what is a phosphate???

[Atif]

I m New in this hobby I build a tank 100gallons size is length 48"hight 30" & 20" depth. And sump size is 46" length 17" hight & depth is 17". I used jeebo rw 15 waves maker & protein skimmer reef octopus Nw 150 classic series. 1kg of matrix from secham in sump and stability 300ml for cycling almost I run it from 2 month's. Yesterday I bought two small clown fish and blue lives hermit crabs 2 also today I test phosphate and I m wonder report is 3..!!! I used the RO also and do not used the light during cycling so gays what can I do ??? My salinity is 24 and I want to make reef I used white sand bed almost 3" some base rocks and live rocks also...why my phosphate is to high and brown algi is started in my tank...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are many ways to control phosphate. I use many of them on my system, including skimming, growing macroalgae, organic carbon dosing and GFO.

This article describes them and the importance of phosphate:

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184

I'll also move this post to the NEw to the Hobby forum for more discussion.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm going to guess that your base rock was dry rock.....and if so, the rock has cured in your tank and released phosphate (and nitrates as well....did you test for nitrates?) My suggestion is to do a couple large water changes to get phosphates down to a level that can more easily be handled by a refugium/skimmer/carbon dosing/etc.