phosphates

[jose hernandez]

do you mean sodium bicarbonate or just plain sodium?

 

[GabeM]

sodium phosphate likely

 

[bam123]

Get an icecap small algae scrubber. Problem solved as long as you don't overfeed.

 

[Dom]

No, it doesn't work that way. Algae (and corals ) need N and P and lots of other things (e.g., iron, manganese, etc.) all in sufficient amounts. None alone are sufficient.

Sorry for posting inaccurate information. Hard as I try, sometimes I miss the mark.

 

[Larry L]

trying to get my phosphates up but i just cant noticing some of my sps are browing out

SPS usually get browner (the colors get "muddier looking") when phosphates are too high, not when they are too low. Usually when nitrates or phosphates are too low the colors pale out and become more pastel looking.

 

[jose hernandez]

So do I get a ulr hanna checker instead how else I’m I gonna check my phosphates I will post pics of the sps frags I have

 

[Dom]

No, it doesn't work that way. Algae (and corals ) need N and P and lots of other things (e.g., iron, manganese, etc.) all in sufficient amounts. None alone are sufficient.

Ok. Well this is a misconception under which I labor. And I'd venture to guess that I am not the only one.

@Randy Holmes-Farley: So, as an example, If nuisance algae require all if these things in sufficient amounts to grow, would getting just ONE of under control stop the growth of nuisance algae?

 

[jose hernandez]

Here’s a pic of the frags the monti is supposed to be green

 

[GabeM]

Zooxanthaelle and algae need similar nutrients so if you are starving out algae you also affect corals.

@jose hernandez what are you feeding every day, what do you have for fish and how large is the system?

 

[jose hernandez]

I’m feeding frozen brine shrimp add 2 capfuls of phyto feast once a week
Fish
Yellow tang
Khole tang
Unicorn tang
foxface
3 disbar anthias
Coris wrasse
Clown fair wrasse male n female
Ocealaris clown
10 turbo snails
10 blue leg hermit crabs
Large Black Sea urchin

 

[jose hernandez]

Tank is a Red Sea reefer 750xxl total water volume 200 gallons

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

do you mean sodium bicarbonate or just plain sodium?

Neither.

"sodium or potassium phosphate " is short for sodium phosphate or potassium phosphate.

Sodium metal will burn in water lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok. Well this is a misconception under which I labor. And I'd venture to guess that I am not the only one.

@Randy Holmes-Farley: So, as an example, If nuisance algae require all if these things in sufficient amounts to grow, would getting just ONE of under control stop the growth of nuisance algae?

Absolutely.

For example, if iron alone is missing, algae cannot grow regardless of all the nitrate and phosphate in the world.

Along the same lines, if they have enough (say, 10 ppm nitrate), then more (say, 3,000 ppm) does nothing useful for them.

 

[Rick Mathew]

You mentioned that your PO4 levels have been at 0 for as long as you can remember...Have they ever measured higher than 0?

rick

 

[ScottB]

So do I get a ulr hanna checker instead how else I’m I gonna check my phosphates I will post pics of the sps frags I have

Yes. IMO Hanna ULR Phosphate or ULR Phosphorus (and do the conversion math) is a must have test kit. Along with ALK (salifert is fine) and Nitrate (I prefer NYOS).

 

[jose hernandez]

they measured once 0.05 but then i did a water change and never went up again

 

[Apotack]

I’m feeding frozen brine shrimp add 2 capfuls of phyto feast once a week

If that is all you are feeding you might want to add some different foods for variety.

 

[Laith]

If you do decide to dose Sodium Phosphate or Potassium Phosphate, get the Hanna ULR checker first. You will want to start with small doses and test everyday at the beginning.

Keep an eye out for the "ketchup" effect where it suddenly jumps as soon as your aquascape has absorbed enough (saturated?)...

 

[Angelwolf21203]

i have no hair algae the urchin was givin to me from a fellow reefer as far as my hanna checker im using the low range 713 checker

You might want to order the controls for the PO4 checker. I just called the company last week, because my ULR PO4 checker was reading high. You may not be getting accurate readings from yours.

 

[jose hernandez]

i just bought the phosphorus ulr checker did a test and it reads 15 so i went to my apex and to calculate it and its 0.05 so i guess im good now