phosphate binding to skeleton / carbon dosing for polyps

[GSnake]

Hi,

I just finished watching - Lou Ekus' speech on chemistry.

I have two questions now
1. My tank was full of phosphates before adding gfo (just bought it a few weeks ago), and is/was probably bound to the rock pretty well too for a good part of the past year. I have had sps for the past few months with little to no growth, and im expecting a change now that my phosphates are in check, (as with the other parameters). However the video emphasized that phosphates already bound to skeletal structure will block further growth. are all my sps doomed to not grow, or can the carbonate take place of phosphates in correct (low phosphate) water parameters. maybe they can leach like rock would back into the water column?

2. Lou explains that coral polyps need Phosphates, but are not good at acquiring them from free floating molecules in the water column, unless they are collected through bacteria being eaten. I was just wondering how badly is this mechanism they have for collecting Phosphates through water, maybe this is the actual cause of my slow/no growth sps skeletons - cause the polyps are struggling. or it could be both.. I am considering some sort of bio pellets/ nopox/ vinegar vodka dosing now.. suggestions?

 

[John Robbins]

I cant give you a good response for #1 but here are my thoughts on #2.
You can increase your bacterial load in a number of ways. You can do a biopellet reactor; the drawback to this method is it is easy to wind up with too low of a nutrient level.

Another method is something like a bio-reactor with media in it that promotes aerobic bacteria growth. I have had good results with this method. I have experienced a bioreactor lowering the nutrients to a reasonable level without it getting too low. Here is an example of what I am referring to:
https://www.bashsea.com/products/standard-series/bio-reactor
There are probably other brands of a similar device, this is just one I have had good result with.

You can also add more rock or other porous material like the manufactured balls/bricks of ceramic ( i may be wrong as to what material they are all made of) into your system as a surface for bacteria.

There are also people who have had good results with an undisturbed deep sand bed.

Ultimately, i think you are going to have to just pick a method and try it. If it helps, great. If it does not, then try another.

I hope this helps some.

Cheers!