NeoPhos Instructions - layman's terms please

[CMO]

Can someone please help me understand what the highlighted sections below mean in simpler language? What does it mean for a system to be "carbon limited" and why would something like NeoPhos require a carbon additive to work? I'm running a triton/ARID system which advises against carbon dosing - which I believe the below say's may be required to use NeoPhos effectively depending on the system (unless my tank turns out to not be carbon limited - step 4 instructions). Thank you

 

[DLHDesign]

What does it mean for a system to be "carbon limited" and why would something like NeoPhos require a carbon additive to work?

A system is "carbon-limited" if the corals are limited in how much they can grow because of the limited availability of free carbon in the system. To contrast; a tank could be said to be "phosphate-limited" if the lack of phosphate is the thing holding them back from growing better.
The general idea of the instructions are to get the carbon, phosphate, and nitrate in the tank into balance (so that the amount of each available is roughly equal to what the life in the tank can consume). This is because adding phosphate (NeoPhos) into a tank that can't consume it would just increase the phosphate to undesirable levels. So the instructions have you add some phosphate into the tank as a test of how much is consumed. If none, then it's because the corals are "starving" for carbon. If it does get consumed, then the corals were more along the spectrum of "phosphate-limited" or "nitrate-limited". Then it's just a matter of getting those two in balance through the proper amount of NeoPhos - which will entirely depend upon your particular tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would forget all that wording they have, and just proceed to dose to your target level. Then remeasure a day or two later, see if you need to redose, and if you do, adjsut the dose as needed, and iteratively hone in on a dose that takes you to or near your target level.

 

[CMO]

Thank you both. That makes sense now.

 

[HolisticBear]

Random Tip: You need to shake the bottle before each use. It's buried in the wall of text on the bottle.

 

[CMO]

Would not have done that. Thank you!

 

[puffer420]

How do you dose carbon? ? I can dose phos and it doesn't rise I only get algae. No3 at 2

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How do you dose carbon? ? I can dose phos and it doesn't rise I only get algae. No3 at 2

What are you trying to accomplish?

 

[Reef Management LLC]

Im wondering the same

I have 8 month old sps dominant tank

Nitrates are 5 to 12 and phosphate is zero im afraid im starting to get dinos i have some slime started on rocks with bubbles on ends

Should i dose neophos???