Lowering phosphates now maintain - NO3:PO4-X

[tundra420619]

In short, I let my phosphates get quite high. About a month ago, I tested a level of 7.1. Over the past month, I have started dosing with NO3PO4-X. This morning, I tested my phosphates and found them at 1.8. My question is: what should I do now that I've reached a decent level? Should I reduce my dosage and find that low maintenance dosage? For reference, I like to feed a lot, so I'm considering aiming for the lower end of the acceptable range and then continuing to feed more.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

7 ppm? You sure? How did you measure that?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

We are talking phosphate?

 

[tundra420619]

Yes sir my apologies, my decimal is in the wrong place, .71 and .18
I use a hanna checker

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

NOPOX typically could not make a drop like that without a very large nitrate decline. Are you tracking it?

 

[rishma]

Reducing dose to try to keep phosphate stable is a good plan, but many people find their nitrates get so low that it impacts the ability to manage phosphate. You’ll want to test nitrate too, if it is tending toward zero I would suggest dosing a nitrogen source.

 

[rishma]

Randy and I were thinking the same thing at the same time

 

[tundra420619]

My nitrates were high as well, but I wasn't tracking them as closely as my phosphates. I tested 10ppm yesterday.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My nitrates were high as well, but I wasn't tracking them as closely as my phosphates. I tested 10ppm yesterday.

Would had to have been over 100 to drop phosphate that much. In any case, seems ok now, and I might reduce the NOPOX dose.

 

[tundra420619]

I believe it. Thank you, folks. I appreciate the advice.

 

[tundra420619]

I had my water tested, and here are the results. I'm guessing the extremely high levels of zinc and barium are coming from my freshwater source, so I plan to start using RO/DI water from my local fish store (LFS). I also need to address the high phosphates and nitrates in my water. I will continue to do water changes using the RO/DI water from the LFS.

It’s recommended that I dose iodine, and I'm considering the Red Sea Trace Iodine, which contains bromine and fluorine. I could use more bromine, but my fluorine levels are fine. Should I be concerned about this?

Additionally, the fresh waterI was using has elevated levels of lithium, silicon, and barium, while my saltwater test shows normal levels of lithium and silicon, but only elevated barium. How is this possible? Am I missing something?