Phopshate RX not dropping phosphate

[Jrswish]

The first two nights phosphate dropped my phosphate to acceptable levels, but my phosphate is consistently at .40-.45 now, it wont drop below it, even with dosing more than recommended amounts of phopshate RX< dont know what to do

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Not a fix for your issue, but whenever I’m having issues with things or not getting results I would expect….I reverify my test with a different test kit. Especially before I would nuke a tank by doubling or tripling recommended dosage of anything. I’m not saying your test is wrong, but I would verify it before going any further.

 

[BanjoBandito]

How old is the tank? I think this is true - that rock will leach phosphates until they "equalize" the amount in the water, so it may be your rocks are leaching it out faster than the phosphate RX can knock it down. Also, it depends where you dose the phosphate removal stuffs. Any phosphate remover generally works on creating larger particles that a skimmer can yank out easily. ALSO - some will give you false positives and wrong readings (PhosphatE says it right on the bottle - DON'T TRUST THE TEST 24 HOURS OUT). Lots could be happening...Let us know whats going on and your general tank setup and we'll see if any of the wrinkle brains can help.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Do you dose inside the skimmer ?

 

[gbroadbridge]

The first two nights phosphate dropped my phosphate to acceptable levels, but my phosphate is consistently at .40-.45 now, it wont drop below it, even with dosing more than recommended amounts of phopshate RX< dont know what to do

Lanthanum Chloride does not work well at low phosphate levels.

You need finer filtration, or switch to GFO.

 

[Miami Reef]

Lanthanum Chloride does not work well at low phosphate levels.

You need finer filtration, or switch to GFO.

.40-.45 is considered very high, unless OP meant to say 0.04ppm-0.045ppm.

Lanthanum does work, but you need a 1-5 micron socks. Skimmers will not help and I’ve read anecdotal evidence that someone’s tangs died from solely using a skimmer.

Also, if you aren’t exporting the lanthanum phosphate percipients and they get into your aquarium test syringe, the test kit will break the lanthanum phosphate bond and will result in a falsely high phosphate result than reality.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Lanthanum Chloride does not work well at low phosphate levels.

You need finer filtration, or switch to GFO.

This is correct lanthanum chloride is not as effective at low concentration of phosphates.

 

[gbroadbridge]

.40-.45 is considered very high, unless OP meant to say 0.04ppm-0.045ppm.

Lanthanum does work, but you need a 1-5 micron socks. Skimmers will not help and I’ve read anecdotal evidence that someone’s tangs died from solely using a skimmer.

Also, if you aren’t exporting the lanthanum phosphate percipients and they get into your aquarium test syringe, the test kit will break the lanthanum phosphate bond and will result in a falsely high phosphate result than reality.

I guess I consider above 2ppm high. 0.5 is moderate and I know of many tanks that are happy at that range even though well above NSW.

I agree with everything else you said

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not think it is ineffective at 0.4 ppm. If the op is dosing it properly, there is some other issue.

 

[FishOkay]

Lanthanum chloride is definitely useful at that phosphate level i used it in the form of quantum phosphate remover. Even at the recommended dose. My phosphate was at 0.4 and it brought it down to 0.09 but quickly which ticked a few corals off lol but I use rowaphos now to keep it down.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The first two nights phosphate dropped my phosphate to acceptable levels, but my phosphate is consistently at .40-.45 now, it wont drop below it, even with dosing more than recommended amounts of phopshate RX< dont know what to do

You may just need to keep dosing since you are likely trying to strip huge amounts of phosphate off the rock and sand.

 

[Jrswish]

Nah my phos was at .90, dropped it to 0.03 but after the 3rd day it rose to .40-.45 and wont drop even with double the recommended dosage, i legit dunno what to do lol

 

[Sean Clark]

Nah my phos was at .90, dropped it to 0.03 but after the 3rd day it rose to .40-.45 and wont drop even with double the recommended dosage, i legit dunno what to do lol

You need to stay the course but at the recommended dose. It may take some time.

 

[Miami Reef]

Nah my phos was at .90, dropped it to 0.03 but after the 3rd day it rose to .40-.45 and wont drop even with double the recommended dosage, i legit dunno what to do lol

Double dosages are not good. If there’s more lanthanum than what it can bind to phosphates, it will bind carbonate, which lowers alkalinity.

Slow dosages are much better. I wouldn’t be surprised if you are just getting false positives from the percipients.

 

[Montiman]

Well, I wouldn't worry about anything below .5. My normal mode is to wait until the phosphate goes above .5ppm and then add the recommended dose.

What people are saying is true. the recommended dose is supposed to drop the phosphate by .5ppm but my experience is that this holds very true until you get below .5 and then it will not drop to 0 I normally see .2 or .3. If you are shooting for something like .03ppm I would switch to Iron or Aluminum phosphate removers.