NeoPhos warning

ecas12 · Jan 12, 2023

I am about to start dosing NeoPhos to help raise my phosphates and start the battle against dinos. The warning on the NeoPhos bottle says not to raise phosphate levels in the tank above 0.04, but I had originally planned to increase it to around .1 ppm, since my nitrates are currently sitting near 10 ppm. Is it fine to ignore the warning and slowly raise phosphates up to 0.1 ppm?

EricR · Jan 12, 2023

Definitely OK to bring up to whatever your target level is.
I started with NeoPhos and switched to DIY but never saw any "warning" on the NeoPhos. (Are you sure it just wasn't a suggested level or something?)

ecas12 · Jan 12, 2023

EricR said:
Definitely OK to bring up to whatever your target level is.
I started with NeoPhos and switched to DIY but never saw any "warning" on the NeoPhos. (Are you sure it just wasn't a suggested level or something?)

My bottle specifically says this:
"Apply NeoPhos as directed to attain a minimum phosphate concentration of ~0.02 ppm. Do not exceed 0.04 ppm!"

It seemed a bit weird to me which is why I wanted to confirm. I figured I could just dose to the level I wanted.

Sean Clark · Jan 12, 2023

I am sure this is just a "hey we told you so" type of warning. I don't use the stuff because it doesn't disclose what is in it.

wtdenk · Jan 12, 2023

The label assumes your tank is at or near 0 phosphates. It recommends dosing to get to .02 and cautions you not to exceed .04.

In the fight against dinos you do what you gotta do. I used Neo Phos to raise my phosphates as well while fighting dinos some months back. Depends on your coral stock and what phos levels they are accustomed to would determine how aggressive I'd be in raising phos if I was you.

billyocean · Jan 12, 2023

I use it for I phosphate. Dose 24 ml a day on a doser to stay around .07. Icp tests are all in line so I wouldn't worry about anything bad or unknown in it.

EricR · Jan 12, 2023

Weird -- all the BOLDED print on the instructions in the pic (in post#4) sound like they're geared towards drawing attention to their stronger formula and making sure people used to weaker formula don't go overboard. (Just speculating)

I dose daily (originally NeoPhos, now DIY Trisodium Phosphate) and definitely maintain above 0.04 ppm (0.06-0.08 ppm for me) with no issues.

Sean Clark · Jan 12, 2023

EricR said:
Weird -- all the BOLDED print on the instructions in the pic (in post#4) sound like they're geared towards drawing attention to their stronger formula and making sure people used to weaker formula don't go overboard. (Just speculating)

I dose daily (originally NeoPhos, now DIY Trisodium Phosphate) and definitely maintain above 0.04 ppm (0.06-0.08 ppm for me) with no issues.

I particularly like the bold accurate test kit but then they don't suggest a preferred test kit...

billyocean · Jan 12, 2023

Sean Clark said:
I particularly like the bold accurate test kit but then they don't suggest a preferred test kit...

I don't know how the legalities behind "hanna ulr phosphate hi774" works on their labels.

Sean Clark · Jan 12, 2023

billyocean said:
I don't know how the legalities behind "hanna ulr phosphate hi774" works on their labels.

That is not on my label so I guess I can go with API.

thatmanMIKEson · Jan 12, 2023

Sean Clark said:
I am sure this is just a "hey we told you so" type of warning. I don't use the stuff because it doesn't disclose what is in it.

Yes it does its full of neo-phos, it gives your tank wings!

Miami Reef · Jan 12, 2023

I would just ignore it. They are probably using outdated ULN suggestions. Back then, everyone would try to keep low nutrients to mimic NSW.

Personally, I like Low Nutrients, but that’s only my preference.

billyocean · Jan 12, 2023

thatmanMIKEson said:
Yes it does its full of neo-phos, it gives your tank wings!

...its what corals crave..

thatmanMIKEson · Jan 12, 2023

billyocean said:
...its what corals crave..

It's got electrolytes

ecas12 · Jan 12, 2023

wtdenk said:
The label assumes your tank is at or near 0 phosphates. It recommends dosing to get to .02 and cautions you not to exceed .04.

In the fight against dinos you do what you gotta do. I used Neo Phos to raise my phosphates as well while fighting dinos some months back. Depends on your coral stock and what phos levels they are accustomed to would determine how aggressive I'd be in raising phos if I was you.

Don't have any corals yet but am setting up a refugium over the weekend. Will take it slowly but good to know it's not a huge warning to worry about.

Sean Clark · Jan 12, 2023

billyocean · Jan 12, 2023

killer2001 · Jan 12, 2023

I always interpreted that instruction as "don't dose more than 0.04 ppm in a 24 hour period" but I basically ignored it when I was dosing phosphate.

CNDReef · Jan 13, 2023

I believe it’s don’t dose more than .04 of your tank in a single dose. Example: dose .04 every few hours to get to your desired lvl instead of shocking the system.

chipmunkofdoom2 · Jan 13, 2023

I read it as "do not raise your total phosphates above 0.04 ppm." The previous sentences mentions total concentration, so in that context they must mean tank concentration.

Having said that, it's bunk. Raise your phosphates to whatever you want. My acros weren't happy until I dosed and maintained relatively high PO4. Now I run between 0.15 and 0.2 ppm consistently.