hana checker for low Phosphates. I am sitting around 20 nitrates. I run a bunch of soft corals and no lps sps, in a 40 gal system.

I had issues with Dino's in my 10g when I was running things super low. I don't want things to get to that point but, I have been getting these readings for several months. I feed one cube a day and run a Nyos 120 skimmer and swap my socks every 4 days to a week, when it starts to get clogged. I have ran GFO in the past maybe 6 months ago (I shouldn't have done that)

I know in a lot of cases folks are striving for super low phosphates but I don't believe its good to keep it at 0. I am probably heading towards an issue.

How do I raise the phosphates under control? Increase feeding to 2 Cubes a day?turn off skimmer?pull socks out? Or is there a way to dose to increase it under control?

Reef and Dive · Aug 13, 2020

Yeah for sure zero phosphates are not welcome.
Dinos could be a problem again (specially if nitrates lower) and corals need phosphates to survive.

Just removing GFO should get the job done with some time...

And yes you can dose but it is unlikely that you will need to.

bt_oma · Aug 13, 2020

Thanks for responding. I wasn't clear on the GFO, I had removed it about 6 months ago. I turned off my skimmer a few days ago. I bet the corals and the little amount of algae I have are taking up the phosphates at this point. I was starting to see some diatoms in the sand. I think this is due to me using RO water instead of RODI and some possible silicates. It got me nervous about the dinos.