The fight against P04

[Billy B]

How come my corals suffer when I bring my phosphates down to ranges that are recommend? I do this by using GFO. I use the amount for 12 gallons and my system is 34 gallons so I don’t think I’m over doing it. My tank does best when I don’t fight them and let them be, as high as .33 but usually around
.25. Why is this?

 

[Flippers4pups]

How come my corals suffer when I bring my phosphates down to ranges that are recommend? I do this by using GFO. I use the amount for 12 gallons and my system is 34 gallons so I don’t think I’m over doing it. My tank does best when I don’t fight them and let them be, as high as .33 but usually around
.25. Why is this?

What's your N03 at?

 

[Billy B]

What's your N03 at?

Between 5-10

 

[Flippers4pups]

As long as you're not fighting any nuisance algae, nitrates stay above your phosphates enter corals look healthy, then don't chase it.

 

[Billy B]

As long as you're not fighting any nuisance algae, nitrates stay above your phosphates enter corals look healthy, then don't chase it.

I am fighting Dinos and green hair almost at different times. Dinos when I run the gfo seems to get stronger. When I stop gfo and nutrientes rise the hair algae comes. Should I ride it out and see what damage I can do with water changes?

 

[Flippers4pups]

How old is your system?

 

[Abdullah Al Faruq]

Yes. And stocking. After po4 is stripped off it is having a very quick return. So, there's some balance missing.

 

[Billy B]

How old is your system?

It is about 3 years old

 

[Billy B]

Yes. And stocking. After po4 is stripped off it is having a very quick return. So, there's some balance missing.

I have three fish (pair of clowns and a wrasse). Mixed reef with quite a few corals.

 

[SPR1968]

You will probably find the corals react because they have adapted to the higher levels, and they don’t like sudden changes to water parameters and will tell you so.

If your going to use GFO, then start of with lower amounts at say 25-50% and bring the levels down slowly.

You could also do water changes, but you need something to keep phosphate under control to avoid issues like for, example the GHA which is probably using it for a food source. I run rhowaphos in a reactor and keep it locked down very low at 0.03ppm or thereabouts

You might find this useful

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/

 

[Billy B]

Alright...so I started gfo again using 20% of what the directions call for. Ive noticed that my alk consumption as slowed since I stopped gfo. Could this be because the higher phosphates have changed the amount the corals are able to consume?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Alright...so I started gfo again using 20% of what the directions call for. Ive noticed that my alk consumption as slowed since I stopped gfo. Could this be because the higher phosphates have changed the amount the corals are able to consume?

Could be various things. GFO generally accelerates precipitation of calcium carbonate on it and downstream of it, so less GFO may mean less of that consumption.

 

[Billy B]

Could be various things. GFO generally accelerates precipitation of calcium carbonate on it and downstream of it, so less GFO may mean less of that consumption.

Do you think that I should try and lower my phosphates even though I’m not getting a good response from my corals? Mostly montis are paying the price on the low po4. Couple sps look pale-Ish. This is if I keep it under .08 for weeks.