Phosphates really high?

[tmccaff]

I tried doing bigger water changes; skimming more wet; added some rowaphos and still my tank reading 0.50 phosphates. Not sure what else to do here.

 

[Shunopoli]

Water change is not going to drastically change it. 90% of it still in your rock and water. You have to do multiple water changes along with gfo. I’m currently in the same boat with you and working on getting mine down as I neglected my tank

 

[tmccaff]

Should I do more water changes every couple of days?

 

[Dan_P]

I tried doing bigger water changes; skimming more wet; added some rowaphos and still my tank reading 0.50 phosphates. Not sure what else to do here.

Keep repeating Rowaphos treatment. In a reactor would be best

 

[tmccaff]

Yea I am trying to buy reactor was going with Sigma 1 from Aquamaxx but out of stock right now have in media bag in sump where my tank drains

 

[Duffer]

As stated water changes will only get the phosphates that are in the water column…phos E brightwell is a very good product

 

[areefer01]

I tried doing bigger water changes; skimming more wet; added some rowaphos and still my tank reading 0.50 phosphates. Not sure what else to do here.

Hate to be that person who continues asking the same old question but what is the issue exactly?

Is it the number? Is there a problem? If there a problem what is it? You may not have to do a darn thing if there isn't a problem other than observe.

 

[tmccaff]

have major algae and guessing this is major cause.

 

[reefiniteasy]

Algae scrubber time.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I tried doing bigger water changes; skimming more wet; added some rowaphos and still my tank reading 0.50 phosphates. Not sure what else to do here.

Rowaphos can be aggressive. Assure you are not getting false readings before addressing . While GFO is good at reduction, it can be too quickly. Product such as chemipure blue does this gradually and safely.
First recourse is to identify cause then remedy. Some causes are:
- Overfeeding
- lack of maintenance
- using salt mix high in phosphate
- Use of tap water opposed to RODI water
- something decaying in tank (food or feces)
- False readings - If you have high po4 and no algae- Should raise question

Some things to lower are :
Water changes
Macroalgae
Red Sea po4 reduce
Lessen Feedings and amounts
Add mechanical filtration
Add algae scrubber
Add limewater
Reduce lighting a little

 

[vetteguy53081]

have major algae and guessing this is major cause.

Also can be excess nutrients from feeding, use of Tap water versus RODI, excess light brightness and tank at or near a window.
Reducing white light intensity and number of white light hours, addition of cleaner snails as below and pulling as much as you can by hand helps ****** the algae.
Snails:
astrea
turbo grazer
trochus
nerite
nassarius

pencil urchin

10 caribbean blue leg hermits

 

[areefer01]

Also can be excess nutrients from feeding, use of Tap water versus RODI, excess light brightness and tank at or near a window.
Reducing white light intensity and number of white light hours, addition of cleaner snails as below and pulling as much as you can by hand helps ****** the algae.
Snails:
astrea
turbo grazer
trochus
nerite
nassarius

pencil urchin

10 caribbean blue leg hermits

Could also be a new display? Could be any of the things you noted. I think you sort of alluded to it but if one doesn't understand the reason behind the number then it will only go up. I sort of like looking to see if I can understand the problem first because it could be a simple imbalance of herbivores or using the wrong type. Chems should always be the last resort. Quick fix yes they are but most of the time it comes roaring back.

You provided a lot for them to take in though

 

[vetteguy53081]

Could also be a new display? Could be any of the things you noted. I think you sort of alluded to it but if one doesn't understand the reason behind the number then it will only go up. I sort of like looking to see if I can understand the problem first because it could be a simple imbalance of herbivores or using the wrong type. Chems should always be the last resort. Quick fix yes they are but most of the time it comes roaring back.

You provided a lot for them to take in though

When i see a member from year 2014, I would think they would recognize new display as issue.
Items I listed are simple yet overlooked and things people overlook ive see the last 3-5 decades

 

[Dan_P]

Yea I am trying to buy reactor was going with Sigma 1 from Aquamaxx but out of stock right now have in media bag in sump where my tank drains

There is an inexpensive reactor by Two Little Fishies on Amazon for $50. Just bought one to lower phosphates in my system. I have 100 gallon system. Used 50 mL Phosban to lower the level ~0.1 ppm overnight. Kept changing the GFO until system was where I wanted it to be. You can use less to go slower or more to go faster.

 

[tmccaff]

Would a Algae scrubber remove the need for a skimmer?

I was looking at this one but my skimmer area is where this would fit at.

Algae Scrubber PRO - Small (14 Watt)

The IcaCap PRO Algae Turf Scrubbers are designed as a plug-and-play solution for battling nitrates, phosphates, and other pollutants from your aquarium water. Rather than having algae grow uncontrolled inside your display tank, an algae scrubber allows you to grow algae in a controlled setting...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[TokenReefer]

The skimmer can remove larger particles (some dissolved) while the scrubber would be removing (consuming) dissolved nutrients

 

[Dan_P]

Would a Algae scrubber remove the need for a skimmer?

I was looking at this one but my skimmer area is where this would fit at.

Algae Scrubber PRO - Small (14 Watt)

The IcaCap PRO Algae Turf Scrubbers are designed as a plug-and-play solution for battling nitrates, phosphates, and other pollutants from your aquarium water. Rather than having algae grow uncontrolled inside your display tank, an algae scrubber allows you to grow algae in a controlled setting...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

An algae scrubber and skimmer do different things. The algae scrubber is used primarily to remove inorganic nitrogen, like nitrate. The skimmer’s job is to remove dissolved organic compounds and microscopic organic particulates.

 

[tmccaff]

Ok, I have a red sea 170 so if I got the Algae Scrubber pro and Aquamaxx ws-1 skimmer should be ok? I currently running a Deltec Sc1351 skimmer. The reason skimmer and algae scrubber wont fit both in sump.

 

[tmccaff]

I just ordered the Algae Scrubber pro and the ws-1 skimmer. Thanks everyone for the help

 

[TokenReefer]

I'm runnin the ws-1