Best phosphate additive?

[Cassian]

hello all,
Im looking to dose PO4 into my mixed reef tank because they are 0 and have been for a while, even with increased feeding. A lot of people are telling me this may be what is wrong with my tank, so im going to give it a shot. Ive seen Seachem Flourish Phosphorous recommend, but its for freshwater planets tanks. Any suggestions here?

#reefsquad #dosing

 

[sfin52]

Seachem flourish phosphate. Make sure its phosphate. Be careful the tock will absorb it and than slowly release. You may see a huge increase of algae. Be ready to add a good amount of cuc

 

[ScottB]

hello all,
Im looking to dose PO4 into my mixed reef tank because they are 0 and have been for a while, even with increased feeding. A lot of people are telling me this may be what is wrong with my tank, so im going to give it a shot. Ive seen Seachem Flourish Phosphorous recommend, but its for freshwater planets tanks. Any suggestions here?

#reefsquad #dosing

Yes, that will work fine. Neo Phos is another premix.

Are you using a Hanna Checker to measure PO4? Most other test kits don't have the resolution you need to detect PO4 in lower concentrations. If you are going to begin dosing PO4 (or dosing anything for that matter) you need a quality test kit.

 

[Cassian]

Yes, that will work fine. Neo Phos is another premix.

Are you using a Hanna Checker to measure PO4? Most other test kits don't have the resolution you need to detect PO4 in lower concentrations. If you are going to begin dosing PO4 (or dosing anything for that matter) you need a quality test kit.

Thank you! I do have a test kit, but I am ordering a Hanna ULR Phosphate today

 

[ScottB]

Thank you! I do have a test kit, but I am ordering a Hanna ULR Phosphate today

Excellent. Grab a couple extra reagent packs as well. It is CRITICAL that both test vials remain spotless clean. Rinse with RODI after use. I wear nitrile gloves when handling the vials because a slight smudge throws the results off.

 

[Cassian]

Excellent. Grab a couple extra reagent packs as well. It is CRITICAL that both test vials remain spotless clean. Rinse with RODI after use. I wear nitrile gloves when handling the vials because a slight smudge throws the results off.

ThanKs for the tips!

 

[saltyhog]

What ScottB said. I don't use both vials when testing like a lot of folks do though. I always handle them and wipe them down with a lint free cloth. Also I use the 10 on the vial label to align with the latch on the lid. That way the vial is oriented exactly the same each step of the test. By doing that I can obtain repeatability of 1-2 ppb (I use the older Phosphorous ULR).

I keep a bottle of RO/DI in a spray bottle near my testing area and triple rinse them after every use.

 

[Cassian]

What ScottB said. I don't use both vials when testing like a lot of folks do though. I always handle them and wipe them down with a lint free cloth. Also I use the 10 on the vial label to align with the latch on the lid. That way the vial is oriented exactly the same each step of the test. By doing that I can obtain repeatability of 1-2 ppb (I use the older Phosphorous ULR).

I keep a bottle of RO/DI in a spray bottle near my testing area and triple rinse them after every use.

thank you!

 

[Idoc]

I use Seachem Flourish Phospherous as needed for Po4 dosing...works great.

I second the use of only 1 vial when using the Hanna Ultra Low Range PO4 checker...standardizes the readings.

 

[Colemansreef]

What ScottB said. I don't use both vials when testing like a lot of folks do though. I always handle them and wipe them down with a lint free cloth. Also I use the 10 on the vial label to align with the latch on the lid. That way the vial is oriented exactly the same each step of the test. By doing that I can obtain repeatability of 1-2 ppb (I use the older Phosphorous ULR).

I keep a bottle of RO/DI in a spray bottle near my testing area and triple rinse them after every use.

Like one for tank water and one for water with reagent? And use a k water for c1 and the one with reagent for c2? Never knew people did that if that’s what you mean. It I agree with you I use one and I have a little squirt bottle type thing like tattoo artist use for soap and I fill it with rodi and once I fill the vial with tank water I rinse it in that rodi then dry with paper towel make sure no lint or smudges and always face the 10ml emblem to the front and always handle the vial with a clean paper towel in between steps.then clean with tap and rinse with rodi at the end.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I know this is an old thread, but I will add to it for new readers: the best material for dosing phosphate (IMO) is food grade sodium phosphate (not sodium tripolyphosphate). It is much less expensive and carries a purity assurance that the hobby brands mentioned above do not.

 

[TheDuude]

You can have some of my tank water, po4 through the roof

 

[javajaws]

@Randy Holmes-Farley - Dibasic?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley - Dibasic?

Dibasic is fine.

The choices are:

monosodium phosphate, NaH2PO4 (monobasic)
disodium phosphate, Na2HPO4 (dibasic)
trisodium phosphate, Na3PO4 (tribasic)

All forms are pretty much equally usable. The only difference is very tiny additions (trisodium) or depletions (monosodium) of alkalinity.

 

[e34stx]

Im using Tropic Marin Phos-Feed with great results so far. although im not disputing other suggestions, i noticed my sps skin looks thick and puffy since using this. i needed to dose as my po4 was undetectable and dinos started to form on my rock work. its been 3 weeks elevating nutrients and the sps look better than ever. 2x scopes each day for around 2 weeks as dispite dosing the po4 bound to the rocks. now im sitting around 0.08-0.1ppm.

 

[Willito]

I can only find Tricalcium Phosphate (food grade) in my area, could I use this instead of Sodium Phosphate? Also could someone share the mixing recipe for this please.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No, calcium phosphate will not dissolve. There’s nothing with various combinations of sodium and phosphate in the name?

 

[Willito]

Thanks for the info, I’ll stay away from calcium phosphate. I am in Canada and been searching online for any mono/di/tri sodium phosphate as food grade with no luck. I did find some that are ACS reagent grade or Lab/Research grade, with caution not to be used as food or on animals. Would it be safe to use this grade in a 550g mixed reef?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the info, I’ll stay away from calcium phosphate. I am in Canada and been searching online for any mono/di/tri sodium phosphate as food grade with no luck. I did find some that are ACS reagent grade or Lab/Research grade, with caution not to be used as food or on animals. Would it be safe to use this grade in a 550g mixed reef?

ACS reagent grade is perfect. It has stringent specifications. I'd avoid things called lab grade, which has no particular meaning.

 

[Willito]

Great thanks, ACS it is.