N03 and P04 confused

FrootStick · Jun 10, 2016

hi
I was battling nitrate and phosphate problems a while back now. I started using bioplastics to help.
I have my nitrates down to 0 from 20.
But I can't seem to get my phosphates down anywhere below 0.08.
Phosphates were as high as 0.27 at one stage.
What can I do to get my phosphates down? I'm also using rhowaphos to try and help, with no luck.

Any ideas guys?
Thanks

jsker · Jun 10, 2016

I started to change my Rhowaphos once a week and my phosphates went down. I you running the Rhowa in a reactor?

FrootStick · Jun 10, 2016

Yes. Running it in a reactor.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 10, 2016

Rowaphos definitely will do the job, as will all brands of GFO. You may just need to use more, get better flow through it, or replace it more often. At elevated phosphate, it may be depleted in less than a day.

Biopellets do generally reduce nitrate a lot more than phosphate, so your result is typical.

There are lots of good ways to reduce phosphate. I discuss them here:

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184

LakeCityReefs · Jun 10, 2016

I don't think .08 is all that bad. Generally .02-.08 would be considered acceptable for good coral health. Your P04 may have a hard time dropping because you don't have N03. When corals and algae consume phosphates naturally they do so in a combination with nitrates.
Currently I am trying to maintain 5 ppm N03 and .05 ppm P04. Previously I had always tried to keep things at 0 and it really didn't provide the growth or colors I was hoping for.

zemuss · Jun 10, 2016

@Randy Holmes-Farley I read the article and the free pdf has been removed from the link you put in the article. Is it possible to share it here?

Nevermind I found it.

FrootStick · Jun 10, 2016

I'm using a phosban 150 reactor. I can only really use a certain amount of flow until it goes for a simmer to a out of control mess.
I'm using about 120 grams in a 90g tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 11, 2016

LakeCityReefs said:
I don't think .08 is all that bad. Generally .02-.08 would be considered acceptable for good coral health. Your P04 may have a hard time dropping because you don't have N03. When corals and algae consume phosphates naturally they do so in a combination with nitrates.
Currently I am trying to maintain 5 ppm N03 and .05 ppm P04. Previously I had always tried to keep things at 0 and it really didn't provide the growth or colors I was hoping for.

FWIW, 0.08 ppm is not low enough to inhibit the growth of algae, if that is a concern to folks.

Of course, you can inhibit algae other ways.

Dwb5 · Jun 11, 2016

Do you use a RO/DI unit? If so it maybe time to change your filters.

FrootStick · Jun 11, 2016

It's a new RODI unit.
Any recommendations apart from the rowaphos in the reactor I'm using. Should I put more in the reactor than I am?

Habib(Salifert) · Jun 11, 2016

You might want to check the water change water if that too gives a 0.08 result. If so it could be your test kit or something else which can be corrected a lot easier.

Kungpaoshizi · Jun 11, 2016

Dose Reef Energy for addition of nitrates. It's very nutritious as well vs just adding nitrates.
Though at the same time I would get some Lanthanum Chloride to ease the issue and speed it along to balance out. Biggest thing is you need your nitrates detectable, and the phosphate lower.(don't freak out about .08 though)