Low nitrate, high phos, history of dinos

[DrMMI]

So I had a history of dinos due to running 0 nitrate and phosphate for too long. Fast forward 8 months and I managed to finally get the dinos under control. They're 95% gone, but there is still some in the back corners of the tank where the flow is low. In the process of getting rid of dinos, I stopped water changes, stopped nopox, and fed heavier. I've slowly started doing some small water changes again and so far, so good. My nitrates are about 5ppm (Elos) with dosing nitrate every day, but my phosphates are 0.3ppm (Hanna phosphorous ULR). Other than a small amount of GHA in the refugium and the little bit of remaining dinos in the corners, I don't have an algae issue (My army of tangs makes sure of that). So my question is, is it worth reducing the phosphate? My auto feeder accidently dumped too much food one day and my phos went to 0.5ppm. I used some phosguard and got it back to 0.3ppm, but it seems like I can't go any lower. Or do I risk bringing back the dinos by hooking up my GFO and getting my phosphate down to a more reasonable <0.1ppm or do I just leave it where it is?

 

[HuduVudu]

Stop futzing with the tank.

Get your water changes back in order and let the tank stabilize. I wouldn't hook the GFO back up but that is just me. Remember less is more.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So I had a history of dinos due to running 0 nitrate and phosphate for too long. Fast forward 8 months and I managed to finally get the dinos under control. They're 95% gone, but there is still some in the back corners of the tank where the flow is low. In the process of getting rid of dinos, I stopped water changes, stopped nopox, and fed heavier. I've slowly started doing some small water changes again and so far, so good. My nitrates are about 5ppm (Elos) with dosing nitrate every day, but my phosphates are 0.3ppm (Hanna phosphorous ULR). Other than a small amount of GHA in the refugium and the little bit of remaining dinos in the corners, I don't have an algae issue (My army of tangs makes sure of that). So my question is, is it worth reducing the phosphate? My auto feeder accidently dumped too much food one day and my phos went to 0.5ppm. I used some phosguard and got it back to 0.3ppm, but it seems like I can't go any lower. Or do I risk bringing back the dinos by hooking up my GFO and getting my phosphate down to a more reasonable <0.1ppm or do I just leave it where it is?

With some dinos still present, I wouldn't try to reduce nutrients at this time.

 

[DrMMI]

Is there any harm in letting the phosphates continue to rise? Is there a point where I should say, ok time to knock it down a little. So far, all my coral seem to be totally fine with the current level.

 

[HuduVudu]

Corals like food, phosphate is food for them. If you re-implement water changes you will curb the phosphates from getting too high.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is there any harm in letting the phosphates continue to rise? Is there a point where I should say, ok time to knock it down a little. So far, all my coral seem to be totally fine with the current level.

IMO, that's an open question without a perfect answer.

This tank has phosphate of 1.24 ppm and nitrate above 50 ppm:

Skeptical Reefkeeping 9: Test Kits, Chasing Numbers and Phosphate

By Rich Ross and Chris Jury There are many standard parameters in the reefkeeping world that aquarists strive to match in their home reefs – water quality,

reefs.com

 

[DrMMI]

IMO, that's an open question without a perfect answer.

This tank has phosphate of 1.24 ppm and nitrate above 50 ppm:

Skeptical Reefkeeping 9: Test Kits, Chasing Numbers and Phosphate

By Rich Ross and Chris Jury There are many standard parameters in the reefkeeping world that aquarists strive to match in their home reefs – water quality,

reefs.com

Nice! Talk about reef goals!