Phosphates

[fishmaster818]

My phosphate right now are between .35 and .40 and i know its because ive been over feeding and im seeing a little bit of algae growth. So will a water change help my problem

 

[mwbeach]

I would recommend phosguard. It will help knock it out quickly.

 

[Reef Fever]

depending on your coral stock i wouldn't lower po4 too quickly. SPS can bleach if po4 drops too drastically in a short amount of time

 

[fishmaster818]

depending on your coral stock i wouldn't lower po4 too quickly. SPS can bleach if po4 drops too drastically in a short amount of time

So how should i lower it

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A water change will help, but not enough.

There are many ways to reduce phosphate, including binders such as GFO and phosguard, growing macroalgae or an ATS, and organic carbon dosing.

This has more:
Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

and

The “How To†Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Reef Fever]

theres a ton of options for reducing po4 it just depends which route you want to go. algae scrubber, gfo, phosguard, etc. what works well for others doesn't necessarily make it right for you, so id do some research and see which method you want to do

 

[Reef Fever]

A water change will help, but not enough.

There are many ways to reduce phosphate, including binders such as GFO and phosguard, growing macroalgae or an ATS, and organic carbon dosing.

This has more:
Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

and

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

hey randy, how often do you suggest a macro-algae harvest? I myself am struggling keeping my po4 to stay consistently under 0.06ppm. occasionally it dips to 0.03. Im wondering if I harvest my chaeto (i have a lot) more often if it will help remove some of the po4. thoughts?

 

[fishmaster818]

A water change will help, but not enough.

There are many ways to reduce phosphate, including binders such as GFO and phosguard, growing macroalgae or an ATS, and organic carbon dosing.

This has more:
Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

and

The “How To†Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Yeah i have a little bit of macro but im going to get somemore and and get some phosban to put in filter sock

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wouldn't harvest it until it gets too big for the space and growth slows just from shading itself. Otherwise more macroalgae should give as much or more new growth and hence nutrient reduction.

 

[Reef Fever]

I wouldn't harvest it until it gets too big for the space and growth slows just from shading itself. Otherwise more macroalgae should give as much or more new growth and hence nutrient reduction.

so removing harvested portions completely from a system isn't absolutely necessary if say, i harvest, and take that portion and put it in a different chamber of the sump?

 

[fishmaster818]

I wouldn't harvest it until it gets too big for the space and growth slows just from shading itself. Otherwise more macroalgae should give as much or more new growth and hence nutrient reduction.

So should i not add macro

 

[Reef Fever]

So should i not add macro

I think what randy was saying was more macro is a good thing, so long as it can get light

 

[fishmaster818]

Oh okay the amount i have right now covers about 1/16 of the refugium space

 

[fishmaster818]

I think what randy was saying was more macro is a good thing, so long as it can get light

Have you ever heard of people using phosban without reactor will it still work

 

[phillrodrigo]

You can in a media bag. Toss it in the sump.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Oh okay the amount i have right now covers about 1/16 of the refugium space

Yes, the more the better. My refugia get packed before I toss some.

 

[fishmaster818]

Yes, the more the better. My refugia get packed before I toss some.

Okay can i put phosban in the mesh bag and then put it in one of my filter socks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If the water is moving through the Phosban, that will work, but not as well as a reactor that moves it around. The Phosban will clump after a while.

 

[fishmaster818]

Okay