Ok Phosphates...what's the deal?

[Siberwulf]

If you see my post history, you can see I'm battling dinos. I've been working on a three-step plan to try to treat them. Step 1 was to physically remove and dose MicroBacter7 to build competition. Step 2 is Waste Away and Re-fresh. Step 3 is actually snagging a pricey UV filter and figuring out how to get it into my setup.

I'm having trouble dropping my phosphates, though. They've literally not changed a bit.

I started dosing MB7 on 5/18 above. As you can see, Alk has been on the rise on its own (not dosing anything other than MB7 and Phyto to feed the pods in there)

At the start of the dino battle, Nitrates and Phosphates were both high (I'm fresh off a cycle, so it makes total sense to me). And it looks like the MB7 did a great job at nuking those (too good, since I know Dinos thrive when nitrates and/or phosphates are zero) so that's not unexpected.

But Phosphates feel they should be coming down, too. I've got a clump of Chaeto in there (most of it died off when I ran without lights for a week), but it literally hasn't moved a bit. Using the Red Sea Phosphate test which, if I'm gonna be honest, feels crappy. I've just heard the Hanna one is a PITA to use...

Any thoughts on what's going on here?

 

[PeterC99]

What is actual phosphate level? Hard to tell from graph.

 

[Siberwulf]

What is actual phosphate level? Hard to tell from graph.

Fantastic point. It's been .12 since I started measuring. Water change didn't affect it, MB7 didn't affect it. Booming chaeto didn't affect it.

 

[PeterC99]

Fantastic point. It's been .12 since I started measuring. Water change didn't affect it, MB7 didn't affect it. Booming chaeto didn't affect it.

That’s where mine is too after starting a new aquarium in Sept 2020. Finding my corals doing really well and I feed heavily.

 

[Siberwulf]

That’s where mine is too after starting a new aquarium in Sept 2020. Finding my corals doing really well and I feed heavily.

I've not yet introduced corals yet. Still trying to defeat the stupid dinos.

 

[PeterC99]

I've not yet introduced corals yet. Still trying to defeat the stupid dinos.

You got a picture of the dinos?

 

[Siberwulf]

Here's a shot from when the lights first come on. Gonna pull out the microscope again and see for sure that it's still them, but being I confirmed it last month, I'm assuming it still is.

 

[Siberwulf]

Ok, so yeah it's the same suckers as I figured.

 

[homer1475]

.12 is a fine phosphate number. Why are you trying to lower it, if your battling dinos?

UV will help a ton with those types of dinos.

EDIT:
If I'm reading your graph right, your nitrates are 0, which is also not good when battleing dinos.

 

[Siberwulf]

.12 is a fine phosphate number. Why are you trying to lower it, if your battling dinos?

UV will help a ton with those types of dinos.

EDIT:
If I'm reading your graph right, your nitrates are 0, which is also not good when battleing dinos.

100% right. I didn't anticipate Nitrates hitting 0. I'm looking for solutions to boost that.

I'm trying to look at a UV solution that doesn't require me having to move the whole tank out 3" more. I've read the Pentair are the best, the lexus of UV. But I'm wondering if I can get by with something less spacious.

 

[homer1475]

Sure pentair is the lexus of UV, but totally overpriced for what they are IMO. They are all basically a plastic tube with a UV bulb inside.

I had great luck using the jebao unit. Be aware though, after long use, it tends to degrade the plastic, and leach it into the tank.

I've run mine about 2 years now(24/7), and just clean it out once in a while. Haven't had an issue yet.

 

[PeterC99]

.12 is a fine phosphate number. Why are you trying to lower it, if your battling dinos?

UV will help a ton with those types of dinos.

EDIT:
If I'm reading your graph right, your nitrates are 0, which is also not good when battleing dinos.

2nd the strong UV light recommendation! Get higher wattage than required.

 

[Siberwulf]

Looking at the Green Killing machine right now. It's reasonably priced for what it is and it might jsut fit right in my sump. That would be ideal!

 

[dvgyfresh]

Looking at the Green Killing machine right now. It's reasonably priced for what it is and it might jsut fit right in my sump. That would be ideal!

That’s what I used , worked for me! No Dino’s and use neonitro to boost nitrate levels

 

[dvgyfresh]

Looking at the Green Killing machine right now. It's reasonably priced for what it is and it might jsut fit right in my sump. That would be ideal!

I would place into DT while you still have Dino’s tho, it won’t get much Dino’s in the sump

 

[Siberwulf]

I would place into DT while you still have Dino’s tho, it won’t get much Dino’s in the sump

You should see my Chaeto...it's quite overrun with them. I get crazy turnover, too... 10x tank volume with this Triton Method.

 

[Siberwulf]

I would place into DT while you still have Dino’s tho, it won’t get much Dino’s in the sump

Ok, so I snagged one from Petco, and it has a 60 day return policy on it. If it doesn't do the job in 60 days, back it goes.

I put it temporarily in the DT just because I it'll be a little bit of a PITA to put it in the sump (but doable, provided it works).

I wanna go back to the first question though, why aren't my Phosphates dropping?

 

[dvgyfresh]

Ok, so I snagged one from Petco, and it has a 60 day return policy on it. If it doesn't do the job in 60 days, back it goes.

I put it temporarily in the DT just because I it'll be a little bit of a PITA to put it in the sump (but doable, provided it works).

I wanna go back to the first question though, why aren't my Phosphates dropping?

Increasing nitrate will lower phosphate , the ratio is in favor of phosphate drastically which won’t allow for phosphate reduction you need more nitrate especially if it’s 0, that is recipe for dinos

 

[Siberwulf]

Increasing nitrate will lower phosphate , the ratio is in favor of phosphate drastically which won’t allow for phosphate reduction you need more nitrate especially if it’s 0, that is recipe for dinos

That makes sense. Seems like your macro can't absorb phosphate if it also doesn't have nitrate in there.

Given THAT, is it appropriate to dose some NH3 to lead to more NO3? Note there's no fish in here. I just want to keep the dinos away....

 

[dvgyfresh]

That makes sense. Seems like your macro can't absorb phosphate if it also doesn't have nitrate in there.

Given THAT, is it appropriate to dose some NH3 to lead to more NO3? Note there's no fish in here. I just want to keep the dinos away....

Yes anything to get nitrate up, I would recommend neonitro so your not also increasing phosphates