Phosphates in the Triton Method

[Siberwulf]

Hey folks,

I'm running the full triton method (no WCs, big Fuge, high flow, etc.) and I'm struggling with Phosphates. I'm trying to get to .08ish, but I'm at around .47, up from .32 last week. I've got a pretty big fuge (15% of DT volume) and it's pretty heavily populated with chaeto. Nitrates seem to balance out around 2.0ish which is low, I know, but I'm trying not to sweat THAT number. My skimmer is a heavy skimmer and he's filling the cup every week. I'm not dosing anything right now aside from the normal Calcium and Alk, this is a pretty new system (15 months) so the coral count is low (also Coral is stupid pricey here in DFW)...

Am I wrong in trying to chase PO4 down to to the .08 mark? Should I be running GFO or should I just dose a bit of PhosphatE to nuke it once?

 

[TheDragonsReef]

How many hours is the fuge light on, and what kind of light?

 

[Siberwulf]

How many hours is the fuge light on, and what kind of light?

It's an AI Fuge 16, and it's on about 12 hours. The Chaeto that grows in there in insanely quick.

 

[FishOkay]

Refugiums / Chaeto,,maybe most macro algaes? Aren’t very good at taking up phosphates, nitrates yes but phosphate not alot.
I actually had the same problem, started with phosphate remover chemical (quantum) and it brought the phosphate down but too fast so it ticked a few corals off and then it just went back up again slowly. Gfo is best in my opinion, nice gradual reduction and keeps it there.
Oh and the constant high lanthanum chloride on my triton icp’s annoyed me when using the phosphate remover. It said on the icp it was harmful, not sure how true that is anymore though.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

It's an AI Fuge 16, and it's on about 12 hours. The Chaeto that grows in there in insanely quick.

Crank up the light intensity and run it 18-20hrs a day. Should take up alot more nutrients. If you want to just bring down phosphates then id recommend gfo.

 

[Siberwulf]

Updates:

My PO4 had still been running high (and now I'm seeing Cyano) which was not exciting. It was .48 last week!

I managed to get a GFO reactor and install it yesterday. I tested my PO4 this morning and it's already down to .20? Is that right? I'm having it gently tumble the GFO so it's not a crazy machine down there. Is GFO really that efficient?

Edit: Nitrates are def getting consumed...I have to add some in weekly.