Accidental Phosphate overdose >5ppm

[Brad_95]

hey everyone, I was preparing my new phosphate concentration for dosing and without thinking I accidentally turned on my dosing pump and accidentally dumped the entire container into my tank. It’s 230g total water volume and the mixture I made was 10g trisodium phosphate in 150mL of RODI water. If my math is right, my phosphate level inside the tank is probably hovering around 7ppm. I was dosing phosphate to help keep my nutrients balanced after a nasty round of dinos. I’m planning on running right to the pet store first thing in the morning to get some GFO, but I don’t know what else to do currently. I’m in the process of making more saltwater to do a water change but I’m worried that won’t be enough.

 

[bluemon]

Good news is, phosphate is on the more innocuous things as far as overdosing goes. Won’t outright kill things fast.

I would suggest aluminum based phosphate removal with such high phosphate

 

[Miami Reef]

If probably use lanthanum to bind the PO4. Much cheaper.

I don’t like aluminum based products. I prefer iron-based (GFO) when given the choice.

 

[bluemon]

If probably use lanthanum to bind the PO4. Much cheaper.

I don’t like aluminum based products. I prefer iron-based (GFO) when given the choice.

I agree aluminum can be riskier, but given the high phosphates and big water volume, GFO might get quite expensive

Edit: I was confusing lanthanum with aluminum; lanthanum is the quicker acting one that precipitates, can be a bit risky as it can get into the tank, but definitely the fastest.

That’s what I meant to recommend, thanks @Miami Reef

 

[Miami Reef]

Ah. Yes, some people report issues with tangs. It’s pretty hit or miss, with no understanding of the mechanism that results in it.

Aluminum-based medias can release soluble Al, which can irritate some corals, notably leather corals.

I agree GFO will be a more expensive option relative to lanthanum.

 

[GSPClown94]

If my math is right, my phosphate level inside the tank is probably hovering around 7ppm

Does your math account for the amount of phosphate absorbed by any rock or sand that is in the tank?

 

[Brad_95]

Does your math account for the amount of phosphate absorbed by any rock or sand that is in the tank?

It does not, how much do they absorb?

 

[Brad_95]

If probably use lanthanum to bind the PO4. Much cheaper.

I don’t like aluminum based products. I prefer iron-based (GFO) when given the choice.

Is lanthanum pretty efficient? How fast should I work to lower my levels?

 

[Biokabe]

Is lanthanum pretty efficient? How fast should I work to lower my levels?

It's pretty fast when you dose correctly, can easily lower 0.3-0.5 ppm per day.

It can cause problems if you don't dose correctly, though. Basically, it works by binding to the free phosphate and forming a particulate in your water. It's a very fine particulate - I think somewhere around 5 microns, maybe smaller. If you go slow, it's not too bad, but there have been reliable reports of distress and even death in some fish (most commonly tangs).

If you're at all worried about impacts on your fish (and you should be), the preferred methodology is to divert some or all of your flow into a 5 micron or smaller filter sock, and dose into the sock. The particulate forms in the sock and is filtered out, allowing you lower your phosphates with minimal danger to your fish. Keep in mind that those socks clog quickly when the pore sizes are so tiny, so you will need to clean out the socks regularly.

There's also a way to dose into your protein skimmer, but I haven't personally done that so you'll need to research that on your own.

You can dose directly into your sump if you like living dangerously, I personally wouldn't.

 

[GSPClown94]

It does not, how much do they absorb?

That’s a good question, I don’t know but it can be a lot depending on how much rock and sand you have. You might want to consider actually testing before trying to make any corrections.

 

[GARRIGA]

Couldn’t one use aluminum based plus an absorbent such CupriSorb? Applied simultaneously and based on amount of aluminum based such as Phosguard to remove 1ppm daily? Haven’t used both in years but don’t recall it being expensive.

As for GFO cost. What’s the cost of losing tangs if unable to quickly find a one micron sock? Assuming one has tangs. Otherwise lanthanum cheapest and fast and easiest to control. I didn’t use a one micron sock. No issues. Also no tangs.

 

[MBruun]

With this much phosphate to be removed, you could consider using aragonite sand to absorb at least some of the phosphate.
Pumping water slowly through aragonite sand in an external bin, bucket or whatever, as a temporary filter. Haven't done the math of how much is needed

 

[VintageReefer]

do tou have a reactor to run gfo or Phosguard in?

I prefer phosguard, you can get a big tub on Amazon, or doesn’t clump like gfo, it’s more forgiving with flow requirements and it is easier to clean/replace in the reactor

I tried gfo many times, it works but constantly needed flow adjustments and I just found it to be annoying

 

[KStatefan]

It does not, how much do they absorb?

It does not matter any thing that the rock absorbed is going to be released back to the water as you drop the phosphate.

 

[Brad_95]

That’s a good question, I don’t know but it can be a lot depending on how much rock and sand you have. You might want to consider actually testing before trying to make any corrections.

Valid point. I have about 200lbs of rock and same for sand. I tested with a Hanna checker last night but it was out of range so all I know for certain was it was over 0.99

 

[Brad_95]

Couldn’t one use aluminum based plus an absorbent such CupriSorb? Applied simultaneously and based on amount of aluminum based such as Phosguard to remove 1ppm daily? Haven’t used both in years but don’t recall it being expensive.

As for GFO cost. What’s the cost of losing tangs if unable to quickly find a one micron sock? Assuming one has tangs. Otherwise lanthanum cheapest and fast and easiest to control. I didn’t use a one micron sock. No issues. Also no tangs.

I’d prefer to avoid lanthanum as I have three tangs currently.

 

[GARRIGA]

x

 

[GARRIGA]

I’d prefer to avoid lanthanum as I have three tangs currently.

Valid concern. Although seems some success dosing through 1 micron sock although I’ve not been able to source said sock.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As I mentioned in the duplicate thread, going slow is very desirable. A rapid drop may be worse than the elevated P to begin with.

knowing the actual level by diluting the sample with new salt water is also useful.

 

[Brad_95]

As I mentioned in the duplicate thread, going slow is very desirable. A rapid drop may be worse than the elevated P to begin with.

knowing the actual level by diluting the sample with new salt water is also useful.

Thanks Randy, not sure how I made two of these threads. Granted it was 1am my time and was definitely a bit groggy! Once the salt mix is done and I dilute my tank water I’ll keep everyone updated on what the reading is.