Phopshate at .71
- Thread starter Jrswish
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BanjoBandito
Valuable Member
I like your style. That's even higher than mine. There's lots of ways to lower them. Lanthum chloride products will do it quickly, so you need to be careful about how much you dose and how quickly you lower it. A refugium setup will remove some. GFO reactors will remove it as well. Certain filter media will lower it too. Just remember don't jump off the cliff. Your .71 may seem bad but if you went from .71 to say .06 in 3 hours it would be worse. Also, make sure you are retesting and are confident the number is correct. DON'T GET ME STARTED ON IF AN ALGAE SCRUBBER WILL DO ANYTHING.
gbroadbridge
2500 Club Member
If this is your Evo 13.5, a couple of 50% water changes over a over a week should bring it down to under 0.2.
How did it get so high? Test error? Which test kit?
EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal
Just another girl who likes fish
Phosphates are not easily removed with water changes.
Spare time
10K Club member
Water changes are not very good at lowering phosphate as it will just come right back out of the rocks and sand.
EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal
Just another girl who likes fish
Wish I had thought of that... Oh, wait!
Spare time
10K Club member
Yes, mixed with carbon so it doesn't clump up.
You could also add some decorative macro algae too
Spare time
10K Club member
Wish I had thought of that... Oh, wait!
Lol I scrolled up right after I posted the reply and was like oh haha
doubleshot00
2500 Club Member
I did 35% wc over the span of 2 weeks every 3 days (controlled my feedings to rinsed frozen only) and got mine from .4 to .2 then added gfo.
Lost in the Sauce
BANGERANG!!!!
Which I know is True, but still baffles my brain.
If this is a dissolved nutrient and we are measuring it at a certain level, If we remove X parts of water, I would think we would be removing an equal part phosphate...
UCF Alum
Stick addict
GFO can not be mixed with carbon as it needs to tumble. Since you have an AIO, I’d start off with a bag if Chemipure Elite. Throw it in the overflow chamber and let it do it’s thing slowly. Combine that with less feeding and persistent water changes and you’ll be on the right path. Don’t strip PO4 too fast as it’ll kill your corals and/or bleach them. You’ll also deal with a nasty cyano outbreak.
gbroadbridge
2500 Club Member
I beg to differ
In a 13.5 gal tank that is the easiest way to drop phosphates.
It's not worth the effort to setup an external reactor. LaCl will just introduce pollutants.
Just keep doing changes until it drops.
UCF Alum
Stick addict
no. It’ll clump. You can get Chemipure elite, Rowaphos (my choice) or Phosbond. All good choices.
gbroadbridge
2500 Club Member
You can if you like of course
It will slowly work, it's up to you which is simpler and cheaper. Water changes vs GFO+carbon in a bag.
I'd mix the two as someone suggested above - or you can get Chemipure which is just GFO+carbon premixed.
BanjoBandito
Valuable Member
Yes that can remove phosphates. In a nano like that when I ran mine phosphates were always tough to control due to the inability to cram in a bunch of fish herbivores. I got into a routine of feeding then water change. Obviously not daily but I would keep saltwater mixed, feed, then do a gallon or so and suck up leftovers and any gunk. I had more time and effort in the nano than I did bigger systems so don’t get discouraged if you are having problems. They can be bears.
gbroadbridge
2500 Club Member
+1^
My Evo 13.5 in the office is a lot more work to keep looking good, than the 90 gal DT in the lounge.
I just manage it with water changes. 15-20% a week unless I get lazy and skip a week.
Softies and LPS.
