Hello!
So I’m running into an issue with my reef tank, it’s a 40 gal breeder that’s been up for 4 months.
In June 18 my phosphate was at .02 and nitrate at 4.5. In my book those were great numbers.
Fast forward to July 31 I was at .9 phosphate and 0 nitrate. Ridiculous numbers.
So I decided to dose Brightwell aquatics neonitro to 2ppm nitrate.
August 1 I was at .78 phosphate and 1.7 nitrate. Still terrible but I saw improvement which was good.
Today I tested again and I’m back at .9 phosphate and .8 nitrate.
Testing using hanna phosphate ulr, and hanna nitrate hr.
I was hoping the phosphate would keep declining. Now I’m at a loss. I know that nitrate is still being taken up which is a good thing. But I don’t know why phosphate went up again instead of down. Maybe it was the new addition of Benepets reef food I’m trying out? Or perhaps I’m feeding too much pellets? Or maybe I’m Carbon limited?
Either way I bought a bottle of biofuel which is a Carbon source, not going to use it unless both nitrate and phosphate stop dropping. I cut back feeding, only feeding 2 times frozen daily and daily animo acids, nothing else. Going to test again tomorrow morning and check to see if it hopefully drops phosphate on its own now that I cut back feeding.
For info I was feeding 3 times daily mixture of frozen mysis and pe pellets, very tiny tiny amount seeing as I only have a small melanurus wrasse. Daily 5 drops amino acids from Brightwell. Every other day 5 drops fauna marin min s. And recent addition of benepets which I only fed once, which I’m hoping is the issue since it’s the only new change. I also run a proper size skimmer 24/7.
Any input would be greatly greatly appreciated, thank you!
So I’m running into an issue with my reef tank, it’s a 40 gal breeder that’s been up for 4 months.
In June 18 my phosphate was at .02 and nitrate at 4.5. In my book those were great numbers.
Fast forward to July 31 I was at .9 phosphate and 0 nitrate. Ridiculous numbers.
So I decided to dose Brightwell aquatics neonitro to 2ppm nitrate.
August 1 I was at .78 phosphate and 1.7 nitrate. Still terrible but I saw improvement which was good.
Today I tested again and I’m back at .9 phosphate and .8 nitrate.
Testing using hanna phosphate ulr, and hanna nitrate hr.
I was hoping the phosphate would keep declining. Now I’m at a loss. I know that nitrate is still being taken up which is a good thing. But I don’t know why phosphate went up again instead of down. Maybe it was the new addition of Benepets reef food I’m trying out? Or perhaps I’m feeding too much pellets? Or maybe I’m Carbon limited?
Either way I bought a bottle of biofuel which is a Carbon source, not going to use it unless both nitrate and phosphate stop dropping. I cut back feeding, only feeding 2 times frozen daily and daily animo acids, nothing else. Going to test again tomorrow morning and check to see if it hopefully drops phosphate on its own now that I cut back feeding.
For info I was feeding 3 times daily mixture of frozen mysis and pe pellets, very tiny tiny amount seeing as I only have a small melanurus wrasse. Daily 5 drops amino acids from Brightwell. Every other day 5 drops fauna marin min s. And recent addition of benepets which I only fed once, which I’m hoping is the issue since it’s the only new change. I also run a proper size skimmer 24/7.
Any input would be greatly greatly appreciated, thank you!