Unfortunately, I have another question about nitrate and phosphate. I appreciate all the experienced, smart folks on here! My tank is an almost 6-month old reefer 170 that was started with dry rock and live sand. I did a small water change just now and tested everything:
Temp - 78
Sal - 1.025
amm - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 1.5-2
phos - 0
cal - 400
alk - 9.2
mag - 1400
About a week ago I dosed some neophos and neonitro because my nitrates and phosphates were flatlined. I posted in an earlier thread that my phosphate readings were a bit confusing. I see now that my phosphates really do disappear very quickly. I dosed last night to get from 0 to a reading of .03. Today they are 0 again. Since dosing these things, I've had a big increase in algae on the glass. I wipe it off with a magnet and it's back in an hour. Some of my zoas don't seem thrilled either. I was hoping they'd be happy with a little nitrate. They don't seem to be.
I'm not confident enough in what I know to make a decision here. Should I let things be and not dose? Is it typical when starting to dose nitrate and phosphate to see an algae bloom? Does algae suck up phosphate like that? If you have any wisdom to share, I would sure appreciate it!
Thank you!
Joe
Temp - 78
Sal - 1.025
amm - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 1.5-2
phos - 0
cal - 400
alk - 9.2
mag - 1400
About a week ago I dosed some neophos and neonitro because my nitrates and phosphates were flatlined. I posted in an earlier thread that my phosphate readings were a bit confusing. I see now that my phosphates really do disappear very quickly. I dosed last night to get from 0 to a reading of .03. Today they are 0 again. Since dosing these things, I've had a big increase in algae on the glass. I wipe it off with a magnet and it's back in an hour. Some of my zoas don't seem thrilled either. I was hoping they'd be happy with a little nitrate. They don't seem to be.
I'm not confident enough in what I know to make a decision here. Should I let things be and not dose? Is it typical when starting to dose nitrate and phosphate to see an algae bloom? Does algae suck up phosphate like that? If you have any wisdom to share, I would sure appreciate it!
Thank you!
Joe