0.7 Phosphates, time for GFO?

[reef guy 56]

No gold doesn’t corrode in seawater. You can Google it platinum and gold. Do not corrode in seawater.

 

[reef guy 56]

None us have actually studied marine biology so for all we know, iodine and strontium levels could actually be the problem.

 

[reef guy 56]

I also read that there’s a little bit of uranium and seawater

 

[ReefingDreams]

Correct, but that is not what you actually said, what I was replying to was your statement that a 50% water change would bring the OP’s po4 lvl down to 0.35 which wouldn’t be the case….maybe a few 50% water changes would start to see a reduction.

Seems to be a strange point to hang on to. The measurement he's getting is phosphate in the water column. My response is in that context as well. No matter the method they use, they will have to deal with leaching until they are at a level they desire. 0.7PPM is indicative of a tank that hasn't received appropriate water changes (for the size or equipment being used). Water changes are pretty fool proof, especially for mid-size and smaller tanks. Unsure of OP's tank size.

 

[sfin52]

None us have actually studied marine biology so for all we know, iodine and strontium levels could actually be the problem.

Most don't have a problem being high rather they are low.

 

[ReefingDreams]

None us have actually studied marine biology so for all we know, iodine and strontium levels could actually be the problem.

Our reference point is the coral reefs where these corals come from. Don't need a marine biology degree to match natural seawater. Many trace elements have been studied and their biological functions are known (to a degree). Other trace elements present have no currently known biological function. I'd recommend some more research.

 

[areefer01]

Correct, but that is not what you actually said, what I was replying to was your statement that a 50% water change would bring the OP’s po4 lvl down to 0.35 which wouldn’t be the case….maybe a few 50% water changes would start to see a reduction.

There is a water change calculator ....

 

[Spare time]

What does trace elements do besides color?

I don't even think they are related to color. I am pretty sure that is just a marketing gimmick. They do, however, have other functions.

 

[One Reefing Boi]

Wow okay lots to go through here

It’s a 4 year old 50 gal AIO Waterbox

 

[Gribbles]

I also read that there’s a little bit of uranium and seawater

You really should stop posting. I'm not sure you're not a troll, and here You've derailed this poor guys thread.

 

[Gribbles]

As title says, I’ve been having Phopshates creep up and up with no luck on making it stop. Time for GFO? My sps are starting to lose a bit of color but still are growing and have good PE. Dosing nitrates as well and trying to get them above 10

Alk: 6 (raising slowly to about 9.5)
Calc: 410
Mag: 1455
PO4 0.7 (not 0.07)
NO3 6.0

All tested using Hannah testers

Can you tell us a little about the tank? What methods do you currently use to export phosphate?

Not GFO
Lanthanum chloride?
Carbon dosing?
Refugium?

I'm not an expert by any means, but pictures would also help those that are

 

[EricR]

Wow okay lots to go through here

It’s a 4 year old 50 gal AIO Waterbox

FWIW, my response to my interpretation of the original question would be:
Yes, GFO seems like a reasonable method to lower phosphates (IMO).

I'd say try it and monitor via testing.
*I'm not sure what the dangers are of dropping PO4 TOO quickly so just be cautious (((your corals have acclimated to this over 4 years so???)))

Like some others have stated, I've struggled more with the opposite problem but have used GFO as a kind of brief maintenance tool a couple of times and it worked way more quickly than I expected,,, but that was when I was approaching more like 0.20 ppm (in case that even matters)

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

As title says, I’ve been having Phopshates creep up and up with no luck on making it stop. Time for GFO? My sps are starting to lose a bit of color but still are growing and have good PE. Dosing nitrates as well and trying to get them above 10

Alk: 6 (raising slowly to about 9.5)
Calc: 410
Mag: 1455
PO4 0.7 (not 0.07)
NO3 6.0

All tested using Hannah testers

I might say at an Alk of 6-dKH the corals might lose color or melt.

PO4 at 0.7 is not super high. I would head in the direction of trying to lower it.

 

[Reef.]

Seems to be a strange point to hang on to. The measurement he's getting is phosphate in the water column. My response is in that context as well. No matter the method they use, they will have to deal with leaching until they are at a level they desire. 0.7PPM is indicative of a tank that hasn't received appropriate water changes (for the size or equipment being used). Water changes are pretty fool proof, especially for mid-size and smaller tanks. Unsure of OP's tank size.

The point I was hanging on to was the point you made, not what you meant to say or should have said.

You said if the op did a 50% water change the po4 lvl would drop to 50% which is not the case, you then corrected yourself, which was good for those that may have followed your first statement and not got the results you claimed they should have gotten.

 

[ReefingDreams]

The point I was hanging on to was the point you made, not what you meant to say or should have said.

You said if the op did a 50% water change the po4 lvl would drop to 50% which is not the case, you then corrected yourself, which was good for those that may have followed your first statement and not got the results you claimed they should have gotten.

You're still ignoring the whole point that the water is what is being tested and changed. Leaching phosphates doesn't change the fact that 50% of the phosphates that showed on the test (i.e. level in the water) were removed. That's fact, regardless of where the equilibrium is met and what leaches after the fact. You can only manage what you can measure.

You're arguing semantics here, and it's really unnecessary. We are both correct.

 

[Scooters Reef]

What does trace elements do besides color?

Trace elements are essential for biological functions within the coral and its symbionts.
Example:
Iron promotes photosynthetic activity in algae, both for zooxanthellae in the corals and macro algae.

It’s a deep rabbit hole but worth the dig. It’s fascinating stuff and trace elements are absolutely necessary and important.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

A 50% water change will knock that down to 0.35. GFO is going to impact your trace as well.

Not likely... Phosphate is often bound in the rocks.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

None us have actually studied marine biology so for all we know, iodine and strontium levels could actually be the problem.

Maybe YOU haven't studied marine biology...

 

[Viking_Reefing]

They are keeping acros. Trace absolutely matters. Trace matters for all corals. Not to be a jerk, but you really need to gain some experience before making recommendations. I'd recommend listening and learning, then applying and experiencing before making recommendations.

Completely OT but do they though? The actual scientific proof for that is fairly lackluster.

Counterpoint: 2-3 decades ago we were keeping thriving reef tanks without so much as a thought of trace elements and no way to replenish them if you don’t count water changes…which isn’t a feasible way to maintain them in anything but the smallest of systems.

 

[reef guy 56]

Maybe YOU haven't studied marine biology...

I have in my spare time.