Phosphates question

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

How is everyone doing? I got a question, my phosphates were .08 PPM after adding GFO my reactor, my phosphates jumped up to .16 if the three days when I tested. Any reason for that?

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

Next question is will they drop down? Is that normal for them to go up and then drop?

reeferfoxx · Nov 13, 2016

reefaland310 said:
How is everyone doing? I got a question, my phosphates were .08 PPM after adding GFO my reactor, my phosphates jumped up to .16 if the three days when I tested. Any reason for that?

Hello! Sorry to clarify you added GFO and phosphates reduced to 0.08? After three days it jumped up again to 0.16?

First double check to make sure your tests are correct. Second, it CAN take only 3 - 4 days to exhaust GFO. Depending on the amount of phosphates, you might need to change GFO out. If this is an established tank, be sure to monitor alk. Reduced nutrients can lower alk and pH.

Willz · Nov 13, 2016

reefaland310 said:
How is everyone doing? I got a question, my phosphates were .08 PPM after adding GFO my reactor, my phosphates jumped up to .16 if the three days when I tested. Any reason for that?

I took your post mean that you had 0.08 before adding GFO and after you added it they jumped to 0.16 in three days.

If that is the case and you didn't accidentally dump a bunch of food or make any other changes....

I don't think they should have jumped after adding GFO. What are you using to test? I would suspect testing anomalies is the culprit.

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

I added more GFO then I normally use. Not much just a few tablespoons. Are used to Hannah checker. The tank is very established

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

Just strange to me that has never happened before

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 13, 2016

Adding new GFO won't cause phosphate to rise. It might be coincidence or testing error.

Used GFO can boost phosphate by releasing it.

reeferfoxx · Nov 13, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Used GFO can boost phosphate by releasing it.

Dependent of po4 measurement, how long can it take for GFO to be considered "used"/"exhausted"?

jsker · Nov 13, 2016

There are several products out there beside GFO to lower the phosphates. I used a product with a lanthanum chloride to get my phosphates down and maintain with GFO. I hand a spike of phosphates in the past month from leaving the GFO into long.

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

That might have been it Jsker. I left the last batch in for a while definitely too long

reeferfoxx · Nov 13, 2016

reefaland310 said:
That might have been it Jsker. I left the last batch in for a while definitely too long

If you are adding GFO to existing GFO, that is exactly the issue.

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

No definitely not doing that

reeferfoxx · Nov 13, 2016

reefaland310 said:
No definitely not doing that

Ok good. I misunderstood.

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

I'll give that product lanthanum chloride a try. Who makes it what brand?

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
Ok good. I misunderstood.

It's OK,you're trying to help.

reeferfoxx · Nov 13, 2016

reefaland310 said:
It's OK,you're trying to help.

Thanks. I do have some experience with GFO.

Here are some good reference links that provide good data on GFO.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/2/chemistry
http://saltwateraquariumhobby.com/water-parameters/phosphates-and-phosphate-adsorbing-media/

reefaland310 · Nov 13, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
Thanks. I do have some experience with GFO.

Here are some good reference links that provide good data on GFO.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/2/chemistry
http://saltwateraquariumhobby.com/water-parameters/phosphates-and-phosphate-adsorbing-media/

Thanks for info reeferfox can