New reefer and stressed

[gbroadbridge]

I use RODI water from my LFS and I’m going to see tomorrow where I’m getting a salifert phosphate test. Because I been good the only thing i can think is me feeding my coral with reefroids

Stop dosing the reef roids. Coral don't need them and they just raise phosphates.

FWIW, the Hanna ULR checker will misread if there are particles in the water, the sample must be clear water.

 

[Nano_Man]

I have found nitrate is a simple water change and say great I will do water changes to remove phosphate well that way of lowering phosphate did not work for me there are plenty of products out there u can use too slowly drop phosphate level but slowly. Even when you get to a level you say is ok . Test it two days later and it will be back we’re you started due to phosphate leaching out of your rock and sand so until your rock and sand eventually stop leached phosphate it’s a slow process. If things are happy in your tank why change anything. Looks how your fish corals are doing growing healthy ect . I don’t chase number any more and I only test if something in the tank looks off . This hobby is to enjoy it not chase numbers. You think that is a high level I have had readings of 2 not 0.2 but 2 lol

 

[Chela101]

I have found nitrate is a simple water change and say great I will do water changes to remove phosphate well that way of lowering phosphate did not work for me there are plenty of products out there u can use too slowly drop phosphate level but slowly. Even when you get to a level you say is ok . Test it two days later and it will be back we’re you started due to phosphate leaching out of your rock and sand so until your rock and sand eventually stop leached phosphate it’s a slow process. If things are happy in your tank why change anything. Looks how your fish corals are doing growing healthy ect . I don’t chase number any more and I only test if something in the tank looks off . This hobby is to enjoy it not chase numbers. You think that is a high level I have had readings of 2 not 0.2 but 2 lol

You put me on ease more, I’m going to just do what you said and do water changes here and there but I’m going to start doing smaller water changes little by little. But your absolutely right if everything is okay, then I should just leave it… what about live phytoplankton?can I dose that without having any problem?

 

[Nano_Man]

You put me on ease more, I’m going to just do what you said and do water changes here and there but I’m going to start doing smaller water changes little by little. But your absolutely right if everything is okay, then I should just leave it… what about live phytoplankton?can I dose that without having any problem?

Your nitrate levels and phosphate stem from waste in the tank so if your heavy feeding you end up with more fish poo that goes through the cycle and your left with more nitrate and phosphate this why people have algae in there sumps to take up and reduce nitrate . Buy a phosphate reducer pouch you can put it in your filter system and nitrate is a water change process . Yes but not over do the plankton more a less what you put in has to be taken out eventually and it’s harder getting it out than putting it in.

 

[gbroadbridge]

You put me on ease more, I’m going to just do what you said and do water changes here and there but I’m going to start doing smaller water changes little by little. But your absolutely right if everything is okay, then I should just leave it… what about live phytoplankton?can I dose that without having any problem?

You could, but for what reason?

Coral do not eat phyto, it will simply decay and release phosphate. If you're trying to feed a pod population then a tiny amount would be okay.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

rodi from the LFS is the first thing to fix IMO. Search through the forums, many folks with strange water problems get the water from the LFS... you don't how often does the LFS change the filters, or how long it sits there, or what the teen employees do to the water, etc....

Get your own rodi, test it with a tds meter, and mix your own salt water, its the only way to go in this hobby.

 

[Boehmtown]

Test phosphates again and then I'd try to work it down slowly, I love putting just a pinch of rowaphos in a media bag. And test week over week. My last tank id actually measure out the amount with a scale and change it weekly and I was able to have pretty good control of my phosphates without them plummeting

 

[exnisstech]

If everything looks good maybe just roll with it. Feeding less could help I suppose. I have a tank that runs nitrates around 20 and phosphate over 0.6 but as long as things look good I don't worry about it. Truth be told I think the tank looks better than my other 2 that run lower nutrients but it's also more mature than the other 2.