Po4 question

[jordan10]

Hi so I been running gfo for while keeping po4 at 0.04. well I thought I would try this skimz cheto reactor. It's been running a week. And my p04 is at .10 now. How long should it take to start lowering?

 

[Snoopy 67]

It will take a while before there is enough growth to drop PO 4 & then it will have to be removed, cleaned & restarted.

 

[jordan10]

It will take a while before there is enough growth to drop PO 4 & then it will have to be removed, cleaned & restarted.

Thanks I sure it varies but how fast does it grow?

 

[NS Mike D]

0.4 to 0.1 is a a decent drop and within an acceptable PO4 range.

what is your NO3? Absent of NO3 could limit PO4 uptake by the corals and macro algae.

Be careful, you lowered your PO4 4x already, a 1/2 reduction is going to put you in the ULN range.

 

[NS Mike D]

Thanks I sure it varies but how fast does it grow?

depends on the available nutrients and the light schedule. I find it has an acclimation period of a few weeks, then is there is sufficient food, light etc it will take off.

I never ran a reactor, but my growth in the fuge was robust. I trimmed the cheato about every two weeks.

Like anything else, you will have to keep an eye on it and your NO3 and PO4. If you find the numbers are going too low, cut back on the light schedule.

Don't let either NO3 or PO4 bottom out. That can lead to big problems.

 

[jordan10]

0.4 to 0.1 is a a decent drop and within an acceptable PO4 range.

what is your NO3? Absent of NO3 could limit PO4 uptake by the corals and macro algae.

Be careful, you lowered your PO4 4x already, a 1/2 reduction is going to put you in the ULN range.

So sry I will have to edit that p04 with the gfo have been 0.04.

 

[jordan10]

0.4 to 0.1 is a a decent drop and within an acceptable PO4 range.

what is your NO3? Absent of NO3 could limit PO4 uptake by the corals and macro algae.

Be careful, you lowered your PO4 4x already, a 1/2 reduction is going to put you in the ULN range.

So sry I will have to edit that p04 with the gfo have been 0.04

 

[jordan10]

depends on the available nutrients and the light schedule. I find it has an acclimation period of a few weeks, then is there is sufficient food, light etc it will take off.

I never ran a reactor, but my growth in the fuge was robust. I trimmed the cheato about every two weeks.

Like anything else, you will have to keep an eye on it and your NO3 and PO4. If you find the numbers are going too low, cut back on the light schedule.

Don't let either NO3 or PO4 bottom out. That can lead to big problems.

My no3 has always been high 25 to 50 that's why i wanted to try out the reactor. And yes I know to keep eye on them so they don't bottom out.

 

[NS Mike D]

Did you stop running the GFO? 0.04 is ULN level. I wouldn't go any lower. When it comes to PO4, I prefer the Red Sea mixed reef target range of 0.08 - 0.12ppm.

 

[NS Mike D]

My no3 has always been high 25 to 50 that's why i wanted to try out the reactor. And yes I know to keep eye on them so they don't bottom out.

Ok, now you will need to monitor closely. Stop the GFO for now and maintain the PO4, the cheato will take down both, but at your NO3 levels you run the risk of zeroing out the PO4, which I am sure you don't want to do.

 

[jordan10]

Did you stop running the GFO? 0.04 is ULN level. I wouldn't go any lower. When it comes to PO4, I prefer the Red Sea mixed reef target range of 0.08 - 0.12ppm.

I been running gfo for about year with it p04 staying at 0.04 and my n03 has always been high that's why I switched. And yes I stopped running gfo.

 

[tonyespinoza]

Word of warning: the process by which GFO binds to P04 is bidirectional meaning it will release P04 when the tank P04 level drops. So it's possible that the algae took the phosphate down enough to trigger a release from the GFO. In some ways this is a buffering effect that helps keep things in balance. What are you aiming for? Corals doing okay? Is there sand in the tank? FTS may help.

 

[NS Mike D]

I been running gfo for about year with it p04 staying at 0.04 and my n03 has always been high that's why I switched. And yes I stopped running gfo.

it's possible the low PO4 might have been limiting NO3 uptake.

Take your time getting these in balance. high NO3 is not as big a deal as high PO4. Keep the corals and cheato happy. You already have enough NO3 for that. Pulling the GFO might do the trick.

 

[jordan10]

Word of warning: the process by which GFO binds to P04 is bidirectional meaning it will release P04 when the tank P04 level drops. So it's possible that the algae took the phosphate down enough to trigger a release from the GFO. In some ways this is a buffering effect that helps keep things in balance. What are you aiming for? Corals doing okay? Is there sand in the tank? FTS may help.

I like my p04 at 0.04 where it's been and the no3 down to 10 be nice. Yes sand tanks looks great

Not to worried about it was just wondering how long it could take to start to work.

 

[NS Mike D]

Word of warning: the process by which GFO binds to P04 is bidirectional meaning it will release P04 when the tank P04 level drops. So it's possible that the algae took the phosphate down enough to trigger a release from the GFO. In some ways this is a buffering effect that helps keep things in balance. What are you aiming for? Corals doing okay? Is there sand in the tank? FTS may help.

great point. If you leave the gfo alone it might to the trick. If you see the PO4 drop any more, I would recommend removing it.

 

[NS Mike D]

Not to worried about it was just wondering how long it could take to start to work.

Ok at 0.1 (rising from 0.04) PO4, both the corals and the cheato should be happy.

It's hard to tell with cheato. IME, it's like watching water boil. You stare at it and you swear it's hibernating. You move on and the next thing you know, you're pulling out bowls of the stuff.

you are one week in. It could start to take or tomorrow or next month. You have everything in place for it. Your corals should help the process of using up the extra PO4. At the current numbers I would expect their metabolism is increasing a bit.

 

[jordan10]

Ok at 0.1 (rising from 0.04) PO4, both the corals and the cheato should be happy.

It's hard to tell with cheato. IME, it's like watching water boil. You stare at it and you swear it's hibernating. You move on and the next thing you know, you're pulling out bowls of the stuff.

you are one week in. It could start to take or tomorrow or next month. You have everything in place for it. Your corals should help the process of using up the extra PO4. At the current numbers I would expect their metabolism is increasing a bit.

Nice thanks for the info.