Advice?

[larrysaltisfun]

I have a 210 gallon tank with 7 LPS Frags, two small hammers, three small frog spawn, and two small trumpets they are all looking good. About eight weeks ago I started dosing phosguard because my phosphates were .53 . nitrates have been stable at 20-25 for the last couple of months

There are nine good sized fish in the tank.

PH 8.2 magnesium 1400 calcium 400 to 450 my DKA has been low between seven and 7.5. I’ve been dosing alkalinity approximately 30 ML‘s a day.

It was recommended that I get my phosphates down below .1 and to shoot to get down slowly to .03 they are currently around .18.

Three questions: as long as the corals look good should I stop chasing the numbers or should I continue working to get my phosphates down?

I’ve read that phosguard can lower DKA, but I thought it was not that much should I just watch the DKA for now or should I increase dosing to get it above eight?

Are Hannah checkers as good for DKA as they are for phosphates, copper and nitrate? I’m using Red Sea and I’m wondering if it could be operator error lol

 

[rishma]

I do not agree with trying to get phosphate down to 0.03. I dose phosphate to keep it between 0.1-0.2.

Hanna phosphate/phosphorus ULR are excellent checkers. Probably the best one, IMO.

 

[tmcca]

I wouldn't use phosguard to lower phosphates. I use Phosphate RX by blue life. If you want to lower phosphates do it gradually. Phosguard can release aluminum thats why I wouldnt use it.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

I do not agree with trying to get phosphate down to 0.03. I dose phosphate to keep it between 0.1-0.2.

Hanna phosphate/phosphorus ULR are excellent checkers. Probably the best one, IMO.

What about their DKA meters?

 

[rishma]

I use the Hanna alkalinity checker. I like it, but there are plenty of good alkalinity test kits.

I don’t think there is a better test kit available for phosphate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I recommend 0.06 to 0.3 ppm phosphate, but higher levels may not be any issue and are better than levels below that range (IMO). I explain why in this article:

Randy’s Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges

Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges by Randy Holmes-Farley Almost nothing in the world of reef aquarium chemistry causes as much discussion as selecting and maintaining ranges for nitrate and phosphate. Some aquarists want low targets, some want...

www.reef2reef.com

As I just posted in another thread, I'm not certain you will see any benefit from lowering phosphate, but assuming you want to, the options include:

1. GFO (you can use as little as you want, so there's no concern going to far)
2. A balanced export method such as growing macroalgae, coupled with adding nitrate or ammonia (I do this one)
3. Lanthanum (you can use as little as you want, so there's no concern going to far, but there is a tang risk)

You can use phosguard, but I am not a fan of it due to aluminum release.