Phosphate high

[Aqua Man]

seriously higher than the salifert suggests, I think before I panic and start dumping all sorts in the tank I’m going to make up some fresh saltwater and test that to get a reading to go from

Sounds like a good plan. With that high of a reading, should be able to see a slight color change in the vial. Light blue.

 

[Jasongtr]

Sounds like a good plan. With that high of a reading, should be able to see a slight color change in the vial. Light blue.

Yes it was a bit of a blue tint, what’s weird is I’ve had a few very tiny green algae spots but nothing else

 

[Aqua Man]

Yes it was a bit of a blue tint, what’s weird is I’ve had a few very tiny green algae spots but nothing else

The green spots could also be coralline starting.

 

[jabberwock]

Yes it was a bit of a blue tint, what’s weird is I’ve had a few very tiny green algae spots but nothing else

Hang on to your hat, here comes the algae. Not coralline at this stage. That dry rock is painful when it comes to algae.

How are your Nitrate levels? Don't dump stuff in your tank. Do water changes to export nutrients.

 

[Jasongtr]

Hang on to your hat, here comes the algae. Not coralline at this stage. That dry rock is painful when it comes to algae.

How are your Nitrate levels? Don't dump stuff in your tank. Do water changes to export nutrients.

Nitrate is 25

 

[Aqua Man]

Hang on to your hat, here comes the algae. Not coralline at this stage. That dry rock is painful when it comes to algae.

Not necessarily. I have started 5 tanks in the last few years, all with dry rock. Green spots were coralline. The algae came around year 2 or so later!

 

[Jasongtr]

Not necessarily. I have started 5 tanks in the last few years, all with dry rock. Green spots were coralline. The algae came around year 2 or so later!

I have no idea as it’s my first tank but this is what it looks like

 

[Aqua Man]

I have no idea as it’s my first tank but this is what it looks like

Looks a like a bit of both to me. Algae looks fuzzy when looking at it just right. Coralline starts in spots and grows circular and spreads outwards. Either way, I saw an urchin and some snails that will keep it from getting too hairy!!

 

[Jasongtr]

Looks a like a bit of both to me. Algae looks fuzzy when looking at it just right. Coralline starts in spots and grows circular and spreads outwards. Either way, I saw an urchin and some snails that will keep it from getting too hairy!!

our snails don’t seem to last too long, the urchin however is always on the scavenge

 

[Jasongtr]

Phosphate is getting out of control, I tested it with the hanna yesterday and it was 1.89! I even used a salifert kit to see if it really was that high - it was ..,.

So today I’ve done a 50% water change, cleaned the canister filter out and rinsed the media out, changed the filter floss, retested a few hours after that water change was done and it’s 1.1 - so still really high but better.
I bought a bottle of brightwell phosphate E, the directions state to dose it in a 5/10 micron filter sock - we don’t have filter socks so, where should I put it?