Phospates, no growth

[ruggirello2]

I have high phospates, like .30 ppm. My sps doesn't seem to grow and a lot of them are green, and they are not supposed to be. My question is, is that from the phosphates?

 

[subielover]

Very well could be, I would start running some gfo in a reactor.

 

[ruggirello2]

I did. How long does it take to lower the phosphate without killing my corals.

 

[surfjeepzx]

You'll need to perfom a huge water change to make a dent in the levels you have. Then run GFO continuously. Yes phosphates will do everything you are noticing and more if left at high levels.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I have been running GFO (HC) since day 1 and never had a trace of phosphates.......****** why did you make me say that *knocking on wood*

 

[litenyaup]

i had a prob with phosphates and started using gfo with a reactor......all gone and coral is thriving!! do 10% water change a week and change the media every month for the first few months....thats what i did and no problems since!!!

 

[reeferJ]

Tagging along if you guys dont mind, but can one achieve the same level of phosphate control with a huge load of macroalgea, or is a GFO reactor almost 100% needed? Im sure this has been debated a thousand times, but it seems more and more people are in favor of the GFO.

 

[schminksbro]

With PO4 that high I would run small amounts of GFO and change it every day or 2. It will become exhausted very quickly. Once you levels are more in a normal range you can run larger amounts and change much less often. It is important that you don't bring phosphate levels down too quickly as this can harm your corals.

 

[stedfast82]

+1 schminksbro

 

[Murfman]

another option, if you have the room is a turf algae scrubber. They will lower the phosphate and nitrates naturally.