Phosphates

[sw6120]

Hello all,

I recently set up a 20 gallon long tank.

I recently have had a brown algae outbreak on all glass and on rocks. There is also green algae (not cyano) on all the substrate. I originally transferred everything from a 10 gallon.

While moving over, I added a bunch of dead live rock that someone had given me on FB marketplace.

Since then, I have had zero nitrates and high phosphates ~0.25ppm.

If I had to guess, I am guessing the rock is leaching phosphates and fueling the algae that is eating up my nitrates.

How would you guys fix this? Is it better to dose nitrates or to try and reduce the phosphate with media.

I have 4 fish (2 clowns, fire fish and royal gramma) and a cleaner shrimp.

Thanks!

 

[Freenow54]

Hello all,

I recently set up a 20 gallon long tank.

I recently have had a brown algae outbreak on all glass and on rocks. There is also green algae (not cyano) on all the substrate. I originally transferred everything from a 10 gallon.

While moving over, I added a bunch of dead live rock that someone had given me on FB marketplace.

Since then, I have had zero nitrates and high phosphates ~0.25ppm.

If I had to guess, I am guessing the rock is leaching phosphates and fueling the algae that is eating up my nitrates.

How would you guys fix this? Is it better to dose nitrates or to try and reduce the phosphate with media.

I have 4 fish (2 clowns, fire fish and royal gramma) and a cleaner shrimp.

Thanks!

If you have no coral I followed advice from a customer I had when I did service work. I removed rock and scrubbed it clean. It took about a week for it ( hair algae) to come back. It took 6 months but I beat it. I don't like chemical warfare myself

 

[sw6120]

If you have no coral I followed advice from a customer I had when I did service work. I removed rock and scrubbed it clean. It took about a week for it ( hair algae) to come back. It took 6 months but I beat it. I don't like chemical warfare myself

I probably should have added that i do have corals. Mostly sofies (toadstools and zoas) and 2 duncans.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What test are you using? API always shows .25
I would suggest to re-test with a better test kit. But phosphate is not a big deal to fish only tank anyway. GFO or lanthanum is the way to reduce phosphate, but they are both very potent stuff.

Same with nitrate, no need for adding nitrate to a fish only tank. Besides, if the tank is new, then just wait a bit, nitrate will raise naturally through feeding and fish poop.

 

[sw6120]

What test are you using? API always shows .25
I would suggest to re-test with a better test kit. But phosphate is not a big deal to fish only tank anyway. GFO or lanthanum is the way to reduce phosphate, but they are both very potent stuff.

Same with nitrate, no need for adding nitrate to a fish only tank. Besides, if the tank is new, then just wait a bit, nitrate will raise naturally through feeding and fish poop.

I am using hanna ULR. The tank isnt fish only, has some corals. I am just so surprised ot see no nitrate because theres quite a few fish and i feed heavy

 

[Uncle99]

I’ve had “high“ phosphates of .25-.30ppm for years and everyone remains happy.

I don’t buy this low nutrient system anymore.

Never seen a 0 nitrate tank ever.

 

[Marquarium]

How's your cleanup crew doing? Decent size?

Also what's your flow like?

 

[Dburr1014]

Never seen a 0 nitrate tank ever.

Now you can't say that.



I have since been dosing ammonium chloride. Now it's about 10ppm.
This is an older Pic when it always read 0 on the Hanna.

 

[Uncle99]

Now you can't say that.

How is that possible?
Absolutely zero…..really?
Are you saying it’s used fully at the moment of change?
If so, I stand corrected!

 

[Dburr1014]

Hello all,

I recently set up a 20 gallon long tank.

I recently have had a brown algae outbreak on all glass and on rocks. There is also green algae (not cyano) on all the substrate. I originally transferred everything from a 10 gallon.

While moving over, I added a bunch of dead live rock that someone had given me on FB marketplace.

Since then, I have had zero nitrates and high phosphates ~0.25ppm.

If I had to guess, I am guessing the rock is leaching phosphates and fueling the algae that is eating up my nitrates.

How would you guys fix this? Is it better to dose nitrates or to try and reduce the phosphate with media.

I have 4 fish (2 clowns, fire fish and royal gramma) and a cleaner shrimp.

Thanks!

If you can pick out the free rock, use Lanthium in a bucket. Rinse well and return to tank.

 

[Magic031707]

Ime, get the nitrates up and the phosphates will come down.

 

[Dburr1014]

How is that possible?
Absolutely zero…..really?

May to September was zero. I gave up testing. In late January/early February, I started dosing.

 

[sw6120]

Ime, get the nitrates up and the phosphates will come down.

What’s the best way to get nitrates up so that I don’t fuel the algae too

 

[sw6120]

If you can pick out the free rock, use Lanthium in a bucket. Rinse well and return to tank.

I see that may be the best idea

 

[sw6120]

How is that possible?
Absolutely zero…..really?
Are you saying it’s used fully at the moment of change?
If so, I stand corrected!

It may be 0 because the algae is using all of it

 

[sw6120]

How's your cleanup crew doing? Decent size?

Also what's your flow like?

A lot of flow. CUC consists of a trochus snail and 3 nassarius. Do you recommend other ones?

 

[Magic031707]

ammonium chloride or brightwell neonitro

 

[Dburr1014]

It may be 0 because the algae is using all of it

Most likely.

 

[Lavey29]

OP if your tank is a new set up and using dead rock scape you can expect a variety of algae phases over the course of the first year but 0 nitrates means your corals are slowly starving to death. .25 phosphate is slightly elevated but nothing of serious concern especially in a new unstable tank.

 

[Dburr1014]

What’s the best way to get nitrates up so that I don’t fuel the algae too

Thread 'DIY Ammonia dosing for low nitrate systems' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/