Phosphates a bit high

[Buddha51]

Because I am convinced that it will grow out, I cleaned out my Refugium reactor last week, leaving just a small amount of Chaeto behind. Anyway, I noticed that I am at.54 on my PO today, which is high. Is it because there isn't much chaeto in the reactor in the refugium? My friend advised me to run my ARID Reactor light continuously till my PO level was reduced. Thoughts?

 

[santino0205]

You can. What are your nitrates at. His off balance are your levels?

 

[Buddha51]

You can. What are your nitrates at. His off balance are your levels?

Nitrate is at 4.4.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

If your nitrates are that low and your phosphates are that high, that seems like a lack of water changes.

Anytime you need to drop phosphates quickly, do water changes.

 

[santino0205]

You can always buy phosphat-e from brightwell and slowly taper it off. Sometimes reactors also strip nutrients

 

[arafas]

You can do some rowa it's perfect just go slow. Usually chaeto strips Nitrate more then phosphate in my experience.

 

[arafas]

You can always buy phosphat-e from brightwell and slowly taper it off. Sometimes reactors also strip nutrients

Isn't phosphate e like lanthium, you need special socks? It's bit risky with the stuff from what I understand

 

[santino0205]

Isn't phosphate e like lanthium, you need special socks? It's bit risky with the stuff from what I understand

I’ve used it several times with no problem. Key is to go slow not try and fix in a day

 

[Pistondog]

Run some gfo in a reactor, rowaphos.
Water changes not as effective due to po4 being bound in rocks and sand.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Because I am convinced that it will grow out, I cleaned out my Refugium reactor last week, leaving just a small amount of Chaeto behind. Anyway, I noticed that I am at.54 on my PO today, which is high. Is it because there isn't much chaeto in the reactor in the refugium? My friend advised me to run my ARID Reactor light continuously till my PO level was reduced. Thoughts?

What was the Phosphate level before you cleaned out the fuge?

I don't think phosphate would go up that fast, and was probably high to start with.

To bring it down, you could either use an aluminium based product such as Phosguard in your sump, or if you have a reactor, tumble GFO.

Whichever you choose, you want to bring it down slowly so as to not shock coral in the tank.
As phosphate binds to Calcium Carbonate such as rock and aragonite, it will take a while to lower the level.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

If your nitrates are that low and your phosphates are that high, that seems like a lack of water changes.

Anytime you need to drop phosphates quickly, do water changes.

You have it backwards.
Water changes are relatively ineffective for lowering phosphate but are almost guaranteed to lower nitrates.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

You have it backwards.
Water changes are relatively ineffective for lowering phosphate but are almost guaranteed to lower nitrates.

That's not true. It isn't the first preference to reduce phosphate, but it will reduce them.

Lack of water changes, too much food, and general neglect is the posters issue.

If you have a ton of live rock and very little flow, and there is a ton of uneaten food, detritus, etc laying in and under the rocks, then water changes won't be of much help.

 

[bushdoc]

Lot's of oppinions here, so let add my 2 c.
Your tank is a candidate for some GFO/RowaPhos treatment.
Lantanum is a possibility, but I agree it has to be done properly or it can strip your phosphate to 0 and kill some fish.
I join the group of those, who think that water changes here are waste of time ( and money).

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Lot's of oppinions here, so let add my 2 c.
Your tank is a candidate for some GFO/RowaPhos treatment.
Lantanum is a possibility, but I agree it has to be done properly or it can strip your phosphate to 0 and kill some fish.
I join the group of those, who think that water changes here are waste of time ( and money).

I never said water changes are a bad thing, just that in most circumstances, they won't do much to lower phosphates.