How to lower PO4.

[Fisherman Joe]

Hi all.

Got my Reef Factory Smart Tester up and running and I have to say I’m impressed. The app works well, the instructions weren’t straight forward but it seems very reproducible.

Now that I can keep a closer eye on my PO4. It seems to drop rapidly when I replace my granular ferric oxide (GFO) because obviously it’s got fresh absorbent material.

It hangs around 0.1, then over a week or so it slowly rises to around 0.15.

I’m now playing a battle where I’m worried about feeding the fish and keeping the PO4 stable. When would you change the GFO, how much would you change? (I’m thinking change half, to avoid a total shock).

Other than this, when running a high stocked tank, how do you reduce PO4?

Can I add more ceramic material to allow for bacteria etc?

I have wrasse and clams so reluctant to use Lanthanum.

 

[Jekyl]

Hi all.

Got my Reef Factory Smart Tester up and running and I have to say I’m impressed. The app works well, the instructions weren’t straight forward but it seems very reproducible.

Now that I can keep a closer eye on my PO4. It seems to drop rapidly when I replace my granular ferric oxide (GFO) because obviously it’s got fresh absorbent material.

It hangs around 0.1, then over a week or so it slowly rises to around 0.15.

I’m now playing a battle where I’m worried about feeding the fish and keeping the PO4 stable. When would you change the GFO, how much would you change? (I’m thinking change half, to avoid a total shock).

Other than this, when running a high stocked tank, how do you reduce PO4?

Can I add more ceramic material to allow for bacteria etc?

I have wrasse and clams so reluctant to use Lanthanum.

Chemipure elite or gfo.

 

[Lavey29]

.15 isn't high. Mine stays .2 to .4 consistently and my tank thrives.

 

[Fisherman Joe]

So you think its better to keep it stable, rather than focus on a number?

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi all.

Got my Reef Factory Smart Tester up and running and I have to say I’m impressed. The app works well, the instructions weren’t straight forward but it seems very reproducible.

Now that I can keep a closer eye on my PO4. It seems to drop rapidly when I replace my granular ferric oxide (GFO) because obviously it’s got fresh absorbent material.

It hangs around 0.1, then over a week or so it slowly rises to around 0.15.

I’m now playing a battle where I’m worried about feeding the fish and keeping the PO4 stable. When would you change the GFO, how much would you change? (I’m thinking change half, to avoid a total shock).

Other than this, when running a high stocked tank, how do you reduce PO4?

Can I add more ceramic material to allow for bacteria etc?

I have wrasse and clams so reluctant to use Lanthanum.

Most folks keep their tanks between about 0.05 and 0.10 ppm phosphate.

Of course there are some that have happy tanks at higher levels but they are normally old established tanks.

If GFO drops your Phosphate to 0.10 and then it rises again it means that the GFO is exhausted and should be replaced. Keep replacing GFO and eventually the phosphate level will drop to whatever level you wish.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you are concerned about a jump down when changing the GFO, you could change just a part of it, and change more often.

 

[Lavey29]

So you think its better to keep it stable, rather than focus on a number?

When my tank was young I worried about it but now that the tank is established I just let it do its thing. I'll add a few drops of phosphate rx here and there but don't see anything negative running slightly elevated phosphate in my SPS dominant mixed reef.

 

[Pistondog]

Your levels are fine.
Your gfo changing routine is also fine.