Need my PO4 down

BigJohnWoody · Dec 10, 2012

Ok so my PO4 is at .11 measured by a Hanna checker and I need to get it down. I have been struggling with hair algae and its really starting to **** me off. My tank is about 150 gallons total water volume. I am currently running 20tbsp of BRS High Capacity GFO which is enough for 160 gallon tank. I also run a Bubbleking 180 skimmer and I have a fuge with LR and Cheato. The display has about a 2 inch sand bed and the tanks been up for 2 years. My NO3 is at 0.
I guess my question rounded up by a confusing last paragraph is, how do I get my PO4 down? Should I just add a tbsp of GFO every other day while checking levels until it gets down? Doesn't there get to be a level when it won't work any better or be too much for the tank to handle?

ritter6788 · Dec 10, 2012

Do you vacuum the sand when you do water changes? I always had algae problems until I started vacuuming the sand. I eventually removed it all and I'm even using GFO anymore.

BigJohnWoody · Dec 10, 2012

I don't vacuum my sand, but I have a diamond watchman goby that keeps the sand spotless. Though he doesn't get very deep. Hmmmm

BigJohnWoody · Dec 10, 2012

I can't go bb though, I have a haddoni.

ritter6788 · Dec 10, 2012

Give it a shot next water change and see if some funk comes out. I was shocked at the amount of nasty that was in my sand.

SPotter · Dec 11, 2012

How often do you change your gfo? what kind of rock do you have? Sometimes the rock could be leaching po4 back into the tank. I would give your sand a stir to see how much gunk is in the sand bed. I vacuum my tank every other water change and you would be suprised how much stuff builds up and I have a diamond watchman too.

mcarroll · Dec 12, 2012

ritter6788 said:
Give it a shot next water change and see if some funk comes out. I was shocked at the amount of nasty that was in my sand.

+1

In fact I'd bet a nickle against the issue being anything else.

BigJohnWoody · Dec 12, 2012

Thanks everyone for the comments. I think my sand is the problem too, now that I think about it. I change my GFO monthly and I got 90% of my rock from Marco Rocks. I think if it was the rock I would have had problems sooner. Tank has been up for just over 2 years and I've never had algae. I have also never stirred or cleaned my sand bed. It's gonna be filthy. Maybe I'll just do a little every night so I don't cause any kind of a cycle. That would be very very bad.

Pkunk35 · Dec 12, 2012

I think it's a good idea to go slower with the siphoning too, maybe just add to WC routine.

Also make sure to harvest old chaeto and the existing HA.

BigJohnWoody · Dec 12, 2012

I just got my chaeto down to a smaller amount. I've been pulling hair algae weekly. I'll be glad when I get this under control. It's been really annoying.

BigJohnWoody · Dec 14, 2012

Ok tonight was my second night of vacuuming my sand. I would say its about a third of the way done. Everything in my tank still seems happy, which is a very good thing. I'm scared with my sps. I will check my NO3 and PO4 tomorrow and give everyone an update. Hope to get this under control. Although it's reef tanks..... There is always something that needs working on.