Phos .25ppm

[Fishko]

I tested my phos today and in a week it went from .08-.25ppm. I tested twice with my hanna. Corals are happy sps are growing but im not comfortable with my phos that high. Should i lower it slightly with lanthanum chloride?

 

[Sick_man]

I tested my phos today and in a week it went from .08-.25ppm. I tested twice with my hanna. Corals are happy sps are growing but im not comfortable with my phos that high. Should i lower it slightly with lanthanum chloride?

I wouldn't chase numbers if everything seems happy.

 

[Reef.]

I would look to see why such a raise in a week. That is a big jump.

I would try and get it down slowly, water changes will help a bit but you could try phosguard or rowaphos.

 

[Fishko]

ill try testing again later to make sure its actually .25ppm. Nitrate is at 3 ppm. Im going to do a few smaller wc first

 

[Reef.]

ill try testing again later to make sure its actually .25ppm. Nitrate is at 3 ppm. Im going to do a few smaller wc first

if it’s that high, small water changes will not help that much, the po4 soaks into the sand and rock, if that high I would use som media as above.

 

[ScottB]

Check for a scratch or smudge on the cuvette. I wear nitrile gloves when running the Hanna. Also I use a microstatic towel for wiping. Testing PO4 is my least favorite. Super finicky. Did the sample turn blue once you added the reagent? It should have at that level.

LC is very effective -- easily too effective which can be bad. Triple check your measures. GFO is a bit more forgiving.

Water changes are going to remove a lot more NO3 than PO4, and IMO you don't have enough to spare. Good luck. Go slow.

 

[Fishko]

Check for a scratch or smudge on the cuvette. I wear nitrile gloves when running the Hanna. Also I use a microstatic towel for wiping. Testing PO4 is my least favorite. Super finicky. Did the sample turn blue once you added the reagent? It should have at that level.

LC is very effective -- easily too effective which can be bad. Triple check your measures. GFO is a bit more forgiving.

Water changes are going to remove a lot more NO3 than PO4, and IMO you don't have enough to spare. Good luck. Go slow.

i like to keep my phos around .08-.09. the calculator said 6.7 drops of phospahte rx will lower it down to .08 for me. Im going to retest before i dose anything, I drew this line with a sharpie on the top caps so they align. Might do 3 drops to be safe. I usually dont chase numbers. Been feeding my corals a a lot heavier lately, and they have started to take off.

 

[Paulie069]

I tested my phos today and in a week it went from .08-.25ppm. I tested twice with my hanna. Corals are happy sps are growing but im not comfortable with my phos that high. Should i lower it slightly with lanthanum chloride?

My pho’s has been .42 to .54 since I don’t know when as I no longer test water,, I let my tank tell me when things aren’t right and then do 20-30 gal water change,, using nothing but fresh ocean water 100%

 

[ScottB]

i like to keep my phos around .08-.09. the calculator said 6.7 drops of phospahte rx will lower it down to .08 for me. Im going to retest before i dose anything, I drew this line with a sharpie on the top caps so they align. Might do 3 drops to be safe. I usually dont chase numbers. Been feeding my corals a a lot heavier lately, and they have started to take off.

Sounds good. I find my SPS to be happier with "higher" nutrient levels. >10 NO3 and >.08 on PO4. Also don't have to sweat another dino outbreak that way.

 

[Fishko]

Sounds good. I find my SPS to be happier with "higher" nutrient levels. >10 NO3 and >.08 on PO4. Also don't have to sweat another dino outbreak that way.

I recently wanted to get higher nutrient levels and see if it would lead to increased growth. I know a lot of place that do aquaculture keep their nutrients pretty high. I have almost no algae growing on my liferock. Coralline is starting to grow a little faster. but i was a little shocked when i saw my phos that high. Is there any relationship between phosphate levels and nitrate levels. Can a higher nitrate level lower phosphate?

 

[ScottB]

Is there any relationship between phosphate levels and nitrate levels. Can a higher nitrate level lower phosphate?

I can't say I know the science behind any relationship, but I have certainly experienced a quick and considerable drop in PO4 when dosing nitrates to a nitrate deficient system. If you are already low in phosphate, that can be a very bad thing for corals. I always recommend confirming sufficient (say > .05) phosphate before dosing up nitrates from 0.

Beyond that experience (multiple times) I cannot describe the relationship with certainty. I suspect that certain consuming bacteria are limited once nitrate is exhausted. This same bacteria consumes PO4, but not as efficiently, and therefore the colony dies back, allowing PO4 to remain available. Just intuition though.