Phosphate levels

[bellasdad0911]

So after battling extremely low phosphates 0.00 and feeding like crazy I couldn't get the number to go up. So I used some flourish phosphorus 20ml for 160 gallon total volume. Reasons why my forest fire digi began to crash and my cap did as well. So 1 dose and this is where is am at. Good? Leave it for a mixed sps? Lower or higher?

 

[bif24701]

I've added Seachem Phosphorus when I need it. It solved my issues right away. Feeding huge amounts certainly is not the way to go when your system has persistence staying at actual zero PO4. I've not had a problem since, only took 2-3 small doses.

 

[Ocelaris]

I'm in a similar position, my red sea phosphate kit has read zero for a very long time, but everything is growing well. Do you mind me asking why you went with the low range versus the ultra low range?

 

[bellasdad0911]

I'm in a similar position, my red sea phosphate kit has read zero for a very long time, but everything is growing well. Do you mind me asking why you went with the low range versus the ultra low range?

Well, honest answer... I screwed up lol. I know it's + or - .04

That said and what I have what is the best number for growth for a mixed sps dominant reef?

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Well, honest answer... I screwed up lol. I know it's + or - .04

That said and what I have what is the best number for growth for a mixed sps dominant reef?

I don't think there is a "best", people have great success with wildly varied numbers. I'd stick with what you have, watch out for problems, and see if you get the results you want.

 

[bellasdad0911]

I don't think there is a "best", people have great success with wildly varied numbers. I'd stick with what you have, watch out for problems, and see if you get the results you want.

Well for now I need my forest fire digi to bounce back. All else is well, except for that. Sometimes being to critical is worse than letting nature be nature.

 

[Mattrg02]

Don't take it any higher, let it fall a tad and then maintain.

 

[CoralNerd]

What's your n03 at?

 

[TbyZ]

Well for now I need my forest fire digi to bounce back. All else is well, except for that. Sometimes being to critical is worse than letting nature be nature.

You may find iy has no effect at all?

So after battling extremely low phosphates 0.00 and feeding like crazy I couldn't get the number to go up. So I used some flourish phosphorus 20ml for 160 gallon total volume. Reasons why my forest fire digi began to crash and my cap did as well. So 1 dose and this is where is am at. Good? Leave it for a mixed sps? Lower or higher?

It may have nothing to do with the po4 level at all?

Then again, if you maintain a hi temperature along with high par, it may, according to some research i read recently.

Keep us informed.

 

[Ocelaris]

The rule of thumb is under 0.1 for phosphates and under 20 for nitrates. I've gotten along fine with only dosing nitrates and feeding heavy. But as long as your algae is under control it's probably fine near those parameters. The real problem is when they both register zero for long periods of time for me.

But I'm looking to get the Hanna checker to see if I really do have zero phosphates. I have heard that they may get used up during the day, and I always test at night, not sure if that's accurate though.

 

[bellasdad0911]

The rule of thumb is under 0.1 for phosphates and under 20 for nitrates. I've gotten along fine with only dosing nitrates and feeding heavy. But as long as your algae is under control it's probably fine near those parameters. The real problem is when they both register zero for long periods of time for me.

But I'm looking to get the Hanna checker to see if I really do have zero phosphates. I have heard that they may get used up during the day, and I always test at night, not sure if that's accurate though.

Here are the parameters.


Salinity 1.025

Alk9-10 depending on time of day but stable

Calcium 460

Mag 1350

Nitrates always zero ( yes this is an issue too ) I dose stump grinder to assist.

Phosphates were always zero I have no algae other than some that shows up on my substrate during the day and disappears at nite. ( urchin is a killer clean up crew for my overflows )

I went to a reef shop in town 4 weeks ago and they told me my phosphates were high. Turns out the idiot used a expired text kit, so I dosed caribsea phosbuster x2 and that's when my digi and cap went to hell therefore the phosphate truly was wiped out.

So when we say 0.1 do you mean .01 on my Hanna meter or 0.10 ?

FYI this is a 120 gallon system with a 30 gallon sump aquamaxx cones 2 skimmer running dual hydra 52 HD lights.

 

[bif24701]

I don't think there is a "best", people have great success with wildly varied numbers. I'd stick with what you have, watch out for problems, and see if you get the results you want.

I find that anything above .03 is ok for my system. It's usually between .04-.09. My system is High PAR, high flow, heavy feeding, and heavy export.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Here are the parameters.


Salinity 1.025

Alk9-10 depending on time of day but stable

Calcium 460

Mag 1350

Nitrates always zero ( yes this is an issue too ) I dose stump grinder to assist.

Phosphates were always zero I have no algae other than some that shows up on my substrate during the day and disappears at nite. ( urchin is a killer clean up crew for my overflows )

I went to a reef shop in town 4 weeks ago and they told me my phosphates were high. Turns out the idiot used a expired text kit, so I dosed caribsea phosbuster x2 and that's when my digi and cap went to hell therefore the phosphate truly was wiped out.

So when we say 0.1 do you mean .01 on my Hanna meter or 0.10 ?

A true .1, so you're .09 is still "good"

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I find that anything above .03 is ok for my system. It's usually between .04-.09. My system is High PAR, high flow, heavy feeding, and heavy export.

I was dealing with with bleaching from what I believed to be low nutrients. I turned my lights way down to help prevent further bleaching and all of my growth pretty much stagnated. I'm finally getting my numbers up, am slowly increasing my lighting, and colors and growth are finally starting to come back! I'm currently sitting around 5-10 NO3 and .01-.02 PO4 (trying to get this up naturally through more fish and heavier feeding). I'd love to get to the point that I can blast my tank (SPS dominant) and keep everything happy at the same time.

 

[bif24701]

I was dealing with with bleaching from what I believed to be low nutrients. I turned my lights way down to help prevent further bleaching and all of my growth pretty much stagnated. I'm finally getting my numbers up, am slowly increasing my lighting, and colors and growth are finally starting to come back! I'm currently sitting around 5-10 NO3 and .01-.02 PO4 (trying to get this up naturally through more fish and heavier feeding). I'd love to get to the point that I can blast my tank (SPS dominant) and keep everything happy at the same time.

It just takes time and work. Keep at it and will happen.

 

[bellasdad0911]

Things have been looking better since I added phosphate. I can see the difference in my zoanthids and my blue acros. Red planet is fuzzy and red and cap is coming back. I also have been feeding heavy since I added a bonded pair of blue jaw triggers which the new issue is my hippo is aggressive towards my male but not the female. Hopefully they work it out.

 

[bellasdad0911]

Tested again today after some serious feeding and it dropped to .06 which I was shocked since I removed all the gfo and been feeding heavy. I added 10 ml more half of what a normal
Dose is. Seems like everything is way happier now!

 

[Hella_Reef]

The rule of thumb is under 0.1 for phosphates and under 20 for nitrates. I've gotten along fine with only dosing nitrates and feeding heavy. But as long as your algae is under control it's probably fine near those parameters. The real problem is when they both register zero for long periods of time for me.

But I'm looking to get the Hanna checker to see if I really do have zero phosphates. I have heard that they may get used up during the day, and I always test at night, not sure if that's accurate though.

Make sure to buy the phosphorus hanna checker instead of phosphate for lower more accurate readings

 

[Ocelaris]

Yeah, I just ordered the ultra low phosphorus checker. Hopefully I start to get some clarity as phosphates have been such a mystery.

It seems like I'm always bouncing around from pale colors to cyano outbreaks. Somewhere in between there has to be some stability.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Yeah, I just ordered the ultra low phosphorus checker. Hopefully I start to get some clarity as phosphates have been such a mystery.

It seems like I'm always bouncing around from pale colors to cyano outbreaks. Somewhere in between there has to be some stability.

I had to just let the cyano ride for a bit. Kept things as clean as possible with manual removal, but after a while things will even out and the nuisance algae subsides.