PO4 help!

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

I just checked my tank for Po4, and I got 0.39
How bad is it? I Have some cyano bacteria on my sand bed. I run GFO for 4 months.
Nitrate is 20ppm

reeferfoxx · Nov 1, 2016

renato120 said:
I just checked my tank for Po4, and I got 0.39
How bad is it? I Have some cyano bacteria on my sand bed. I run GFO for 4 months.
Nitrate is 20ppm

Running GFO should help? You do change GFO media regularly, right?

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
Running GFO should help? You do change GFO media regularly, right?

Once a month

reeferfoxx · Nov 1, 2016

renato120 said:
Once a month

Sounds like you might need to up it to once a week, for awhile? GFO, depending on the amount of po4, can get exhausted in 3-4 days.

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
Sounds like you might need to up it to once a week, for awhile? GFO, depending on the amount of po4, can get exhausted in 3-4 days.

Its not dangerous too change that often? I heard it can kill corals

reeferfoxx · Nov 1, 2016

renato120 said:
Its not dangerous too change that often? I heard it can kill corals

Zero po4 can kill coral. Alkalinity drops from GFO can kill coral. Just monitor your tank and make adjustmenta if need be.

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
Zero po4 can kill coral. Alkalinity drops from GFO can kill coral. Just monitor your tank and make adjustmenta if need be.

I didnt know that!

reeferfoxx · Nov 1, 2016

renato120 said:
I didnt know that!

That alk drop also effects pH. You can either test pH or know that with alk dropping, dosing alk will raise pH. So its not a must to test pH, but if you were curious or its important, you will know there is a change.

Diesel · Nov 1, 2016

What ever you do, do it slow.
Back off on the food for the fish as well.
Feeding fish is the leading cause of high Po4 and No3

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
That alk drop also effects pH. You can either test pH or know that with alk dropping, dosing alk will raise pH. So its not a must to test pH, but if you were curious or its important, you will know there is a change.

I changed the gfo now..... I will check alk tomorrow

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

Diesel said:
What ever you do, do it slow.
Back off on the food for the fish as well.
Feeding fish is the leading cause of high Po4 and No3

I will

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

Thank you for the help @reeferfoxx @Diesel

mcarroll · Nov 1, 2016

Honestly, use the tank as your indicator. Sounds like it's humming along nicely. A little algae here or there is natural.

The numbers are higher than prescribed, but you have to remember those are guidelines. Sometimes they're really good guidelines, but they still aren't perfect/don't always apply.

If you're satisfied with how the tank is coming along, then keep doing what you're doing.

Consistency is the key – the tank will really do the rest if you do your part consistently. Consistent feeding is one of the biggies. C0nsistent quantites per day as much as anything.

To reiterate what @Diesel already said: If you do anything, do it slowly. It'll take up to a few weeks before you see the full effect of any change you make.

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

mcarroll said:
Honestly, use the tank as your indicator. Sounds like it's humming along nicely. A little algae here or there is natural.

The numbers are higher than prescribed, but you have to remember those are guidelines. Sometimes they're really good guidelines, but they still aren't perfect/don't always apply.

If you're satisfied with how the tank is coming along, then keep doing what you're doing.

Consistency is the key – the tank will really do the rest if you do your part consistently. Consistent feeding is one of the biggies. C0nsistent quantites per day as much as anything.

To reiterate what @Diesel already said: If you do anything, do it slowly. It'll take up to a few weeks before you see the full effect of any change you make.

I will! I have been feeding a lot lately... I will feed less for now on. Thanks

jbow50 · Nov 1, 2016

Holy crap! Do you do something in a water chemistry field? I just checked the price of that phosphate tester online and it was $600. I know there are hanna checkers and then there are these things!

renato120 · Nov 1, 2016

jbow50 said:
Holy crap! Do you do something in a water chemistry field? I just checked the price of that phosphate tester online and it was $600. I know there are hanna checkers and then there are these things!

I bought last year! Good price