Lowering phosphate

[StinkyReefs]

I have a refugium and use phosguard to lower my phosphate levels. I’m at 0.9 ppm am I doing something wrong !? I feed my corals once a week and my fish every two days frozen mysis.

 

[Tidal Gardens Verified Sponsor]

We have found that coral food is super high in phosphate. Try rinsing your fish food in a net before you feed it and it should help as well.

 

[damsels are not mean]

What issue are you trying to diagnose with the phosphate testing? Is something in the tank not going well?

 

[Bigfish10]

I use phosgaurd regularly, but it exhausts very quick especially if phosphate is that high. GFO is probably the better solution. Just don’t bring them down too fast. That will cause more issues than curing if you have coral.

 

[StinkyReefs]

What issue are you trying to diagnose with the phosphate testing? Is something in the tank not going well?

Algae issues , parameters are good it’s phosphate I can’t seem to bring down

 

[X-37B]

How big is the system and how much are you using?
How often are you replacing the phosgaurd?
Is the media in a reactor?

 

[Garf]

Algae issues , parameters are good it’s phosphate I can’t seem to bring down

Herbivores?

 

[dedragon]

what coral foods? Reef roids apparantly very high phosphates. How often do you change filter media (floss/socks) and how often are water changes?

 

[StinkyReefs]

It’s a 25 gallon tank , I change the carbon, phosguard every 2 weeks filter floss about every 2 days sometimes 3. I use reef roids sometimes other times I use phytofeast

 

[dedragon]

how often and what volume water changes? With rodi water?

 

[StinkyReefs]

Oh and I do my water change every week from 3-5 gallons

 

[dedragon]

Rodi water? Or at least water that has been tested for phosphates when fully mixed with salt?

 

[gbroadbridge]

I have a refugium and use phosguard to lower my phosphate levels. I’m at 0.9 ppm am I doing something wrong !? I feed my corals once a week and my fish every two days frozen mysis.

0.9 is the maximum reading, so phosphates are probably significantly higher than that.

GFO will exhaust pretty quickly at that level, you probably need to change every couple of days.
Test the output from the reactor, if phosphate is not zero you need to change the media.

 

[StinkyReefs]

Rodi water? Or at least water that has been tested for phosphates when fully mixed with salt?

I have a RODI set up I’m going to test it

 

[StinkyReefs]

0.9 is the maximum reading, so phosphates are probably significantly higher than that.

GFO will exhaust pretty quickly at that level, you probably need to change every couple of days.
Test the output from the reactor, if phosphate is not zero you need to change the media.

I just use those mesh media bags but you’re right phosphates can be higher

 

[Andresnyc93]

Do you feed coral food into water column or spot feed?

 

[dedragon]

I would cut out the reef roids altogether and use lrs reef frenzy instead of the mysis (it has mysis and coral foods but is lower in phosphates) and feed a little bit every day

 

[Lavey29]

Yes. Whenever I use reef roids it significantly increases my phosphate so had to stop using it.

 

[StinkyReefs]

Do you feed coral food into water column or spot feed?

Spot feed some days I get lazy and broadcast feed

 

[vetteguy53081]

Did you check phos right after a feeding or water change ?
If not , My best success to lower and keep it in check is addition of Chemipure blue or Elite which does a really good job