Help with Parameters

[ReefingInTheDesert]

Hey All -

So I have a 65g tank thats been up and running since the beginning of May

Current stock is:

2 x Clowns
1 x Peppermint
1 x Cleaner
a varierty of snails and hermits.
2 x Duncans
2 x RFA - one is very moody
1 x Holo Hammer
2 x GSP for back glass
1 x Moody Leather
and about 4/5 teeny Zoas
And recently, some pods.

Current parameters


Salinity 1.025
Alk 8.6
Phos 0.01
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 11.7 ish
PH 8.2
Temp 78.5

Any ideas why my PHOS is bottoming out? I (strangely) have not entered any Ugly stage, and can see no evidence of algae growth, my water is a little 'milky' not sure if its a bacterial bloom or something else.

Let me know if you need any more information :)

 

[Tangdora]

Did you use live rock or dry rock. Dry rock will suck up phosphate in a new setup.

 

[ReefingInTheDesert]

Did you use live rock or dry rock. Dry rock will suck up phosphate in a new setup.

Yeah dry rock, live (questionable) sand

 

[EnterName]

DIY Phosphate Dosing Recipe

Sometimes phosphate can be so stubbornly low that the only way to meaningfully raise it is by directly dosing phosphate. When you feed foods, you’re adding nitrogen, carbon, and loads of organics. This effect is compounded if you’re trying to offset rocks that initially work against you by...

www.reef2reef.com

My current setup was started 100% dry (rock & sand). It may take quite a while until you get consistent phosphate readings, but you will get there by dosing. I can't recommend overfeeding/ghost feeding in that case. It will just cause trouble later.

Once you have detectable phosphate levels it can take quite long until the ugly phase comes to an end. Starting dry is very slow but maybe the live sand helps a bit. I'm actually impressed that you have detectable nitrate levels, but adding phosphate might drain those once bacteria and algae growth accelerates.