Phosphorus is leaching I think

Apollomax · Jul 23, 2018

Still extremely new to hobby. Thought I had phosphorus under control but now it’s spikes to 112ppb... it was as low as 22ppb... is my rock just crap or is this normal...?
And what can I do...? Have gfo reactor running and stuff but seems like this rock is never going to cure.
Am I excepting too much of what I need for “cured” rock..?

jsker · Jul 23, 2018

My suggestion is to dose a couple doses of product with lanthanum chloride to get the excess phosphates out of the system. turn the GFO reactor off while doing the dosing and then turn the reactor back on.

I had a phosphate issue when I first set up my system and it took some time to bring is down. The phosphates did come down after I dosed.

I still dose Lanthanum chloride every once in a while when the phosphates start climbing back up.

mcarroll · Jul 24, 2018

Apollomax said:
is my rock just crap or is this normal...?

If it was dead, then yes on both counts. Patience is the ultimate answer unless you can replace it with good live rock.

Apollomax · Jul 26, 2018

mcarroll said:
If it was dead, then yes on both counts. Patience is the ultimate answer unless you can replace it with good live rock.

Well my understanding was it was dry rock... being new cause I know now to ask if live dry rock. I’m being patient I think... he’ll this cure is going on probably 3 mths now. Frustrated oh hell yes taking longer than expected but rather take time now then massive crash later when bigger money is invested in my new adventurous hobby lol

Kmack0415 · Jul 27, 2018

112 ppb isn't really super high, that's only .112 ppm, granted it's not 0 but I wouldn't fret about it too bad. During my cycle my phosphates went as high as .7 and I've seen people with matured tanks, here on r2r, reporting over 1ppm phosphates with a beautiful tank. Mine right now is a little higher sitting at 71ppb and everything in my tank is thriving, except the messing jf Jack o lantern that hates me..., But sounds like your doing great and I wouldn't worry about it too bad. You can always get some phosphate Rx and put a low dose in, but I wouldn't really worry to bad.