Best way to safely lower high phosphates??

[Rmckoy]

It's API so 10 ppm

Phosphates ?
I think we might be talking about different nutrient

 

[CoralB]

I’ve had good success using rowaphos but if I find my phosphates too high I slow down feeding , and use phosphate -E . I use the minimum dose over a few days or until the phosphates get to where I want it to be .i add the dose of phosphate -E to the overflow in the back of the tank which takes it into the sump , I use Hanna ultra low range phosphate checker to check it .

 

[NashobaTek]

Phosphates ?
I think we might be talking about different nutrient

Yes API phosphate test

 

[Rmckoy]

Yes API phosphate test

10ppm phosphates .
wow .......

Perhaps faulty test or test error ?
have you tried confirming it with a different test ?

 

[1Meshy]

Rowaphos is good ..
I have a 230 gal with only a small reactor .
I started off with one reactor with 23 table
Spoons carbon and the other had 13 tablespoons rowaphos .
I have changed that about a month later to double the amount of rowaphos .
Now running with 1tbs / 10 gal ratio .

instead of increasing again I am looking for different options .

Oh I see. Maybe rowaphos will work better in my favor since my tank is smaller than yours?

 

[NashobaTek]

10ppm phosphates .
wow .......

Perhaps faulty test or test error ?
have you tried confirming it with a different test ?

Yep that's the cards. I'm waiting for the salfiert test to get here. Also waiting for a skimmer

 

[Rmckoy]

Oh I see. Maybe rowaphos will work better in my favor since my tank is smaller than yours?

The only advice I can give you .
test phosphates often . You don’t want them to drop to zero .
and might have to adjust the amount or flow through the reactor

 

[Rmckoy]

Yep that's the cards. I'm waiting for the salfiert test to get here. Also waiting for a skimmer

How long has the system been running ?
When did you notice them that high ?

 

[NashobaTek]

How long has the system been running ?
When did you notice them that high ?

Headed for 2 yrs, 6 months ago. Been fighting gha figured it might be phosphate. It's only fish and 1 toadstool coral that's growing but slowly.

I want to get it to the point of being able to have coral.

 

[1Meshy]

Yep that's the cards. I'm waiting for the salfiert test to get here. Also waiting for a skimmer

Wait, are your phosphates at 10ppm??

 

[CoralB]

Agree with Rmckoy about not letting your phosphates dropping to zero . That could make you susceptible to other issues like Dino’s

 

[NashobaTek]

Wait, are your phosphates at 10ppm??

According to API test yes.

 

[1Meshy]

Headed for 2 yrs, 6 months ago. Been fighting gha figured it might be phosphate. It's only fish and 1 toadstool coral that's growing but slowly.

I want to get it to the point of being able to have coral.

Sorry to hear that, dude. I know you'll lower them enough at some point. Just use the advice everyone is giving me for phosphates lol

 

[1Meshy]

Agree with Rmckoy about not letting your phosphates dropping to zero . That could make you susceptible to other issues like Dino’s

For sure. I don't want them to be at zero anyways ahaha. My main goal is around 0.03ppm

 

[NashobaTek]

Sorry to hear that, dude. I know you'll lower them enough at some point. Just use the advice everyone is giving me for phosphates lol

Lol, I'm a dudette. I'm reading all of the comments I can find on getting phosphate down.

 

[mexi757]

Please let me know a good way besides small water changes as this is mine.

 

[1Meshy]

Please let me know a good way besides small water changes as this is mine.

Why not try out the advice that was given to me too? I think the phosphate rx should help :)

 

[Rmckoy]

Lol, I'm a dudette. I'm reading all of the comments I can find on getting phosphate down.

What size is the tank ?
If it’s only fish .
have you thought of removing rocks and substrate ,
Throughly washing and soaking ?

 

[NashobaTek]

What size is the tank ?
If it’s only fish .
have you thought of removing rocks and substrate ,
Throughly washing and soaking ?

125, and yes I'm seriously thinking that I need to remove the rocks.
My biggest concern is the huge pod population being decimated by removing the rocks and sand and washing.

 

[Rmckoy]

125, and yes I'm seriously thinking that I need to remove the rocks.
My biggest concern is the huge pod population being decimated by removing the rocks and sand and washing.

I don’t know if o would be comfortable removing all rocks and sand all at once .
but it would be pointless to do little bits at a time .