Let's talk phosphate levels

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for folks responding so far. :)

As one can see from the varied responses, it is complicated. :)

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

To address the question of efforts to lower phosphate, I have used GFO in a reactor to go from .40-.50 down to .10 and under. Granted, in a 2-3 month old tank, this was short sighted but I did inherit some expensive coral so I didnt want the tank to go south. GFO is pretty powerful stuff so even at a quarter of the recommended amount, it brought down PO4 within a day or 2. Luckily, the swing didn't affect the coral. I didn't have any SPS at the time.

Now I dont use any nutrient control other than a skimmer. No3 sits at 10 and PO4 sites at .15-.25.

 

[Msz3389]

I regret ever using Rowaphos to drop phosphate after a recommendation, my corals started bleaching, devils hand acts funny and most of them unhappy. Decided to remove GFO AND LET PHOSPHATE RUN ITS COURSE. sorry for the caps but its frustrating

 

[Ancient Mariner]

My phosphate has varied from 0 early on to a current state of 0.5 with great Acropora growth at all levels. I take no intervention at any level.

 

[BriDroid]

I just want to get mine to stay above 0ppm a few hours after dosing!

 

[BryanM]

I'm too newbie to know. My tank started at almost .8... I've dosed LC for quite some time to get it down to .18, but its probably way up again due to the recent tank swap and substrate change.

I'm only lowering it to see if it helps with algae or not.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

To address the question of efforts to lower phosphate, I have used GFO in a reactor to go from .40-.50 down to .10 and under. Granted, in a 2-3 month old tank, this was short sighted but I did inherit some expensive coral so I didnt want the tank to go south. GFO is pretty powerful stuff so even at a quarter of the recommended amount, it brought down PO4 within a day or 2. Luckily, the swing didn't affect the coral. I didn't have any SPS at the time.

Now I dont use any nutrient control other than a skimmer. No3 sits at 10 and PO4 sites at .15-.25.

Any change in corals after the initial drop?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm only lowering it to see if it helps with algae or not.

unlikely, but that's another story. ;)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I just want to get mine to stay above 0ppm a few hours after dosing!

Dose more.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I regret ever using Rowaphos to drop phosphate after a recommendation, my corals started bleaching, devils hand acts funny and most of them unhappy. Decided to remove GFO AND LET PHOSPHATE RUN ITS COURSE. sorry for the caps but its frustrating

What levels are we talking about?

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Any change in corals after the initial drop?

the only thing I cant get right are torch coral. Lost a head recently and the other heads have retracted

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

the only thing I cant get right are torch coral. Lost a head recently and the other heads have retracted

And that tracks in time with the phosphate drop?

 

[Luigi Reefs]

Is it possible that with increased volume of coral, one would need an increased level of phosphate? Perhaps titrating the acceptable amount upwards as coral volume increases? Could explain why some systems work well with higher levels, and some don't.

FYI - this is PURE spit-balling here. I am, under no circumstances, an expert.

 

[areefer01]

For purposes of this question, let's ignore any and all effects relating to pest algae, cyano, fish, etc.

Just coral effects for both hard and soft corals of all types. Effects can be color, growth rates, expansion/inflation, or a general perception of health. Please give some explanation in the follow up posts if you saw some type of positive effect.

I voted above 1 ppm, lowered, and saw no difference. Not in color. Not in growth. Not even in fragility. One note. I am not one to constantly buy corals or fish. My motivation or inspiration is to buy a frag and watch it grow over time into a large colony. Also I should point out that if something didn't like the environment I didn't focus on that one coral as all of the others are doing fine. So maybe this is why it works for me? I don't know.

I do know that I preferred to not worry about it if I am being honest. More so because the display was fine either way and lowering it by LC or GFO is time consuming.

The graph below is my current display which is 210 gallons. Mixed reef.

The graph below is the same display with my attempting to lower phosphate using various means (LC or GFO).

More recent testing levels:

Sample corals:

JoeBerry/Red Planet:

Today:

Biota Palau Acropora (mutated meatball)

Same coral today. Also upper left is a BC Efflo 2.0:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is it possible that with increased volume of coral, one would need an increased level of phosphate? Perhaps titrating the acceptable amount upwards as coral volume increases? Could explain why some systems work well with higher levels, and some don't.

FYI - this is PURE spit-balling here. I am, under no circumstances, an expert.

I'm not seeing a rationale. Corals do not know much about what other consumers of phosphate are nearby, just the local concentration around them.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I voted above 1 ppm, lowered, and saw no difference. Not in color. Not in growth. Not even in fragility. One note. I am not one to constantly buy corals or fish. My motivation or inspiration is to buy a frag and watch it grow over time into a large colony. Also I should point out that if something didn't like the environment I didn't focus on that one coral as all of the others are doing fine. So maybe this is why it works for me? I don't know.

I do know that I preferred to not worry about it if I am being honest. More so because the display was fine either way and lowering it by LC or GFO is time consuming.

The graph below is my current display which is 210 gallons. Mixed reef.

The graph below is the same display with my attempting to lower phosphate using various means (LC or GFO).

More recent testing levels:

Sample corals:

JoeBerry/Red Planet:

Today:

Biota Palau Acropora (mutated meatball)

Same coral today. Also upper left is a BC Efflo 2.0:

Thanks. :)

 

[Reign1]

Been having issues with low phosphate. I had it around .05-.08. As of late it has dropped and been almost undetectable.. I have been dosing now and feed coral food. When it is low my efflo frag gets pale.

 

[areefer01]

Thanks. :)

You are welcome. Hope your day is well.

 

[bcarl77]

I historically ran the tank closer to 0.2ppm. It has crept up to 0.5ppm last 6 months or so. I feel like my tenuis (other acros seem okay) do not have the same polyp extension, torch tissue is not as strong ad robust, and seeing a lot less coralline on the glass. Hard to say that the phosphate is the only factor though...

 

[mapman]

I have 3 nano tanks that were struggling with Phosphates and Nitrates. 1ppm+ Phosphates and 50 Nitrates, started dosing vinegar and using phosguard and got them down to 20 Nitrates and 0.03-.1 phosphate. I can see better PE and corals look happier. The gonis have definitely showed the most improvement.