Phosphate level question

[Don_Jorge]

I’m not sure what else to do for my new tank. I used RODI water tested at 000. Rinsed sand with RODI, used fully cured live gulf rock. I have 4 med snails and a few astreas leaving me with a level of .4 nitrates ATM. What I don’t understand is how a tank that has only seen two puffs of coral feast I gave my cup corals, in which 95% of it was taken in by the tentacles can have a phosphate level of .19 . I added a bag of chemipure blue a few days ago and haven’t really noticed a difference in hair algae, What is my setup missing? I’m running a nano skimmer and I even have a desktop UV I got today as well.tanks been running about 3 weeks

 

[homer1475]

Pics of tank?

It's a reef tank, some algae is a good thing.

 

[Don_Jorge]

.

 

[MikeandDee]

Toothbrush as much as you can off of the rock... also remember there is a margin of error in every test kit out there. Even with the best intentions and top of the line equipment, we can never duplicate their natural habitat! Keep numbers close to the “range” and try not to chase number, you will lose sleep. Trust me I know!

 

[DeniableArc]

.

That looks like bryopsis unfortunately. It’s one of the toughest algae out there. Fluconazole worked well for me.

 

[anthonygf]

What is your magnesium level? It has been proven that high mag levels limits algae growth. Someone on this forum did this on their tanks that had algae problems, they raised mag to 1500 and algae was almost eliminated. Some people may say this is hogwash but I run my mag close to 1500, around 1330 for several years and now 1440. I do see less algae growth now, but I never really ever had an algae problem maybe because I run my mag high. I have a clam that has been growing for over a year now as well as mixed corals, I have not seen any problems with high mag levels.

 

[Mark Gray]

I’m not sure what else to do for my new tank. I used RODI water tested at 000. Rinsed sand with RODI, used fully cured live gulf rock. I have 4 med snails and a few astreas leaving me with a level of .4 nitrates ATM. What I don’t understand is how a tank that has only seen two puffs of coral feast I gave my cup corals, in which 95% of it was taken in by the tentacles can have a phosphate level of .19 . I added a bag of chemipure blue a few days ago and haven’t really noticed a difference in hair algae, What is my setup missing? I’m running a nano skimmer and I even have a desktop UV I got today as well.tanks been running about 3 weeks

How big is your tank? if you have more than about 75 gallons you will spend a fortune on GFO products. Lanthanum Chloride, is much cheaper and works very well but go slow read up on it first.

 

[anthonygf]

Lanthanum Chloride, Like Mark has said this works well. Don't follow directions, use half the recommended dose. I followed the directions closely and dosed no more than was directed and my po4 dropped to zero almost overnight. Go slow, po4 at 0.19 is not that bad.
Edit. And test daily if you can when dosing this stuff.

 

[MERKEY]

With your tank running only 3 weeks I would manually remove any algea and let your tank mature to its own balance.

Phos at .19 is nothing for a new tank.

Get your export situation set up and let things get balanced.

LC or phosgaurd are good alternatives if you can't wait as they mainly focus on phos.

 

[anthonygf]

Good one Merkey!

 

[Don_Jorge]

How big is your tank? if you have more than about 75 gallons you will spend a fortune on GFO products. Lanthanum Chloride, is much cheaper and works very well but go slow read up on it first.

its a 40 gallon, im gonna give it a week to see if the snails finish off whats left

 

[anthonygf]

its a 40 gallon, im gonna give it a week to see if the snails finish off whats left

Yes, give it some time before you start adding chemicals. So do you test for Magnesium? If so what are the results?

 

[Don_Jorge]

Yes, give it some time before you start adding chemicals. So do you test for Magnesium? If so what are the results?

I don’t, I just assume it’s aligned with calcium and alk with 15% weekly water changes

 

[boeingn747]

I’m not sure what else to do for my new tank. I used RODI water tested at 000. Rinsed sand with RODI, used fully cured live gulf rock. I have 4 med snails and a few astreas leaving me with a level of .4 nitrates ATM. What I don’t understand is how a tank that has only seen two puffs of coral feast I gave my cup corals, in which 95% of it was taken in by the tentacles can have a phosphate level of .19 . I added a bag of chemipure blue a few days ago and haven’t really noticed a difference in hair algae, What is my setup missing? I’m running a nano skimmer and I even have a desktop UV I got today as well.tanks been running about 3 weeks

If you want to keep your phosphates low or zero, then you must run gfo. If not then you better plan on not feeding and doing daily water changes daily. You will go crazy trying to keep your phosphates low and then realize that you should've just pulled the plug on a gfo reactor. Brs sells a good one for like $65 with a pump. Buy the good high quality gfo too. It's more spendy but lasts longer, you use less, and it performs better. It will last about 4-8 weeks depending on how long your run it for each day. Best thing to do is set it up to a timer and run it for a couple few hrs each day until you figure out how long is necessary to maintain the phos level that you want. If you decide to run it 24-7 becarful to maintain some level of nutrients or you will run the risk of getting dinos. Then you are really up a creak.

 

[Reef.]

If you want to keep your phosphates low or zero, then you must run gfo. If not then you better plan on not feeding and doing daily water changes daily. You will go crazy trying to keep your phosphates low and then realize that you should've just pulled the plug on a gfo reactor. Brs sells a good one for like $65 with a pump. Buy the good high quality gfo too. It's more spendy but lasts longer, you use less, and it performs better. It will last about 4-8 weeks depending on how long your run it for each day. Best thing to do is set it up to a timer and run it for a couple few hrs each day until you figure out how long is necessary to maintain the phos level that you want. If you decide to run it 24-7 becarful to maintain some level of nutrients or you will run the risk of getting dinos. Then you are really up a creak.

sorry but that is not true, many tanks run with low PO4 without using GFO.

 

[anthonygf]

I don’t, I just assume it’s aligned with calcium and alk with 15% weekly water changes

I wouldn't chance it. You should test it.

 

[Don_Jorge]

That looks like bryopsis unfortunately. It’s one of the toughest algae out there. Fluconazole worked well for me.

the clean up crew go it

 

[DarkReefer]

I'm currently in the position of trying to get my Nitrates and Phosphates down.
My Phos was 0.25 when testing on the weekend due to what I believe was over feeding with my auto feeder and my skimmer not skimming correctly, tank has been up a bit over 3 months.

Whilst I'm working on my Nitrates first as was directed by my LFS, I'm using Nitraphos Minus initially. However I have been advised it may not do a whole lot to my phosphate levels and to monitor daily, if I've not seen much of a drop in my phosphates they told me to use Rowaphos as this will target the phosphate directly. I'm not sure how good/bad this is generally but it's what I've been advised to use so it might help you also?

 

[Reef.]

Correct on the Rowa, take it slow as it's strong stuff.

what lvl is your nitrates?

Depending on the lvl, and also with it being a new tank, I would probably have recommend water changes for the nitrates, dosing so early is not the way I would have went.

 

[DarkReefer]

Correct on the Rowa, take it slow as it's strong stuff.

what lvl is your nitrates?

Depending on the lvl, and also with it being a new tank, Imwould probably have recommend water changes for the nitrates, dosing so early is not the way AI would have went.

My Level or the OP's?

My Nitrates were at about 40ppm.