Phosphate HELP, Checked with a Hanna P04 meter

[Alabamareef]

Checking my tank I have a phosphate reading around 0.05. To my understanding 0.00 is perfect and 0.05 is on the high side of perfect. Just bought a Hanna p04 meter so I feel my results are accurate. Checked my RODI water and it has a 0.04 reading although my TDS meter reads 0 in and 0 out. I contacted the company I got the 6 stage system from and they said this is normal. All cartridges are new except the RO membrane. They said don't change it because this is not an out of the normal range.

Is this normal to have RODI with a phosphate of 0.04? Should I change my RO membrane, it's around 3 years old?

 

[Paul C.]

Following... But, my p04 is around .1 - .12 I run GFo / Carbon in a BRS reactor. I wont tell u what it was before i started using the reactor. To acheive 0.0 i feel is not the norm. Doesnt happen in the ocean. I think ur fine, but would love to hear what others say.

 

[guichi1210]

Agree with Paul C. Absolute 0.00 PO4is probably too clean. Everytime my tank gets there I turn off my GFO reactor for a day or two since my corals are not as happy. However, it never ocurred to me to check my RO water for posphate.I assumed it would be zero but I'll start checking now.

 

[Alabamareef]

I understand with the new testing meters, Hanna, the results are carried out the the hundredths, or ppb and this is for me easier to read than API or Salifert (which gives me a 0 reading). Just want to know if my explications are unrealistic. Guess if I"ve got p04 in my tank I want it there because I"m feeding my tank a lot. Got a BioPellet reactor on the way just for that reason.

 

[jedidad]

I think you may have a problem with your tds meter. There's no way you have 0 tds on the inlet side of the rodi filter. You should have a high reading in and 0 out.

 

[Alabamareef]

I think you may have a problem with your tds meter. There's no way you have 0 tds on the inlet side of the rodi filter. You should have a high reading in and 0 out.

I do have a reading on the in side

 

[Paul C.]

Just another learning curve for me... Didnt realize i had a high level until i had a algea out break. I wanted 0.0 vs the .5 i was showing... SLOWLY i bought it down, and everything looks happy.. Just remember, every suggested number someone gives you, is what their tank likes.. NOT ur tank.... Go slow, and see what looks good in ur water world. For me .1-.15 works.....To get under .1 i'd have to start cutting back on feedings.. I've got too much invested in my chalices, to "starve" them.. Good luck

 

[Alabamareef]

:wink:Just replaced my RO membrane and got my answer,

 

[Alabamareef]

To me a 0.10 reading is high. Acceptable is a 0.00-0.05. Although a 0.10 your corals should be able to tolerate but at this level I'm sure your going to get some form of algae. Big differance between 0.10 and 0.05.

 

[Alabamareef]

For my DT o want around 0.00-0.03.

 

[Paul C.]

But again, these are numbers that are used by the industry are in general. These numbers make us think our tank is dirty... 0-0.3 u might start losing zoas / palys because its too clean. Like i said earlier, u really need to monitor and see what works best for your own water world. U say that a .1 reading is too high, what in your tank looks stressed bc of the high reading? I can tell you that, my tank, chalice and play/zoa is fine at a .12 reading. I change my media when the reading slips to 1.5-.2.. Things still look fine even at that reading. You and i could set up the same exact tank, could have the same readings, and things could look completely different.. Ur tank may like 8.2 ph and mine might like 8.5... Dont get stuck thinking u gotta have 0.0 phosphates..or the headaches its gunna cause to try to achieve that...

 

[Sahin]

In my experience, 0.02ppm to about 0.05ppm is just fine. Lower than 0.02ppm and some SPS tend to become pale. Yes, in the reefs the phosphate and nitrate levels are so much lower, but consider that there is so much planktonic life in the ocean to feed the SPS. You see, too many people talk about the reefs being so low in nutrients, but what they fail to appreciate is that there is an abundance of food for the corals. So my point is that we need keep our phosphate and nitrate levels higher in our tanks compared to the natural reefs because our tanks do not simply do not have enough food for our corals.

If your tank has some hair algae then utilise grazers. Most reefs have plenty of algae, its simply grazed constantly. Notice that a large number of Zeovit tanks have pale corals. The nutrients are stripped clean in those tanks and that is why you need to dose all those potions.

Here is a couple of useful articles that will explain my points:
Small polyps do capture zooplankton

How corals feed

 

[Zack]

I like what your saying sahin! Makes perfect sense, I'm about to go read the articles now....

Sent from my VS950 4G using Forum Runner

 

[LILBUDDHA]

Don't forget about the variance of +- .04 .
I always read 0 on my 713 green egg. Still doesn't mean there isn't some in there .As a matter of fact. I have been without a skimmer for almost a month.
I do use carbon n a lil gfo in a media bag (passive flow ) .Carbon dosing . I am SPS dominant but my acans or zoo's don't appear to be hurting at all .
My ro di is a 7 stage unit .
I am sure if I had chalices like Paul C . I would be feeding my tank like crazy .
I just checked last night .

 

[Alabamareef]

But again, these are numbers that are used by the industry are in general. These numbers make us think our tank is dirty... 0-0.3 u might start losing zoas / palys because its too clean. Like i said earlier, u really need to monitor and see what works best for your own water world. U say that a .1 reading is too high, what in your tank looks stressed bc of the high reading? I can tell you that, my tank, chalice and play/zoa is fine at a .12 reading. I change my media when the reading slips to 1.5-.2.. Things still look fine even at that reading. You and i could set up the same exact tank, could have the same readings, and things could look completely different.. Ur tank may like 8.2 ph and mine might like 8.5... Dont get stuck thinking u gotta have 0.0 phosphates..or the headaches its gunna cause to try to achieve that...

Please don't think I'm totally stuck on an exact number. I totally look at my tank and adjust accordingly. For this purpose a 0.12 reading was high and I was seeing a lot of algae growth that has been corrected with my po4 reading at 0.05.

 

[Alabamareef]

In my experience, 0.02ppm to about 0.05ppm is just fine. Lower than 0.02ppm and some SPS tend to become pale. Yes, in the reefs the phosphate and nitrate levels are so much lower, but consider that there is so much planktonic life in the ocean to feed the SPS. You see, too many people talk about the reefs being so low in nutrients, but what they fail to appreciate is that there is an abundance of food for the corals. So my point is that we need keep our phosphate and nitrate levels higher in our tanks compared to the natural reefs because our tanks do not simply do not have enough food for our corals.

If your tank has some hair algae then utilise grazers. Most reefs have plenty of algae, its simply grazed constantly. Notice that a large number of Zeovit tanks have pale corals. The nutrients are stripped clean in those tanks and that is why you need to dose all those potions.

Here is a couple of useful articles that will explain my points:
Small polyps do capture zooplankton

How corals feed

For this reason I have a biopellet reactor on the way. I want to feed my tank and keep everything under control.

 

[Sahin]

You probably have done this already, but do read a few solid carbon dosing threads. Many people drive nutrients too low. And use too much of the stuff. Use less than half the recommenced amount. Watch out for Cyanno. AS this can creep up with carbon dosing. Also note that the solid carbon works very effectively at reducing nitrates, but you may need to use some GFO to keep phosphate at an appropriate level.

 

[Alabamareef]

You probably have done this already, but do read a few solid carbon dosing threads. Many people drive nutrients too low. And use too much of the stuff. Use less than half the recommenced amount. Watch out for Cyanno. AS this can creep up with carbon dosing. Also note that the solid carbon works very effectively at reducing nitrates, but you may need to use some GFO to keep phosphate at an appropriate level.

Yes thanks. This is a concern. I've read several threads on biopelets. My system is clean but I'm wanting to feel lots and keep the nessuience algae in check. That's my goal.