Is GFO harming my soft corals?

[vetteguy53081]

Do you think it’s upsetting my soft corals tho?

It can quickly strip phos and even nitrate and make corals unhappy. Also assure you are counting 10 gals and not 13.5 as you have to count displacement with rocks, etc taking up volume

 

[19Mateo83]

Hi all I’m running a 13.5 gallon nano. It’s 7 months old now. Things are mostly good with the tank. I’m content with the 2 fish I have in the tank, along with some clean up crew. Tank is mostly softies and a few LPS and encrusters. I’m pretty content with the corals I have but was considering 1/2 Scolys for the finishing touch.
I’ve had some green algae on my sand bed as well. I bought a better pump and that didn’t seem to do much. The own of my LFS suggested that if I wanted to do the Scolys I should really have my phosphates around .01. He then recommended that GFO would help reduce my phosphates and combat the green algae.
I did a water change Saturday morning and then added the GFO to my back filter in a media sock.
The recommended amount to use is 1ML per gallon. Seeing as I have rocks in the tank I used 10ML for about 10 gallons. It’s now Wednesday my phosphates haven’t lowered at all still at .25 and I’m noticing my softies, esp mushrooms and GSP don’t seem as open and happy since Tuesday. Is the GFO causing this? Am I better without it? Should I use less? How long to see reduction in phosphates?

My levels are (15 mins ago):
PH 8.15
Nitrate: 25
ALk: 8.0
Call: 420
Mag:1260
Phos:0.25
Salinity: 1.025
Temp: 78

I’m using Brightwell Aquatics phosphate absorption resin.

My numbers aren’t too far off from yours. Stability is the key. As long as you can keep it stable you should be successful…saying that, your rocks and sand are likely binding some phosphate and it may take a little bit to see any reduction. Personally, I would try to bring up that mag to the 1400 level and drop the nitrate a touch as well. LPS seem to like a little more phos in the water. But…. Whatever you do make sure to do it gradually.

I know it’s apples to oranges but here’s my parameters.
Ph-8.15
Sg-1.025
Po4-.20
No3-15
Alk-8.0-8.5
Mag-1400
Cal-450

 

[ReefKeeper666]

It can quickly strip phos and even nitrate and make corals unhappy. Also assure you are counting 10 gals and not 13.5 as you have to count displacement with rocks, etc taking up volume

Did it exactly that way. 10mil for 10 gallons due to the rocks.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

and to answer your question about vacuuming. i dont use those battery powered ones. i use a syphon. your lfs should have a smaller one that would work . its hard without seeing your tanks layout. maybe just a turkey baster would work?