How fast can I drop Phosphate?

[jasonrusso]

I'm having a GHA issue in my 32 gallon. My Phosphate is between 0.16 and 0.36 on the red sea test. Nitrate is between 5 and 10.

I was going to run phosguard in my media basket. How fast will this drop it, and also will it drop to zero. I understand you want about 0.01 to 0.03. I'm still feeding the fish frozen daily and corals every other.

Will this drop it too fast? Will they gha start dying releasing more p04?

 

[Reefin Dude]

hard question to answer as what you are testing for is not even half the P picture. the more detritus you siphon out the quicker you will get your inorganic P down. Phosguard does not actually go after the source of the P. just the P that it has access to. like turning on the fan in the bathroom instead of just flushing the toilet. running your skimmer wet can also help in getting organics out before they can decompose and become P accessible by the Phosguard. it is all about knowing your enemy.

yes, if you let the GHA die, than as it dies it will release its bound nutrients. best to siphon it out if possible before it dies.

G~

 

[jasonrusso]

hard question to answer as what you are testing for is not even half the P picture. the more detritus you siphon out the quicker you will get your inorganic P down. Phosguard does not actually go after the source of the P. just the P that it has access to. like turning on the fan in the bathroom instead of just flushing the toilet. running your skimmer wet can also help in getting organics out before they can decompose and become P accessible by the Phosguard. it is all about knowing your enemy.

yes, if you let the GHA die, than as it dies it will release its bound nutrients. best to siphon it out if possible before it dies.

G~

Yes, I understand that by removing the P04 that is not the source. I think that I may be the source by overfeeding. I want to bring the level down, correct the feedings, and lessen the algae. My feeling is that when the GHA starts to die, it will get looser and can more easily be siphoned out.

 

[Reefin Dude]

i feel if you need/like to feed that much to maintain the health of your critters, than do not change the feeding, but change your nutrient export methods to keep up with the food inputs.

depends on the GHA. i have stuff that would not break off even with a good pull using my hands, while other GHA the taller stuff would break off with a siphon or your hands. it can get looser as it dies, so yes that does work.

G~

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

Depends of you have any coral in the tank.