Phosphate question

jesspal · Mar 3, 2021

Good morning,

I set up my current tank in Sept. It is cruising along and looking good but my phosphates using the Hanna ULR checker are showing levels at 0.6 ppm. This is high according to the research I have performed but the tank is doing quite well. Things are growing well, little to no algae. The tank is a mixture of softies and LPS with a few easier SPS like birds nest and stylo's. I'm new to the Hanna checker's and wasn't sure if I'm doing something or the tank has just become accustom to phosphates at this level. I started with reef life dry rock and a bag of live sand.

Temp: 78.8
PH: 8.2
Salinity: 35 on refractometer
Alkalinity: 8.6
Phosphates: 0.6
Nitrate: hard to tell using Hanna checker
Mag and Calcium are within acceptable range.

Thanks and any input is appreciated.

ReefRusty · Mar 3, 2021

Definitely 0.6? Not 0.06? I know anything above 0.1 is not ideal.. corals/fish healthy??

Aqua Man · Mar 3, 2021

Which model is it? They can be finicky sometimes. How long have you been tracking po4?

Your tank looks great!

jesspal · Mar 3, 2021

It's the HI774 ULR checker, it's seems weird but idk.

I was thinking perhaps that since it's the ULR model I am not accurately comparing.

When it gives me the read out it says 0.6 ppm on the device.

guylaga · Mar 3, 2021

It took me awhile to get it right, but make sure your doing the 2 minute sample mix and then the 3 minute count down.

Can you tell us Nitrates?

If your tank looks good, and no nuisance algae problems I would not worry to much.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 3, 2021

jesspal said:
Good morning,

I set up my current tank in Sept. It is cruising along and looking good but my phosphates using the Hanna ULR checker are showing levels at 0.6 ppm. This is high according to the research I have performed but the tank is doing quite well.

it is not necessarily high compared to some fabulous aquariums:

Skeptical Reefkeeping 9: Test Kits, Chasing Numbers and Phosphate

By Rich Ross and Chris Jury There are many standard parameters in the reefkeeping world that aquarists strive to match in their home reefs – water quality,

reefs.com

Rich’s 150 gallon display, on a 300 gallon system, is running a phosphate level of 1.24 ppm, a level at 24.8 times higher than the often recommended .05 ppm. Photo by Richard Ross.

Edudek · Mar 3, 2021

Are you sure it’s not the phosphorus checker? My tank is currently at 1 on that which breaks down to .003

Edudek · Mar 3, 2021

I wouldn’t worry to much into it. You corals look great if you start seeing some color loss or corals un happy you might wanna do a water change.

reefer7891 · Mar 3, 2021

Agreed your tank looks great. Was going to say I was running .25 phosphate according to the API test. I also had 0 nitrates and had a massive algae bloom. When I let the nitrate rise to 5ppm (secret is being lazy) the phosphate dropped to undetectable and the algae began dying off and coralline exploding. Just my experience.

jesspal · Mar 3, 2021

I'll keep doing water changes and feeding as I do. I use LRS reef frenzy, usually a piece about the size of 1/2" square. I was using reef roids and two little fishes goniopora mix a couple times a week mixed but has since slowed down feeding this to once a month.

mdb_talon · Mar 3, 2021

I would not worry one bit. Your tank looks amazing and you say not having issues with algae, etc. Dont fix what is not broken.

jarviz · Mar 3, 2021

The Hannah checks can be a super finicky. One thing i learned is try to use super clean water for most consistent results. I wasted so many reagant packs trying to figure out why my numbers were all over the place. So i basically try not test for at least a few hours after any water changes or feedings. Sometimes i'll have random particles in the water, dust, dog hair, etc. that can really throw off readings.

jesspal · Mar 3, 2021

jarviz said:
The Hannah checks can be a super finicky. One thing i learned is try to use super clean water for most consistent results. I wasted so many reagant packs trying to figure out why my numbers were all over the place. So i basically try not test for at least a few hours after any water changes or feedings. Sometimes i'll have random particles in the water, dust, dog hair, etc. that can really throw off readings.

I was using water from the back chamber of the tank, also after I did a water change and I bet that alters results for sure. I'll check on the weekends that I work and feed far less due to time constraints.