phosphate high

[jose hernandez]

noticed some of my corals are not happy tested my phosphate and 0.38 nitrates are 25 i have a refugium had it running only 6 hours as it was taking everything out even with me feeding heavy so now i put it to run 24hr a day but phosphates are high the refugium is all im running for nutrient control along with my skimmer did a 30 gallon water change and it didnt even make a dent tank is 200 gallons

 

[Ron Reefman]

Is there a question in there somewhere?

Do another water change. Feed less.

 

[jose hernandez]

Should have been specific Do I need a stronger light for the fuge I’m using a par 38 bulb it was growing the cheato like crazy now it’s Doin nothing bulb is only a couple of months old

 

[Ron Reefman]

Could be, but I doubt it. I'm not sure your phosphate level is really high enough to feed chaeto well. You might try adding some iron as that also encourages algae growth. @Randy Holmes-Farley Holmes Farley has written about this.

 

[Pistondog]

Refugium will use much more nitrates than phosphate.
Phosphate binds to rocks and substrate so water changes not as effective.
Gfo is a good po4 maintenance tool.
Chaeto grows in the ocean, which has very low po4 levels.
Try changing the bulb or get one of these

 

[Cory]

Mine too high five. The most efficient export ive rver tired was a waterfall algae turf scrubber. Always had 0 no3 and po4. Now with a giant skimmer, and 45 gallons full of ulva sea lettuce under 140 watts of red leds, i still cant get po4 down to 0-.03ppm. I may install a waterfall ats again.

 

[jose hernandez]

No space for a turf scrubber nor a reactor these Red Sea cabinet have no space in the sump compartment how about me using no pox or chemipure elite?

 

[Pistondog]

No space for a turf scrubber nor a reactor these Red Sea cabinet have no space in the sump compartment how about me using no pox or chemipure elite?

Maybe some rowaphos in a mesh bag in the sump.
Same or similar to gfo, maybe more efficient.

 

[jose hernandez]

K I’ll try it thnks

 

[Reef.]

Do you use any kind of filter floss/socks?

They remove the waste before it has time to break down, the skimmer and refugium removes the rest.

Just make sure to change it every 2-3 days and it'll help a lot with your nutrient control.

 

[schuby]

Rowaphos is the best GFO there is, IMO. A reactor is most effective, but a mesh bag can give some benefit. Water needs to flow thru and not just around.

@jose hernandez , can you elaborate on your corals not being happy? I've had those levels of phosphate and nitrate and my SPS weren't unhappy.

 

[anthonygf]

Same here, my po4 was as high as 0.65 for a little while till I got it down to 0.1 and did no harm. 75 gallon. I even have a squamosa clam and is still doing well.

 

[Cory]

No space for a turf scrubber nor a reactor these Red Sea cabinet have no space in the sump compartment how about me using no pox or chemipure elite?

Im not a fan of carbon dosing because there is potential for bad bacteria to grow in the slime of corals. But chemipure would be okay. I also liked rowaphos when i used it.

 

[MERKEY]

No space for a turf scrubber nor a reactor these Red Sea cabinet have no space in the sump compartment how about me using no pox or chemipure elite?

Santa Monica makes a great scrubber that floats in your sump.

Maybe still too big for the sump area you have but may be worth a try.

 

[jose hernandez]

Gonna try the rowaphos and see what happens thnks everyone