Phopshate at .71

[BanjoBandito]

+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.

Yeah these maniacs saying nanos are easy are doing entry level hobbyist a disservice, but I pack everything with coral so I’m not sure that’s the norm. Not to mention they are soooooooo easy to swing into crashes!

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Long term goal would be Refugium to help resolve this issue.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Long term goal would be Refugium to help resolve this issue.

….IN A NANO?!!!

 

[cmoore806]

I successfully ran a refugium in the second chamber of my Evo 13.5 using a flat LED light taped to the back. I used a razor to scrape off the black paint pattern.

Did it help lower my nitrate/phosphate? Not enough. So I got a bigger tank with a sump so I could run the bigger refugium

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

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...

If you are looking for the explanation, it’s the phosphate bound to calcium carbonate surfaces. It’s a huge reservoir, often far larger than the amount actually in the water.

The issue is that the amount bound is directly related to the amount in the water. More in the water means more on the surfaces.

Even if you remove all the water and replace it, some phosphate will come back off the rock. You’ll be lower than before, but not as much lower as you would for nitrate with the same water change.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

If you are looking for the explanation, it’s the phosphate bound to calcium carbonate surfaces. It’s a huge reservoir, often far larger than the amount actually in the water.

The issue is that the amount bound is directly related to the amount in the water. More in the water means more on the surfaces.

Even if you remove all the water and replace it, some phosphate will come back off the rock. You’ll be lower than before, but not as much lower as you would for nitrate with the same water change.

So if I'm understanding correct, the phosphate in the water will continue to reach an equilibrium being replenished by the rock until the phosphate bound to carbonate surfaces has been depleted?

 

[Hairyteeth]

It’s true nanos can be very hard to control, also did a refugium in my evo second chamber for a bit… decided I like my probes in there better?

 

[BanjoBandito]

It’s true nanos can be very hard to control, also did a refugium in my evo second chamber for a bit… decided I like my probes in there better?

I’ve just always had to resort to chemical control in my nanos until it levels out honestly. I’m like an old drunk reaching for the lanthum. THIS IS THE LAST TIME I SWEAR. it’s just wild because my PICO jars had zero issues like that. When I did test them they were always “good”. I guess doing 100% water changes after a once a week feeding will do that.

 

[Miami Reef]

I would only use lanthanum chloride if my phosphates are this high.

Pick up a 1 micron sock and clip it to the side of the tank. Put a small amount of drops slowly by hand. Wait a little, put some more. Remove sock after 30 minutes and wash in washing machine. Next day repeat. This brought my over the limit phosphates (200ppb+) back to 0.10ppm in 2 days. I didn’t have corals in the tank, so I dosed a little heavier than the recommendations I put above.

Since you have a nano, slower is better. It can’t hurt to go slow to see how much the phosphates drop by initially. I used brightwell phosphate E.

If you have corals, take it slow. You won’t find a method cheaper and easier than lanthanum chloride for high levels like this. It’s magic stuff.

 

[Jrswish]

I got chemipure elite i just ordered it, i have a 32.5g flex, all my corals are thriving besides my acans they look like this.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So if I'm understanding correct, the phosphate in the water will continue to reach an equilibrium being replenished by the rock until the phosphate bound to carbonate surfaces has been depleted?

Yes, and the same is true in reverse when dosing it. You may find you need to add way more than expected to get a stable rise.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Yes, and the same is true in reverse when dosing it. You may find you need to add way more than expected to get a stable rise.

Learn something new every day.

Thanks RHF.