Need help with phophate levels!

[TheReefDiary]

Okay so just placed a decent order for my first corals. Went with some ricordea Florida, some alveopora, and a couple rock flower anemones for my sexy shrimp.

My API test kit shows what I assume to be .25 ppm. (I have a Hanna as my next thing to purchase). My ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are good. Assuming it's because of my feeding. I have a watchman goby that's eating, but often have to feed extra to make sure he gets stuff at the bottom of the tank. I have a fluval evo 13.5 g.

Need to figure out how to get phosphate in check. Thanks

 

[doubleshot00]

I wouldn’t do anything and see if the corals absorb it.
Dry rock?

 

[TheReefDiary]

I wouldn’t do anything and see if the corals absorb it.
Dry rock?

Carib sea life rock. Also should I get a high or low range game checker? Tank well be all LPS and soft corals.

 

[doubleshot00]

Carib sea life rock. Also should I get a high or low range game checker? Tank well be all LPS and soft corals.

Phosphate ULR is what I use.

Hanna
Nitrate HR
Phosphate ULR
Alkalinity

My go to Hanna products. Imo the rest suck.

post a pic of the tank.

 

[TheReefDiary]

Phosphate ULR is what I use.

Hanna
Nitrate HR
Phosphate ULR
Alkalinity

My go to Hanna products. Imo the rest suck.

post a pic of the tank.

I have a thread. Currently just rock and fish. Just posted an update yesterday.

 

[Garf]

I wouldn’t do anything and see if the corals absorb it.
Dry rock?

I agree. Tanks are started far too clean these days.

 

[Gatorpa]

Unless the fish or corals are having issues just watch it.
A small amount of GFO would help but you need to watch it closely in a system that small.

 

[TheReefDiary]

I agree. Tanks are started far too clean these days.

Awesome. And that's why I'm asking as a newb. Didn't seem overly high so just wanted to make sure before the corals come in next week

 

[TheReefDiary]

Unless the fish or corals are having issues just watch it.
A small amount of GFO would help but you need to watch it closely in a system that small.

Sounds good. Thanks for your advice. I do tests 2 times a week and weekly 25% water changes.

 

[Timfish]

FWIW, upwelling on reefs exposes corals to .2 mg/l (ppm) so at this point, as recommended above, I wouldn't do anything.

I learned a long time ago with whatever tester or test kit used there can be issues with the reagents so haveing multiple testers or test kits is advisable and testers or test kits should be occasionally checked someway, at least by comparing to another tester. Whichever test kit or tester you're thinking of using, is connect with aquarist suing different ones and see for your self which you find preferable to use yourself.

Just FYI here are what I use. I use alkalinity very frequently and as a new aquarist I'd suggest initially tesing the big 4, Alklinity, pH, Calcium and Magnesium weekly for a while to help you understand how things can change with no apparent difference in you system and how your system may change with no changes in your parameters. Beside having multiples I also compare new ones to old ones to make sure there's no differences in readings (besides bad batches of reagents mentioned above I've also found reagents apparently aging faster than the given experation dates).

pH - API
Alkalinity - API, Red Sea
Calcium - API
nitrite - NA
Nitrate - Nyos, Red Sea, API
PO4 - Elos, Nyos, Salifert
Magnesium - Red Sea

Be sure not to let your PO4 drop below .03 mg/l to avoid creating a phosphate deficiency in your corals. Also keep in mind biofilms and sponges are sequestering PO4 and depending on what's happening PO4 numbers can go up or down quickly (another reason no to keep PO4 too low) And to add an additional level of complexity corals are also using Particualte Organic Phosphate (POP) and Dissolved Organic Phosphate (DOP), neither we can test for.


Fig 4 from "Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts"

 

[Reef.]

If your po4 is really 0.25 which is not something you can be sure of with the test you have used, carry on with your water changes, buy the Hanna 774 checker, you need to be sure of the lvl before trying to lower it, as zero po4 is worse than high po4.

if it is high, gfo is good to lower it, rowaphos is good but you’ll need to change it regularly as in a media bag which is probably what you’ll be using in a nano, it’s not very affective in a media bag and will be used up fast when the po4 lvl is so high.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Your phosphates should be fine as mentioned. None of the livestock you have will mind the increased nutrients

I personally use the Phosphorous ULR from Hannah but I know a 60 buck tester isn't necessarily a fair ask from everyone, but I'd steer away from API

 

[doubleshot00]

I have a thread. Currently just rock and fish. Just posted an update yesterday.

Its most likely your rocks leaching the phosphates. Whats your nitrates at?

 

[doubleshot00]

And BTW i have a fluval 13.5 and have to dose nitrate and phosphate. So im the opposite as you.

 

[Reef.]

And BTW i have a fluval 13.5 and have to dose nitrate and phosphate. So im the opposite as you.

That’s amazing, what do you use for nutrient export?

 

[TheReefDiary]

And BTW i have a fluval 13.5 and have to dose nitrate and phosphate. So im the opposite as you.

My nitrates were between 0 and 5 ppm . I have to retest today as this was a test earlier in the week.

 

[TheReefDiary]

That’s amazing, what do you use for nutrient export?

In mine I have a protein skimmer, chemi pure blue, seachem purigen, and some biomedia at the bottom.

 

[TheReefDiary]

That’s amazing, what do you use for nutrient export?

I have a decent bioload for the small tank though. 4 fish, 6 snails, and 4 sexy shrimp (incoming).

 

[doubleshot00]

That’s amazing, what do you use for nutrient export?

A big huge rock thats in there and a few corals. I really don’t know where its going to tell ya the truth. I had two leathers in it but got rid of them recently. Hopefully my levels get better. For the first time in weeks my phos were above .03 and nitrate were 15+.

 

[TheReefDiary]

Are you using kalkwasser for your ATO reservoir?

A big huge rock thats in there and a few corals. I really don’t know where its going to tell ya the truth. I had two leathers in it but got rid of them recently. Hopefully my levels get better. For the first time in weeks my phos were above .03 and nitrate were 15+.