Phosphate Levels with Carbon Dosing

[rmcrom]

I just started carbon dosing with NP-Bacto-Balance. I am dosing 0.5ml into 425 l system. When I started dosing I had 0.03ppm P04 and 7.4ppm NO3. Today is my 2nd day dosing and my PO4 level is unmeasurable. Is it normal for P04 to drop to unmeasurable levels on carbon dosing? Should I dose PO4 back up to 0.03ppm?

 

[Pistondog]

I think 0.03 is the error on best hobby test kits.
So 0.03 = 0.
I would not carbon dose at those nutrient levels.
What are youhoping to achieve?

 

[Miami Reef]

High nitrates and very low phosphates <0.03ppm is a dangerous combo to have based on this study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X17301601

 

[rmcrom]

I think 0.03 is the error on best hobby test kits.
So 0.03 = 0.
I would not carbon dose at those nutrient levels.
What are youhoping to achieve?

I want to lower my nitrate and try to improve my coral colors.

 

[Pistondog]

Try some reef roids to raise phosphates

 

[Miami Reef]

I want to lower my nitrate and try to improve my coral colors.

Take a look at @Alfie ’s build thread https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-reef-that-shouldnt-be-150g-sps-dom.978739/#post-11278494

He has nitrates over 75ppm and phosphates at 0.6ppm.

He gets amazing colors because of strong lighting and high flow. We should focus on lighting prior to nutrients IMO.

 

[rmcrom]

His corals do look very nice. I have 4 XR15 pro on a 4ft. I have around 100 par on the sand and 160 par on the top of my rocks. My schedule intensity is only 60% so I have room to turn up if needed. I tried not to go too bright because I keep having hair algae start growing.

 

[Pod_01]

I just started carbon dosing with NP-Bacto-Balance. I am dosing 0.5ml into 425 l system. When I started dosing I had 0.03ppm P04 and 7.4ppm NO3. Today is my 2nd day dosing and my PO4 level is unmeasurable. Is it normal for P04 to drop to unmeasurable levels on carbon dosing? Should I dose PO4 back up to 0.03ppm?

If you want to carbon dose TM products here is useful chart to decide what to use:

TM products are dosed based on PO4 values, and the idea is to feed corals, secondary benefits is NO3 reduction.
Since you are in the low range you should use PlusNP.
Good luck.