How to Safely Dose LaCL

[CheifReeferNB]

How does one safely dose lanthanum chloride to a reef tank with tangs? I have a 200 gallon system with three tangs and a phosphate of 0.25ppm.

I have a spare dosing head I can use, but where do I put the line? I’ve read about using the skimmer or a fine micron sock, but I wanted to see if anyone had tips for safely using this stuff.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not believe there is sufficient information available on the mechanism of tang issues to say with certainty how to do it safely.

Approaches that folks take are very slow dosing into a skimmer, dosing into a filter sock or fleece roller, or just very dilute dosing.

It can be very hard to know what works and what does not when the incidence of a problem is fairly rare to begin with.

I am reluctant to use it for this reason.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, my recommended range for phosphate is 0.06 to 0.3 ppm, so i would not be doing anything about your phosphate at 0.25 ppm.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/

4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.