Phosphates

[Kkuhar]

Hello!! How do you guys and girls get phosphates down? Im at .013 but creeping up. My nitrates are also at 0. The guy at the LF sold me phophat-e by Brightwell but im nervous on how to use it. Thanks in advance!

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Your PO4 is fine at that level. It can even creep up some more and still be fine. If you get your NO3 up, your PO4 should stop rising. You need both in a balanced system. How old is the tank?

 

[Kkuhar]

Thanks!! Its about 8 months old. Should I not use the phosphate dosing that I bought? If I dont no problem. Im sure ill use it at some point.

 

[arking_mark]

My recommendation is to just feed heavier.

More dry food will tend to increase PO4 more.

More frozen/fresh food will tend to increase NO3 more.

 

[Kkuhar]

Awesome! I will try that. I will lay off dry! Thanks!!

 

[arking_mark]

As your tank continues to mature, you may find that nutrients will climb as your rock/substrate stop absorbing them. This happened to me a little over the one-year mark on my latest tank. At some point you may find that modifying your input (dry/wet food) is no longer able to adjust your nutrients and additional export is needed.

I like the heavy in/out approach for nutrients control and use the following for the out:

• Roller mat
• Refugium
• Skimmer
• Coral
• DIY NoPox

 

[Kkuhar]

Great reply! Hopefully over time I will obsess a little less

 

[Goldenvue]

.13 wish I could get mine there! k use phosphate e and works great just be sure to not over do it and test.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

edited

I think feeding more is a fine plan.

 

[arking_mark]

Hmm, both 0.013 PO4 and 0 NO3 seem low to me.

I aim for PO4 < 0.10 and NO3 < 10

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry, I read the post right above mine that mistakenly reproduced it as 0.13 ppm. I'll edit my comment.

 

[workhz]

Is it 0.013 or 0.13?

 

[MikeyG]

Hello!! How do you guys and girls get phosphates down? Im at .013 but creeping up. My nitrates are also at 0. The guy at the LF sold me phophat-e by Brightwell but im nervous on how to use it. Thanks in advance!

Let me just say as direct as I can on this forum.
At 0.0.3 you leave the **** alone and thank God you are in the top half of 1% of rerfere who are able to keep Po4 below.05.
Drop it any lower and you are asking for problems