Phosphates .03ppm - Should I still use Remover? Rowa/Phosban/Gfo?

[tutmatt3]

Hey guys,

So my phosphate levels have always been real low, 10ppb (.03ppm) w/ Hanna ULR reader.
Thing is, I still have this brown sediment which appears to slowly be going away (unsure if snails are eating it, or if Dr Tims Waste Away is starting to do it's thing)

Anyway, that sediment + STN on acros leaves me unsure if I need to use a phos remover. Never used one before.

Only hair algae appears on the lip of my HOB outlets - closest to the lights
Sand appears clean. Glass gets light algae every ~2 days or so.

Looking forward to hearing your input!

-What sediment looks like:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brown-sediment-settled-detrius.312096/

 

[Cory]

Id use rowaphos. Even though its .03 now it will continue to climb. Unless you got something to lower it, its unlikely the tanks livestock keep up with the increase. But algae will. Then it will say 0.0 and youll wonder why its zero. The algae got it. So let gfo get it instead of algae.

 

[tutmatt3]

Id use rowaphos. Even though its .03 now it will continue to climb. Unless you got something to lower it, its unlikely the tanks livestock keep up with the increase. But algae will. Then it will say 0.0 and youll wonder why its zero. The algae got it. So let gfo get it instead of algae.

Well it's been like this for quite a bit. Tank is ~7 months now, but I've never seen it over .04 once

My fear was using Rowaphos, then it hitting 0.0, and now I'm out of phos, you know...
But then again I'd find it hard to believe that everyone needs to use it, but for some odd reason I don't

Feeding is 1x cube a day for 6x fish total
Oyster Feast 1-2 a week for coral

 

[Cory]

Well it's been like this for quite a bit. Tank is ~7 months now, but I've never seen it over .04 once

My fear was using Rowaphos, then it hitting 0.0, and now I'm out of phos, you know...
But then again I'd find it hard to believe that everyone needs to use it, but for some odd reason I don't

Feeding is 1x cube a day for 6x fish total
Oyster Feast 1-2 a week for coral

Hows the growth of calcifying things? Id use it if its slow.

 

[tutmatt3]

Hows the growth of calcifying things? Id use it if its slow.

Slowwwww
I'll give it a shot then!

 

[Cory]

Slowwwww
I'll give it a shot then!

Lol. Yeah once corraline takes off, po4 is low enough imo. Rowaphos fwiw worked best for me.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Slowwwww
I'll give it a shot then!

Aren't you using chemipure already?

 

[tutmatt3]

Lol. Yeah once corraline takes off, po4 is low enough imo. Rowaphos fwiw worked best for me.

Just picked some up, but directions are pretty.... not friendly lol
I was planning on tossing some in the bag it came with, and tossing that in my HOB filter.
Would it be better in front of, or behind the filter itself? Figured behind would allow less gunk to build up on the bag

Also, how much should I place in? 55gal tank, ~45-50gallon water volume.
50gram?

Aren't you using chemipure already?

Me? Nope, only standard carbon filters that come w/ my Marineland & Topfin HOB filters.
Rinse them when they get clogged about once a week or so, and replace them once a month

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You'll want the best flow possible for the gfo. I actually sandwiched it between sponges in the AQ.

 

[swk]

I disagree with all the above advice. I'd leave it alone.

.03 is about the lowest I would comfortably go.

 

[ReefAddict007]

I really like this Chemipure elite stuff!
https://www.primalreef.com/collecti...ts/boyd-enterprises-chemi-pure-elite-11-74-oz

 

[tutmatt3]

You'll want the best flow possible for the gfo. I actually sandwiched it between sponges in the AQ.

Thanks! Ya in my Marine Land, there's 2x areas for the filter, so I'll put it between the back filter & the available section that water will have to pass through, on that side
Any recommendations on how much?

I disagree with all the above advice. I'd leave it alone.

.03 is about the lowest I would comfortably go.

I've been staying away from it for a while, but honestly not too sure what else could be going on in the system. I also started w/ dry rock, so I also wondered if that soaked a bunch in & is holding onto it.
I'll monitor the tank closely to see if it needs to be pulled, but like I said, with everyone else having to use it, I doubt my system is any better.

I really like this Chemipure elite stuff!
https://www.primalreef.com/collecti...ts/boyd-enterprises-chemi-pure-elite-11-74-oz

Thanks! 1 more item to look into

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I disagree with all the above advice. I'd leave it alone.

.03 is about the lowest I would comfortably go.

Me to actually.
My bottle of gfo is five years old.

 

[swk]

Thanks! Ya in my Marine Land, there's 2x areas for the filter, so I'll put it between the back filter & the available section that water will have to pass through, on that side
Any recommendations on how much?

I've been staying away from it for a while, but honestly not too sure what else could be going on in the system. I also started w/ dry rock, so I also wondered if that soaked a bunch in & is holding onto it.
I'll monitor the tank closely to see if it needs to be pulled, but like I said, with everyone else having to use it, I doubt my system is any better.


Thanks! 1 more item to look into

Not everyone uses it. I don't. My po4 is between .1-.2 and seems to be just fine

How old is the tank? What are you wanting to keep?

 

[tutmatt3]

Not everyone uses it. I don't. My po4 is between .1-.2 and seems to be just fine

How old is the tank? What are you wanting to keep?

dang, gorgeous!
~7 months, and it's mixed with sps, lps, & softies

It's a sumpless system, w/ 2x hob filters, skimmer, submerssible uv, ato, 3x wave makers, and temp controller w/ fan/heater

 

[swk]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/phosphate-that-is-evil-fear-that-is-real.252765/

Give this a read.

 

[swk]

Are you carbon dosing? How are you managing calcium and alk? Have you had a triton test done? Using carbon?

 

[tutmatt3]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/phosphate-that-is-evil-fear-that-is-real.252765/

Give this a read.

Reading as we speak

Are you carbon dosing? How are you managing calcium and alk? Have you had a triton test done? Using carbon?

No, not carbon dosing.
Only carbon going in the tank are these:
www.petsmart.com/fish/filters-and-pumps/filter-media/top-fin�-small-aquarium-filter-cartridge-17149.html
https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Rite-Size-Cartridge-C-6-Pack/dp/B000256EKS

No to the triton test

 

[swk]

Ok. I think for a tank started with dead rock you need to let it run a year before you need to start fiddling with things. Let it mature. With po4 as low as yours I would NOT restrict it with gfo or any other method. Give the tank another 5 months and see where you get.

Also for flow - in my 75 gal tank I have:
Mp40
Mp10
Gyre 250 all running up to 80%+

 

[tutmatt3]

Ok. I think for a tank started with dead rock you need to let it run a year before you need to start fiddling with things. Let it mature. With po4 as low as yours I would NOT restrict it with gfo or any other method. Give the tank another 5 months and see where you get.

Also for flow - in my 75 gal tank I have:
Mp40
Mp10
Gyre 250 all running up to 80%+

Currently I have 1x of these on the 3rd setting
https://www.amazon.com/Jebao-WP-25-Maker-Controller-Aquarium/dp/B00FSALYMU
And 2x of these on the highest
https://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-...?ie=UTF8&qid=1499818944&sr=8-1&keywords=eflux

The 2x hobs, skimmer, and submersible UV all add to flow since they are all In-Tank.

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You don't think the low P04 could be due to the dead rock sucking it in?
With the coral that did have tissue recession, dry brown dusty algae covers it pretty quick, and having to clean my glass daily could show elevated levels, regardless of what the test says?

And yes, dosing w/ B-Ionic 2 part, using instant ocean salt @ 1.026 w/ RODI

Almost no acros show growth, few sps (montis/birdsnest) do have growth, lps and zoas do okay
Maybe 2x acros (tri-color) and a lemonade have been ecrusting - so that has me excited. But I do believe their growth is inhibited