Phosphates and nitrates

[Manuel935]

I recently setup my 210 gallon reef tank about a month ago, the tank has been doing great apart from the expected diatom and green algae bloom, however I am a bit worried because I recently tested my nitrates and phosphates using my red sea test kit and it showed I had 4 ppm of nitrates which is fine, but I had my phosphates at 0.08 which really bothered me, am I being too overbearing right now or should I act now, I am thinking the high phos could be due to the tank still stabilizing. BTW I have some coral right now which seem to be doing fine but they are soft coral.

 

[tsouth]

You're doing just fine. It takes months to a year for tanks to really stabilize. I would say that 0.08 is not at risk for anything. Double that and I would begin researching reduction

Best of luck!

 

[Manuel935]

You're doing just fine. It takes months to a year for tanks to really stabilize. I would say that 0.08 is not at risk for anything. Double that and I would begin researching reduction

Best of luck!

thanks I did my best when it came to filtration I bought a big skimmer and have a refugium with chaeto, hoping this isnt forever.

 

[WIReefer]

.08 PO4 is not bad at all, why are you worried about that number? Where do you want them to be?

 

[Manuel935]

.08 PO4 is not bad at all, why are you worried about that number? Where do you want them to be?

I want 0.03 because thats where many successful reefing youtubers keep their tanks and I want my coral to look like theirs to be honest.

 

[Rick5]

What type of coral do you plan on keeping? You mention soft coral. If that's the end game, soft coral are much more tolerant of elevated nutrients than other coral.

Your nutrients aren't exactly off the charts, though

 

[Manuel935]

What type of coral do you plan on keeping? You mention soft coral. If that's the end game, soft coral are much more tolerant of elevated nutrients than other coral.

My goal with this tank is a mixed reef dominated by LPS but I definitely want a decent amount of SPS.

 

[Rick5]

My goal with this tank is a mixed reef dominated by LPS but I definitely want a decent amount of SPS.

I wouldn't take any corrective action if it were me. You're only a month in. I'd focus on stabilizing parameters, particularly nutrients (and letting the tank age) and see where that gets you. You're going through the ugly phase and I'd let it run its course without letting nutrients get too high (or certainly too low, particularly if this is a dry rock setup).

 

[Manuel935]

I wouldn't take any corrective action if it were me. You're only a month in. I'd focus on stabilizing parameters, particularly nutrients (and letting the tank age) and see where that gets you. You're going through the ugly phase and I'd let it run its course without letting nutrients get too high (or certainly too low, particularly if this is a dry rock setup).

Great, I feed a decent amount already because this was an upgrade for my fish from my previous 70 gallon, Its a live and dry rock setup, Ima take your advice and not go crazy over it, thanks for the help!

 

[WIReefer]

I want 0.03 because thats where many successful reefing youtubers keep their tanks and I want my coral to look like theirs to be honest.

I mean that’s a good reason, but everyone’s tanks are different mine are at .02-.05 and I see better colors when they are higher.

 

[Manuel935]

I mean that’s a good reason, but everyone’s tanks are different mine are at .02-.05 and I see better colors when they are higher.

Yeah I have read up on different effects of higher phosphates but Im hoping they will just slowly creep down as the tank ages, but you guys have made me feel much better.

 

[blasterman]

Large amounts of nuisance algae with zero phosphate is far more concerning than .08 of phosphate and a little bit of algae.

As long as the young tank nuisance blooms are slowly clearing theres no concern.

 

[2Wheelsonly]

I want 0.03 because thats where many successful reefing youtubers keep their tanks and I want my coral to look like theirs to be honest.

Not always a good idea to chase someone else's numbers. So many different factors, it's just not as simple as matching parameters. That youtubers lighting schedule/par/coral layout is going to be totally different than yours. Find a number that works for you and stick with it...trying to force yourself to a certain number just creates problems.