Should I turn off my skimmer? (phosphates 0)

[SicZ06]

Tank is 14 months old, just having a hard time getting past the ugly stage...

All was going well but tank hit 0 phosphates 4-25. Did a big clean / got rid of as much algae as possible / water change and everything seemed to be going well but I am back to zero again...Am I correct to turn off skimmer and carbon reactor? Ha Ill do anything to get my tank moving in the right direction.

Details =
65 gal
i add aqua vitro eight.four to ATO and add cap of aqua vitro fuel once a week.
2 clowns, a shrimp, and algea benny. ( I want to add yellow tang for cleaning and fish poop...) I have fed daily pellets and reef roids
About 10 zoas / 2 softies
weekly water change
hydra 52 lights / gyre pumps

past test =
tank is always around 1.025-1.026 & 79/80 temp

4-25
PH 8.1
cal 365
alk 8.1
phosphate 0
*I have fed daily since 4-25

4-28 - did large WC
1.025 ph 8.2
cal 400
phosphate .02
alk 8.3

4-30
ph 8.1
alk 8.6
phosphate .02
cal 420

5-3
cal 400
alk 8.9
phosphate .0

I have the API test kits for the following and they are always the same...Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 Ammonia 0. My other kits are hanna and red sea. Let me know any other test kits to buy / I am ordering mag.

 

[Brandon Smith]

The protein skimmer mainly remove nitrates. It shouldn't be affecting your phosphates.

 

[New&no clue]

I wouldn’t turn it off as it’s a good way to oxygenate your tank. You could take the cup off so it’s not collecting anything but still getting air in.

 

[MicrobeMan]

If I were you, I might try turning off the carbon reactor but sticking with the skimmer for a bit and seeing what happens. Carbon doesn't remove phosphate directly but it can bind to DOC and stop things from breaking down and producing phosphate. There's some evidence that carbon is often the culprit for things getting "too clean" in reef tanks (but as with everything, there's debate).
If you have zero phosphates but still algae to remove, something might be up (like rocks leeching or something of that sort). That might be a decent reason to keep the skimming up.

 

[nereefpat]

Which specific hanna checker are you using? If it isn't for ultra low phosphorus (not phosphate) one that reads in parts per BILLION phosphorus, then you probably don't have 0.00 phosphate.

As long as you aren't carbon dosing, aren't using GFO or lanthanum chloride, then you probably don't have too low of phosphate. You have algae, after all.

 

[SicZ06]

thank you all for the help! Feels like I can't get my tank going...

 

[SicZ06]

Which specific hanna checker are you using? If it isn't for ultra low phosphorus (not phosphate) one that reads in parts per BILLION phosphorus, then you probably don't have 0.00 phosphate.

As long as you aren't carbon dosing, aren't using GFO or lanthanum chloride, then you probably don't have too low of phosphate. You have algae, after all.

PHOSPHATE ULTRA LOW RANGE PPM. thank you

 

[SicZ06]

The protein skimmer mainly remove nitrates. It shouldn't be affecting your phosphates.

good info, I will turn back on thank you