High phosphates and gorgonian, clam "acting odd"

[BryanM]

So my phosphates were almost .8, started dosing LC, got them down to .23. Stopped dosing because I didn't wnat them to continue to drop...

That was a month ago.

Now, the clam opens up about half way, and the two gorgonians "half" fluff up. So that change prompted me to test again.

All water parameters are good except phospates back up to .77.

Asking experienced people if this change in behavior and higher phosphates makes sense. I GUESS it does, but I don't know.

I started dosing LC again... I'm not trying to chase the .03 type numbers, I was happy with .2, but I do understand that .7 is generally too high.

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When did the apparent organism issues start? When phosphate was high, when it dropped, or when it went back up?

 

[BryanM]

When did the apparent organism issues start? When phosphate was high, when it dropped, or when it went back up?

When it went back up. The gorgonian has always been in the tank - The Derasa clam is around a month in the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't know what the issue may be. A delayed response to the drop, a response to lanthanum (dissolved or particulate as happens soemtimes with tangs), or the rise again.

If it were my tank, I'd do nothing for a while and observe the creatures.

 

[BryanM]

I don't know what the issue may be. A delayed response to the drop, a response to lanthanum (dissolved or particulate as happens soemtimes with tangs), or the rise again.

If it were my tank, I'd do nothing for a while and observe the creatures.

even at .77?

LC shouldn't be getting in to the tank, its being dosed in to a filter sock thats either 1 or 5 microns

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

even at .77?

LC shouldn't be getting in to the tank, its being dosed in to a filter sock thats either 1 or 5 microns

Socks may reduce lanthanum, but won't eliminate dissolved lanthanum or small particles from getting through.

Yes, my recommendation is do nothing and observe for a while. This tank has more phosphate than yours:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/rich-ross-home-tank-guess-the-phosphate.296635/