Need to manage nitrate and phosphate, how would you do it?

reefiniteasy · Dec 9, 2019

So I recently purchased a Hanna Phosphate ULR and immediately put it to use. I have recently had some green algae growth on my rocks and sand bed, nothing crazy, just unsightly. Not noticeable under blues. I do have to say that my Purigen and ChemiPure Blue were due to be changed today, which I did. I also do a 4-5 gallon water change weekly. I feed 2-3 times per day, a small piece of LRS Fish Frenzy. I also recently started to target feed some Reef Roids. My corals are doing great! Here are my stats from water change to water change over the course of a week. By the way, it's a 16 gallon BioCube.

12/3 (After water change)
1.026 SG
pH - 8.15
NO3 - 5ppm
Mg - 1320ppm
Ca - 440ppm
KH/Alk - 8.3dKH
PO4 - .11ppm

12/5
pH - 8.15
NO3 - 5ppm
Mg - 1305ppm dosed 10ml 1410ppm
Ca - 415ppm dosed 10ml 435ppm
KH/Alk - 8.3dKH
PO4 - .14

12/8
1.026 SG
NO3 - 10ppm
Mg - 1350ppm
Ca - 440ppm
KH/Alk - 8.3dKH
PO4 - .27

12/9 (After water change)
1.026 SG
pH - 8.15
NO3 - 5ppm
Mg - 1350ppm
Ca - 425ppm
KH/Alk - 8.45
PO4 - .12

I want to add a protein skimmer but am unable to find any that fit my 16 gallon BioCube. I am thinking about setting up a DIY algae reactor. What would you do?

Spare time · Dec 10, 2019

For nitrates, I recommend nitrate pads if its difficult to maintain with weekly water changes alone. For phosphates, I recommend dedicated phosphate media (phosguard, phosban, GFO mixed with carbon if not in a reactor). DIY algae reactors are nice but you need the right light spectrum (wrapped as much as possible around the tube) and good power from them while also being water proof. Use mr clean magic eraser to clean their insides. You really don't have much of a problem with nitrates and phoshates are easy to control with media.

Spare time · Dec 10, 2019

I assume the tank is new. You will get some green diatoms on the sand bed no matter what. The same goes for the rocks.

UCF Alum · Dec 10, 2019

@Alex Sadowsky
I wouldn’t change a thing. Your No3 and Po4 are perfect. Your tank looks fantastic. Why change a good thing? I would actually remove either the Chemipure or the Purigen. You don’t want to strip the water too clean.
I run Po4 over .1, yes .1
My No3 is 20
This is all acro tank now and growth is great. If it ain’t broke ...

HB AL · Dec 10, 2019

From your pics and params nothing looks bad from what I see but to give you some ideas here goes.

I have a huge bioload in my tank and with just a protein skimmer, 2 bags of phosgaurd, 1 bag of purigen and a large bag of carbon along with daily dosing of 10 to 20ml of Red Sea no3 po4x a day it keeps things in check. I feed my fish 10 to 12 various Hikari cubes a day thus the heavy bioload along with whatever the corals expel. My tank is in my bedroom so I dont have the means to set up a large refugium and other nutrient export means so I make it work with the space available. It works pretty well in my case. Here’s a pic of my mixed reef.

reefiniteasy · Dec 10, 2019

Spare time said:
I assume the tank is new. You will get some green diatoms on the sand bed no matter what. The same goes for the rocks.

It’s new, the tank is 8-9 months old.

UCF Alum said:
@Alex Sadowsky
I wouldn’t change a thing. Your No3 and Po4 are perfect. Your tank looks fantastic. Why change a good thing? I would actually remove either the Chemipure or the Purigen. You don’t want to strip the water too clean.
I run Po4 over .1, yes .1
My No3 is 20
This is all acro tank now and growth is great. If it ain’t broke ...

Thank you for the encouragement. The water change immediately took PO4 down to .12 and today it was .1exactly which means the Purigen and ChemiPure Blue are doing their thing. I might just have to replace the media more often. My corals are new but they are thriving so things must be okay. @UCF Alum are you in Central Florida?