Phosphate and nitrate

[Puppy]

90 gallon tank with fluval fx4 canister filter. Hob skimmer and a icecap 1k gyre. Tank been up for approximately 5 months. Had a lot of hair algae, so I used reef flux and it helped. My main concern now is I’ve got my nitrate down to 12 from 20+ but still no phosphate detected. Small zoas colony looks happier with nitrate lower. I’m using nopox to lower that. Should i just leave alone and stop chasing numbers? I have two acan frags that could be doin better. I’m unsure if i should keep dosing the nopox. Im trying to research but im really confused. I thought at least a trace amount of phosphate was good. Any and all advice would help. And i can handle smarty comments also, so feel free.

 

[ScottR]

90 gallon tank with fluval fx4 canister filter. Hob skimmer and a icecap 1k gyre. Tank been up for approximately 5 months. Had a lot of hair algae, so I used reef flux and it helped. My main concern now is I’ve got my nitrate down to 12 from 20+ but still no phosphate detected. Small zoas colony looks happier with nitrate lower. I’m using nopox to lower that. Should i just leave alone and stop chasing numbers? I have two acan frags that could be doin better. I’m unsure if i should keep dosing the nopox. Im trying to research but im really confused. I thought at least a trace amount of phosphate was good. Any and all advice would help. And i can handle smarty comments also, so feel free.

Even though you’re testing zero for phosphates, you could still have. Algae and corals may be eating them up before you can detect them.

 

[Puppy]

So i guess my next question is, is that ok? I’m manually removing some algae that’s left. But I’m still doing nopox in morning. Just unsure if i should keep using it. There’s really not much algae left. I’ve been using a turkey baster to clean off the rocks.

 

[ScottR]

So i guess my next question is, is that ok? I’m manually removing some algae that’s left. But I’m still doing nopox in morning. Just unsure if i should keep using it. There’s really not much algae left. I’ve been using a turkey baster to clean off the rocks.

You can stop of course. NOPOX is just food for the bacteria to help feed them. Those bacteria in turn help control your nutrients. Just continue to monitor.