New reef tanks and PO4 levels!

[Reefahholic]

Hello!

I’ve been in the hobby for many years now and have always struggled with what is considered “an acceptable PO4 level” in a young reef under 6 months old. We all know that during the first 3-6 months the tank is trying to establish itself and many things can happen during this time. From algae blooms in the water column to Diatoms on the sandbed or maybe hair algae developing on the rocks. I’ve personally had a tank get away from me with too much algae growth that I couldn’t combat before the 6 month mark. The tank needed to be shut down and restarted. This was due to over feeding and extremely high NO3 / PO4 levels. I was a young reefer then. Since then...I tend to wanna run my tanks cleaner and sometimes “too clean” during the first 6 months. Now, I feel like the tank needs to do “it’s thing” and get established, but not to the point where it’s uncontrollable. I do like to let the PO4 go a bit higher than I typically would after the tank is established. I think this speeds up the wait time. So... this leads us into the POLL! I thought it would be very interesting to see what a lot of you guys consider a safe an acceptable level of PO4 in a new reef.

 

[Diesel]

It ain’t only the Po4 level but merely the No3

 

[Reefahholic]

What range should the NO3 be in a new reef Diesel? I agree, NO3 is just as important.

 

[Reefahholic]

I watched a video earlier of an amazing reef. He said his PO4 was 0.3 and NO3 was 30.

Now we know a softie tank may do fairly well at these levels, but Acropora tend to become more washed out and may RTN or STN with time.

For me I like to keep my PO4 under 0.3 and specifically anywhere from 0.003 being the absolute lowest to about 0.2 being the highest.

NO3 I don’t like anything over about 15 or 20. I shoot for about 5-8.

 

[PSXerholic]

I would say really it depends on the progress.
My tank with 6 months looks like it’s been running for years.

Anyways, I shoot for 0.07 max since above I did see repeatedly issues with colors as not as diverse as withlower po4.

However a max of 0.1 I would say should be the goal for tanks that went through the cycle and are being filled with corals!

 

[Diesel]

What range should the NO3 be in a new reef Diesel? I agree, NO3 is just as important.

Between 5 and 10

 

[Diesel]

I watched a video earlier of an amazing reef. He said his PO4 was 0.3 and NO3 was 30.

Now we know a softie tank may do fairly well at these levels, but Acropora tend to become more washed out and may RTN or STN with time.

For me I like to keep my PO4 under 0.3 and specifically anywhere from 0.003 being the absolute lowest to about 0.2 being the highest.

NO3 I don’t like anything over about 15 or 20. I shoot for about 5-8.

sps only not higher than 0.15, I had the best results at 0.10

 

[Reefahholic]

sps only not higher than 0.15, I had the best results at 0.10

Yes you did sir.

I like the numbers you gave and feel real good about them.

Although I will have to Consult PSXerholic to see if he will agree with us.

 

[Reefahholic]

I would say really it depends on the progress.
My tank with 6 months looks like it’s been running for years.

Anyways, I shoot for 0.07 max since above I did see repeatedly issues with colors as not as diverse as withlower po4.

However a max of 0.1 I would say should be the goal for tanks that went through the cycle and are being filled with corals!

Ahh you slipped this in before I saw it.

So what was the highest PO4 your tank got to during the cycle or just post cycle in the 1st 3 months?

 

[Reefahholic]

I started my tank on 07/07/18

Here’s the PO4 results before my Hanna ULR died. I have another one on order.

 

[Diesel]

I started my tank on 07/07/18

Here’s the PO4 results before my Hanna ULR died. I have another one on order.

So much better than in the past.

 

[Reefahholic]

So much better than in the past.

Yeah, this one is on track. Well on track for only 40 days old.

 

[Diesel]

You doing good, now just be smart and prove to all you can do it.
Promise me that tank stays up longer than 12 months.

 

[Reefahholic]

You doing good, now just be smart and prove to all you can do it.
Promise me that tank stays up longer than 12 months.

Lol, you know I like to move around. I’m already not liking this 2nd floor apartment. HaHa. I can’t have a big tank here. I may stay here anyway though. I think I can do a 75/g. That will make me happy and probably all I really want to mess with right now. Plus the hurricanes and floods are getting worse every year. Maybe I should stay on a second floor.

 

[Redleg]

My tank was started 7/23/18 on 8/11/18 I was at 0.57 ppm phosphate and 60 ppm nitrate. This is was with all dry rock that went into water on memorial day. I added 5 pounds of live rock and 2 cups of Chaeto on Saturday from my lfs. I guess tank is really the wrong word to describe my system. I just got impatient and put all my rock into my sump in the basement hooked up an old canister put in a heater and wave pump. When I manage to get my dining room remodel finished the DT will get set up with a sump that is already cycled.

 

[Reefahholic]

Honestly that’s pretty average for a new tank. I just wonder if I need to knock down those levels or just let it do it’s thing.

I just hate having to deal with algae blooms. Which is why I usually knock it down to under 0.2. I find that after it hits 0.3 things get funky.

In an already established reef it’s not a big deal. It’s just when the tank is still young is when you gotta keep an eye on it and not let it spiral out of control.

 

[Diesel]

Let it do it’s thing.
But keep a close eye on it.
You want the diatoms to kick in.

 

[Reefahholic]

Let it do it’s thing.
But keep a close eye on it.
You want the diatoms to kick in.

I fed a little too much reef roids a couple nights in a row. Too much fell in the tank. The new Hanna ULR will be here by Tuesday I think. I’ll get a reading and post up. The PO4 has got to be over 0.3 because tank is gettting funky. Rocks are brown now with some green little algae spots popping up. My seabae anemone deflated. Diatoms on the SB. We’ll see just how high it is shortly. I’ll post a daylight pic as well that way everybody can do an assessment.

 

[Diesel]

I think your tank is doing it’s thing and that is maturing.
What the heck is a nem doing in your newly set up tank? :mad:

 

[Reefahholic]

I couldn’t help myself. Lol

My other Crispa is going fine. If I would have had my URL working I could have prevented that deflation.