Very high nitrate and phosphate

[Dr4gula.f32]

I noticed a few mushrooms looking unhappy so I did a test of everything I have, and saw what seems to be 50+ppm nitrate, and 6.8ppm phosphate. Both using red sea liquid tests.

This is a JBJ 65 that I usually change 5-6 gallons of water every weekend. I used a 5 stage rodi system from my kitchen sink. I have not tested the rodi yet. It's next - as in a few minutes from now.

This week I changed about 11 gallons and started 2ml a day of NOPOX. I've cut back on feeding the fish and corals a lot. I have not broadcast fed reefroids in about a month.

What are my next steps here?

phosphate test on the rodi looks to be O

 

[Doctorgori]

Cop some Phosphat E or similar, I’d drop that phosphate to .1
You got options on the Nitrate, none of them particularly easy or quick sans water change
I got a tank @50 ppm Nitrate, stuff looks fine but I hardly endorse it…just saying its not a emergency but yes, get that down also….
Just my opinion/experience but Nopox is a lot slower than macro algae/refugium

 

[Reefering1]

Don't do too much at the same time. Less feeding and carbon dosing take time to show effects.. don't bottom out

 

[Borat]

I noticed a few mushrooms looking unhappy so I did a test of everything I have, and saw what seems to be 50+ppm nitrate, and 6.8ppm phosphate. Both using red sea liquid tests.

This is a JBJ 65 that I usually change 5-6 gallons of water every weekend. I used a 5 stage rodi system from my kitchen sink. I have not tested the rodi yet. It's next - as in a few minutes from now.

This week I changed about 11 gallons and started 2ml a day of NOPOX. I've cut back on feeding the fish and corals a lot. I have not broadcast fed reefroids in about a month.

What are my next steps here?

phosphate test on the rodi looks to be O

Best to show pic of tank, list corals and any fish, feeding routine and tank volume. Why do you get 6ppm phosphates in the first place? It is a bit like a waste sink - difficult to achieve even intentionally..

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

2 of the 7 chambers in the rear of the JBJ are stuffed with Chaeto, they have their own light which runs reverse of the display schedule.

Fish, 3 chromis, 1 maroon lightnight clown, 1 misbar clown, 1 yellow corris wrasse, 1 6 line wrasse, 1 yellow watchman with paired pistol shrimp, 1 firefish, 1 fumanchu lionfish, 2 skunk cleaners, a bunch of snails and a whole list of corals. My 2 bounce mushrooms shriveling up and dying together was what got me wondering what's going on.

 

[Uncle99]

I noticed a few mushrooms looking unhappy so I did a test of everything I have, and saw what seems to be 50+ppm nitrate, and 6.8ppm phosphate. Both using red sea liquid tests.

This is a JBJ 65 that I usually change 5-6 gallons of water every weekend. I used a 5 stage rodi system from my kitchen sink. I have not tested the rodi yet. It's next - as in a few minutes from now.

This week I changed about 11 gallons and started 2ml a day of NOPOX. I've cut back on feeding the fish and corals a lot. I have not broadcast fed reefroids in about a month.

What are my next steps here?

phosphate test on the rodi looks to be O

You mean phosphate 0.68ppm, 6.8ppm would be super high.
Even .68 is high, you looking for .1-.2ppm IMM.

I’ve used Nopox and is does work but slow, it took months of daily doses to go from 50ppm to 10ppm for me. Doesn’t lower phosphate much but some.

I’d run just that route right now and see what effect a couple of months carbon dose will bring.

Once down, I slowly cut back some each day till zero dose.

Very nice system!

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

Nope...I mean 6.8. Using high range, 1ml tank water plus 16ml rodi water gives me .4 multiplied by 17 is 6.8.

If I use the low range test, the color is so dark its not measurable using the supplied color card.

 

[Borat]

2 of the 7 chambers in the rear of the JBJ are stuffed with Chaeto, they have their own light which runs reverse of the display schedule.

Fish, 3 chromis, 1 maroon lightnight clown, 1 misbar clown, 1 yellow corris wrasse, 1 6 line wrasse, 1 yellow watchman with paired pistol shrimp, 1 firefish, 1 fumanchu lionfish, 2 skunk cleaners, a bunch of snails and a whole list of corals. My 2 bounce mushrooms shriveling up and dying together was what got me wondering what's going on.

Mushrooms don't mind dirtier water.. I would not preclude something else going on..

 

[Garf]

Nope...I mean 6.8. Using high range, 1ml tank water plus 16ml rodi water gives me .4 multiplied by 17 is 6.8.

If I use the low range test, the color is so dark its not measurable using the supplied color card.

When diluting for a phos test I always salted the water, as your sample is near enough freshwater. Can’t remember if that would make the reading higher or lower however.

 

[MnFish1]

I noticed a few mushrooms looking unhappy so I did a test of everything I have, and saw what seems to be 50+ppm nitrate, and 6.8ppm phosphate. Both using red sea liquid tests.

This is a JBJ 65 that I usually change 5-6 gallons of water every weekend. I used a 5 stage rodi system from my kitchen sink. I have not tested the rodi yet. It's next - as in a few minutes from now.

This week I changed about 11 gallons and started 2ml a day of NOPOX. I've cut back on feeding the fish and corals a lot. I have not broadcast fed reefroids in about a month.

What are my next steps here?

phosphate test on the rodi looks to be O

Your next steps are IMHO - more water changes - if you want to solve the problem quickly - without changing your set up. I assume your RODI is not the issue. I never feed corals or other trace elements (I feed high quality fish food) - however - depending on the amount of nitrates/PO4 being produced - 11/gallons would result in 11/65 - Lets say a 15 percent or so decrease - which would likely not be measurable with your tests. Instead - recommend this calculator. https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/EffectOfWaterChanges.php

 

[Uncle99]

Nope...I mean 6.8. Using high range, 1ml tank water plus 16ml rodi water gives me .4 multiplied by 17 is 6.8.

If I use the low range test, the color is so dark its not measurable using the supplied color card.

Sorry, just checking. Almost 7ppm phosphate….wow…
That reading would make my corals, super, super unhappy.

 

[Borat]

By the way, your sandbed seems to be a bit too deep...

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

By the way, your sandbed seems to be a bit too deep...

It averages about an inch deep across the whole bottom. I have a pistol goby/pair, and a bullhead goby that move it around a lot

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

I'm gearing up to do a 20g water change tomorrow, and then another this weekend.

Anything to note when changing a large percentage of your display tank water? I figure the working volume of my JBJ65 is probably 55g

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

Changed about 18 gallons today. Down to 3.4 ppm