reefmadness
Active Member
I cannot for the life of me seem to raise my phosphates. I'm running out of ideas. Can anyone chime in and maybe share their secret?
PO4
- Thread starter reefmadness
- Start date
- Tagged users None
twilliard
Tank pests..
Hi Matt but macros are better at removing no3 before po4
I was wondering if maybe he had one of those scenarios where nuisance algae was using all the phosphates rather than there being truly no phosphates.
I've got 0.00 on my Hanna but I have nuisance algae in various places.
twilliard
Tank pests..
If it spots of algae then they are being opportunistic
ICP testing will show the true po4 and P level
If a person takes out the macros there will be an increase of no3
I farm 11 different macros to stabilize my no3 and po4
The one algae I see that will live in no nutrients is bryopsis. Give them light and they are happy
ICP testing will show the true po4 and P level
If a person takes out the macros there will be an increase of no3
I farm 11 different macros to stabilize my no3 and po4
The one algae I see that will live in no nutrients is bryopsis. Give them light and they are happy
twilliard
Tank pests..
Yes 
no3 is the food. Don't get me wrong po4 is also but no3 is used up much faster.Randy might have an exact ratio for this.
Forgot to add lighting in there
I spot treat my DT with peroxide and leave all algaes in my refugium to grow
Yes
Randy might have an exact ratio for this.
Forgot to add lighting in there
I spot treat my DT with peroxide and leave all algaes in my refugium to grow
Crap. I guess I have this same issue too then. I dose nitrates via potassium nitrate but have zero phosphates.
twilliard
Tank pests..
twilliard
Tank pests..
This is a number I wouldn't try hard at raising.
Your tests may show 0 but I bet you have traces in there
chefjpaul
2500 Club Member
Best answer yet.
We all add it daily.
I'd focus more on NO3.
I run my PO4 between 0.0 - .03.
Mostly test kit shows 0.0, but I know it's their by colors of coral. Zero algae in display
twilliard
Tank pests..
I agree with you 100%
That's why I say "no way" when people say they have nothing for po4
Well unless they never feed and take out 100% of the dying organics
I found it odd I had to actually dose no3! Who does that lol
reefmadness
Active Member
I do not have any macro algae or nuisance algae growing anywhere in the tank. It's roughly 600 gallons, with about 650-700 lbs of aged live rock. I have increased feeding, I have four tangs, twelve springer damsels, and four mandarins. I only run my skimmer 12 hours a day. I am testing with a Hanna checker and getting zeros across the board. Alk is a bit high at 8.9, cal 420, and mag is 1380. No carbon or GFO is being ran.
I wonder if skimming is just doing too good of a job? I run mine 24hrs a day, mainly for ph reasons.
Maybe we could try backing off skimming even more? What does your skimmate look like? Mines become rather clean. Just very light brown water.
Maybe we could try backing off skimming even more? What does your skimmate look like? Mines become rather clean. Just very light brown water.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
All algae need a source of N and P, and in very roughly the same ratios (within a factor of two up or down). BUt some may be a lot better than others at extracting those nutrients at low levels in the water. Also, many may use ammonia and need not have any nitrate present.
The balance point for most macroalgae (based on analyzing the N and P in their tissues) is equivalent to about 0.1 ppm phosphate for 10 ppm nitrate.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
What do you want to accomplish by raising it? The answer may dictate the best way.
reefmadness
Active Member
Increased color on my Acropora specifically.
