Need HELP dropping very high po4 for SPS

[Steven9194]

Hello all,

My 125g tank has been running for about 14 months and I’ve primarily focused on fish and some coral. Have a wide verity of fish that all are doing well. Feed them a frozen food, once daily and they get seaweed every other day.

About 5 months ago I allowed my po4 and no3 to bottom out and began my encounter with Dino’s. Lost all of my corals besides just a couple softies. About a month ago I finally got rid of the Dino’s and would love to give coral another try.

This week I added some LPS and SPS to give them a try. I also began dosing All For Reef.

My po4 is outside of the readable range for the Hanna checker even after completing a 20% water change yesterday. I added 45g of GFO into my carbon reactor to help reduce that number. I was also planning to complete another 20% water change today.

I would love some guidance on how to effectively and safely reduce po4 and no3. Since adding the coral a couple days ago, they appear happy, healthy and open. So not sure if I should just leave things go and not bother or what the best action here is.

I’ve attached photos of some of the new coral. A photo of the overall tank before adding the coral and a screenshot of my tank levels.

Any help would be a greatly appreciated, Thanks!

 

[MnFish1]

First I would double check the readings. Second - I would do water changes to lower it - and there are a number of calculators online that can calculate how quickly, etc for you to do it. I do not like the binders - as one is never sure when to remove them, etc. Your corals look pretty good ( I didn't study them in detail)

 

[danreef55]

Avoid bringing the levels down too rapidly. can you add a refugium of algae scrubber?

 

[Steven9194]

First I would double check the readings. Second - I would do water changes to lower it - and there are a number of calculators online that can calculate how quickly, etc for you to do it. I do not like the binders - as one is never sure when to remove them, etc. Your corals look pretty good ( I didn't study them in detail)

I double checked the Hanna on a new batch of saltwater and it read .04. I also tested the tank with a salifert po4 test kit and it read about 1.00.

I’ve done a single 20% water change so far. Would you recommend just doing one every day until the levels are down?

To me the corals look healthy, but they are new to me.

 

[Steven9194]

Avoid bringing the levels down too rapidly. can you add a refugium of algae scrubber?

That’s what I’m trying to avoid. I was thinking a fuge, but don’t really have the room for a scrubber.

 

[bradreef]

What Hanna tester are you using? Did you dose silicates? Have you tried testing with another test to confirm?

 

[MnFish1]

I double checked the Hanna on a new batch of saltwater and it read .04. I also tested the tank with a salifert po4 test kit and it read about 1.00.

I’ve done a single 20% water change so far. Would you recommend just doing one every day until the levels are down?

To me the corals look healthy, but they are new to me.

Try this calculator - and you can do it however you choose (as far as speed) https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/EffectOfWaterChanges.php

 

[Steven9194]

What Hanna tester are you using? Did you dose silicates? Have you tried testing with another test to confirm?

I am using a phosphate ULR checker. I did dose silicates daily as a treatment for the Dino’s. Stopped about 2-3 weeks ago.

I tested with a salifert test which read about 1.

 

[danreef55]

That’s what I’m trying to avoid. I was thinking a fuge, but don’t really have the room for a scrubber.

can you squeeze in

• Dimensions: 11-1/2"L by 11"W by 11-3/8"H that is an APIS-60 scrubber https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/apis...=10537&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

 

[Steven9194]

can you squeeze in

• Dimensions: 11-1/2"L by 11"W by 11-3/8"H that is an APIS-60 scrubber https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/apis...=10537&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I would love that, but don’t have that money