Phosphates

[Jilly92]

So as some of you know I had a devastating tank crash a couple months ago in both tanks and lost alot including all my fish, inverts. I had finally bounced back and my corals are growing good looking beautiful, I got some more sweet little fish buddies and I've noticed diatoms coming back and tonight I saw a balloon algae (Dino) I feel so anxious and scared this whole situation is going to happen again! So I really believe it's my phosphates that are so low like .02. How do you dose phosphates? I'm not sure about the diatoms, I cleaned the canister filter out a couple of days ago (wasn't bad) and the diatoms were even worse today brown film all over glass. I overfeeding for like 2 days, but haven't since.

 

[Ruglayers reef]

So as some of you know I had a devastating tank crash a couple months ago in both tanks and lost alot including all my fish, inverts. I had finally bounced back and my corals are growing good looking beautiful, I got some more sweet little fish buddies and I've noticed diatoms coming back and tonight I saw a balloon algae (Dino) I feel so anxious and scared this whole situation is going to happen again! So I really believe it's my phosphates that are so low like .02. How do you dose phosphates? I'm not sure about the diatoms, I cleaned the canister filter out a couple of days ago (wasn't bad) and the diatoms were even worse today brown film all over glass. I overfeeding for like 2 days, but haven't since.

I wouldn't dose phosphate but I would dose nitrate
I had same problem almost messed up dosing phosphate to high got it under control and now just dose nitrate that seems to work for my system may work for you
Dose low and slow test often also to make sure parameters are in line

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Feed more. Feed more often. What size tank? How many fish? What fish? How big? Ride it out the diatom will go away on its own.
D

 

[Jilly92]

I wouldn't dose phosphate but I would dose nitrate
I had same problem almost messed up dosing phosphate to high got it under control and now just dose nitrate that seems to work for my system may work for you
Dose low and slow test often also to make sure parameters are in line

My Nitrate has always been good 15-20ppm except when I overfed last week it was 80 or so the api test kit read

 

[Jilly92]

Feed more. Feed more often. What size tank? How many fish? What fish? How big? Ride it out the diatom will go away on its own.
D

I'm more worried about the DINOS!!! I have a small false angel lemonpeel, snowflake clown, dwarf ocellaris baby, and regular ocellaris baby. 55 gal.

 

[Jilly92]

I'm more worried about the DINOS!!! I have a small false angel lemonpeel, snowflake clown, dwarf ocellaris baby, and regular ocellaris baby. 55 gal.

Can't feed more because I run on the high side of nitrates

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

A 55 gallon reg tank? Up your filtration and flow. More or bigger wcs. Add 3 or so fish. My opinion.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

You have 3 clowns?
D

 

[LegendaryCG]

I'm more worried about the DINOS!!! I have a small false angel lemonpeel, snowflake clown, dwarf ocellaris baby, and regular ocellaris baby. 55 gal.

Those come from feeding too little actually. Your tank is trying to find balance and it will but only if you keep the same Routine.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Can't feed more because I run on the high side of nitrates

Do NOT feed more. It will quickly elevate phosphates and eventually nitrates and even trigger ammonia spikes plus cyano or dino. Your phos will climb slowly. I have a dino recipe for you should signs start to appear.
For now, you can dose 1ml of liquid bacteria per 10 gallons during the day and dose .5ml of hydrogen peroxide at night per 10 gals over the next 10 days. This will help control the potential for dine. Have some cerityh, margarita, astrea and trochus snails in tank to assist with any cyano and dino potential.
What test kits are you using ?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Dinos is an inbalance. Like cyano or HA or byropsis. It will show up to balance things. Imo.
D

 

[Jilly92]

You have 3 clowns?
D

Yup

 

[Jilly92]

Do NOT feed more. It will quickly elevate phosphates and eventually nitrates and even trigger ammonia spikes plus cyano or dino. Your phos will climb slowly. I have a dino recipe forqa you should signs start to appear.
For now, you can dose 1ml of liquid bacteria per 10 gallons during the day and dose .5ml of hydrogen peroxide at night per 10 gals over the next 10 days. This will help control the potential for dine. Have some cerityh, margarita, astrea and trochus snails in tank to assist with any cyano and dino potential.
What test kits are you using ?

I have all different snails. I'm using seachem phosphate strip and API basic test and fluval UV sterilizer

 

[Jilly92]

Do NOT feed more. It will quickly elevate phosphates and eventually nitrates and even trigger ammonia spikes plus cyano or dino. Your phos will climb slowly. I have a dino recipe for you should signs start to appear.
For now, you can dose 1ml of liquid bacteria per 10 gallons during the day and dose .5ml of hydrogen peroxide at night per 10 gals over the next 10 days. This will help control the potential for dine. Have some cerityh, margarita, astrea and trochus snails in tank to assist with any cyano and dino potential.
What test kits are you using ?

I was waiting for you to show up haha

 

[Jilly92]

Those come from feeding too little actually. Your tank is trying to find balance and it will but only if you keep the same Routine.

Thats the problem though I'm on the higher end of acceptable nitrate I'm more of an overfeeder

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thats the problem though I'm on the higher end of acceptable nitrate I'm more of an overfeeder

Add a pouch of chemipure Blue or even elite. Both will keep it in check

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have all different snails. I'm using seachem phosphate strip and API basic test and fluval UV sterilizer

I thought so- API notorious for false readings. Take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does NOT use API kit and see what readings they come up with and for comparison

 

[Jilly92]

Add a pouch of chemipure Blue or even elite. Both will keep it in check

Ok for how long? And what's that for exactly. I've never really done chemicals

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok for how long? And what's that for exactly. I've never really done chemicals

Its a pouch with media. Run it for at least 2 months

 

[Jilly92]

I thought so- API notorious for false readings. Take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does NOT use API kit and see what readings they come up with and for comparison

Ya I need to find one. The 2 I go to get the same readings I do everytime