Low Nitrates and High Phosphate Issue

[joeev123]

So basically I have been trying to lower my phosphates for couple of months now and hit a wall. I am not sure what to do at this point, because of I feel like I have multiple issues.
I cant grow coraline algae longterm right now, most of it grows and turns white. I have used GFO, liquid phos binder (which work good) but it just end up increasing over next couple days. Currently just put a bag of Rowa phos in, and rates seem to be stable at .22-.24. I been nosing a bit of nitrates in the tank to make sure they dont bottom out. Which did cause some brown algae to grow. Tank glass is getting covered in a about a full 24-36 hours.

I dont feed heavy at all, about a minutes worth of pellets one time a day. I have really good coral grow on like 3 out of my 12 coral the rest are doing ok at best. I cant get my goni and Zoanthids to open up or extand.

My parameters below are around the latest I doing with hanna marine pro. I will post picture tomorrow when the lights are on. Its 125 6 foot tank with full sump.

PH 7.95-8.2
N04 - .3-2.5 - dreases about 1ppm a day with nitrate added
P04 - .16-.34 - been varying everyday
Alk 9.8
Mag 1205
Cal 451

 

[mescobar]

How old is your tank? What kind of rock did you start your tank with?

If you used man made rock its very possible that your rocks are leaching and will continue to leach phosphate for a good 6-12 months. I'd recommend continued use of lanthanum chloride to help export the excess phosphates.

Coraline need a good amount of calcium and magnesium to calcify, I'd recommend keeping these parameters elevated. Ca over 480 and Mg over 1300.

 

[joeev123]

Tanks about 5 years old

My phosphates a year ago were .9 I been slowly tryin to get them under control

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The phosphate is not stopping the coralline growth, assuming it is accurate. I have phosphate in the 0.3 ppm range and coralline grows very well.

Your level is also within my recommended target range of about 0.05 ppm to 0.3 ppm.

 

[Chela101]

I know that sometimes when you have that you tend to get algae or cyano.. but how are your silicates? I know that plays a bit of a role too with phosphate

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I know that sometimes when you have that you tend to get algae or cyano.. but how are your silicates? I know that plays a bit of a role too with phosphate

Silicate is used by diatoms and sponges, but not by cyano, bacteria, algae, or corals.

I don’t think low nitrate and high phosphate encourages algae or cyano

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

This article explains what I’m referring to:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/forget-redfield-liebig-is-the-man.1176/

 

[joeev123]

I have no traces of cyano at all.

 

[joeev123]

Just did another check

PO4 - .18
Nitrate - 1.9
Calcium - 452 and 467
Alk - 7.5
Mag - 1470

I had a hammer coral just melt all 4 heads overnight. I don’t know what I’m missing here.

 

[joeev123]

recovered this in past month was very small

always growing a good speed

goni will not open up at all


melted overnight

zoa that hasnt opened in over a month


Ducan that was basically gone fighting it way back

very good growth on this coral over 6 months