Numbers are high!!

[ya_boii]

What kind of filter are you using? I made the mistake of using a canister and not cleaning it. That would pump out tons of nitrates and phosphates

I am using the one that came with the red Sea G2 max nano tank

Gotcha. What type of media do you have in there? That can trap stuff that just oxidizes into nitrates and phosphates if it's too fine

 

[StartingATank]

Gotcha. What type of media do you have in there? That can trap stuff that just oxidizes into nitrates and phosphates if it's too fine

I am using Sera Siporax Bio Filter Medium. I will be cleaning this tonight, so hopefully if it is trapping and releasing phosphates and nitrates, it would stop.

 

[BryanM]

Seems like a big bioload in a small tank, the only thing that throws me off is the .08 phos that went sky high so fast.

 

[StartingATank]

Just did a 25% water change and cleaned the filter sock and mesh. Figured out that the snail did not die, was just dormant for a while. So no clue what could be spiking the numbers.

 

[Fishy888]

What are you testing with?

Nitrate: if your testing is accurate, I would stop doing WC actually - unless you're willing to do a 50% to drop nitrate by 50%. My SPS tank is running at 65ppm nitrate and it's super happy!
Phosphate: again, assume testing is close to accurate, you can do GFO or PhosphateRx (LC-based) to get phosphate lower than 1ppm.

Having said all that -- you're fine with the corals you're keeping. Some of my picky SPS Tenius would brown out if phosphate > 0.10ppm.

This! If you’re using API to test your water, you may as well use a magic 8 ball. It’d likely be twice as accurate.

If you’re using Salifert, Hanna, or any other reliable test kit and your tests are accurate, then don’t panic. Look at how your corals are doing? You’d know it quickly if you had that big a swing! Yes, it’s true that SPS might not show problems for up to a month for smaller swings, but the shock of that big a change in two different parameters? You’d see some kind of change in the coral. Browning if you’re fortunate, RTN if not, at least in SPS.

 

[Fishy888]

I did a %19 water change after my first post, and then I tested today and Nitrates were at 52.4 and phosphates were at 2.14. I have been feeding my corals twice a week with live gold phyto and benereef, might have been feeding very heavy on the Coral food, and I feed frozen Spiraluna and Mysis bi daily, and in-between I feed Mysis pellets. I did have a snail die recently, and haven't took it out, but will do that because I am doing a %25 water change tonight. Also am having a lot of detritus buildup, does this have anything to do with the phosphate and nitrate bloom. I also have to clean the filter, so will do that tonight as well. Everything seems fine except my blasto, which is closing up a good amount, I think it might be a gonner because it is receding, and its skeleton is exposing, It has been having a lot of detritus build up on it and my urchin ate a bit of it and the skeleton, which caused it to start receding. I will start to feed only once a week and feed lighter on the Coral food. But other than that everything seems fine. Also had some baby stometella snail deaths because mine reproduced and some of the babies died. I am testing with Hanna Checkers, specifically high range nitrates and low range phosphates

How much phyto are you dosing? The water phyto comes in has a lot of nitrate and phosphate in it! That’s what sustains the phyto! Yes they photosynthesize but they also need the nitrates and phosphates in order to grow.

 

[StartingATank]

How much phyto are you dosing? The water phyto comes in has a lot of nitrate and phosphate in it! That’s what sustains the phyto! Yes they photosynthesize but they also need the nitrates and phosphates in order to grow.

I max about 3 ml per 7 ml of Coral food that is mixed with tank water.

 

[StartingATank]

This! If you’re using API to test your water, you may as well use a magic 8 ball. It’d likely be twice as accurate.

If you’re using Salifert, Hanna, or any other reliable test kit and your tests are accurate, then don’t panic. Look at how your corals are doing? You’d know it quickly if you had that big a swing! Yes, it’s true that SPS might not show problems for up to a month for smaller swings, but the shock of that big a change in two different parameters? You’d see some kind of change in the coral. Browning if you’re fortunate, RTN if not, at least in SPS.

I have noticed my blasto has been closed up since the last test where I had .08 ppm, but all of the other corals look fine and haven't really changed. The scoly has receded a very small amount of skeleton on it, so I am worried about it.

 

[StartingATank]

Tested my phosphates just now, and they are at 1.11. I haven't checked nitrates yet, but I will do that later. Also cleaned the glass. Fish have been out more and more docile with each other, compared to normal.

 

[StartingATank]

Nitrates are at 22.9, so at a good range for me. Happy with the result of the water change. Now I just have to wait for Saturday to get some antiphosphate dosing

 

[StartingATank]

Tested today, and my nitrates are at 22, but my phosphates are at 1.66 ppm. I will be going to my lfs to pick up some anti phosphate remover, and I will have them double check the numbers. I don't understand how my phosphates could rise so quickly. Any ideas?

 

[allof fish]

Tested today, and my nitrates are at 22, but my phosphates are at 1.66 ppm. I will be going to my lfs to pick up some anti phosphate remover, and I will have them double check the numbers. I don't understand how my phosphates could rise so quickly. Any ideas?

What are you using to test? How much you feeding and what

 

[StartingATank]

What are you using to test? How much you feeding and what

I am using low range phosphates Hanna and high range nitrates Hanna. I am feeding frozen Mysis and spiraluna bidaily. I also feed Pe Mysis pellets bidaily

 

[StartingATank]

No issues at all with high nitrate. SPS doesn’t like high phosphate, IME

Here is my frag tank at 54.9ppm nitrate a few weeks ago. I wouldn’t worry about nitrate but just focus on phosphate to keep it in check - 1.5ppm is rather high but shouldn’t be a cause of concern given your current livestock.

I agree with the fact that my livestock is doing great, I mostly just want to get the phosphates down because I am going to get an anemone soon.

 

[allof fish]

I am using low range phosphates Hanna and high range nitrates Hanna. I am feeding frozen Mysis and spiraluna bidaily. I also feed Pe Mysis pellets bidaily

I would stay away from the pellets as those are high in phosphate. Maybe run some gfo too. Phosphates are definitely abnormally high considering your nitrates. I would also check your checker and regiment. Recently I had an issue with it my lfs phosphate checker had mine at .44 but then I tested with my Hanna checker 10 times and all were between.03-.08 so I’m definitely not believing there’s just a thought

 

[StartingATank]

I would stay away from the pellets as those are high in phosphate. Maybe run some gfo too. Phosphates are definitely abnormally high considering your nitrates. I would also check your checker and regiment. Recently I had an issue with it my lfs phosphate checker had mine at .44 but then I tested with my Hanna checker 10 times and all were between.03-.08 so I’m definitely not believing there’s just a thought

So should I only feed frozen. I feed a cube of frozen every time I feed them. I did test multiple times with my Hanna I got from online BRS, and they read 1.66 ppm twice. I will get GFO when I go to my lfs later. I haven't used GFO yet, so might need some guidance. I am going to bring some water to my lfs for them to double check.

 

[backbayreef]

I agree with the fact that my livestock is doing great, I mostly just want to get the phosphates down because I am going to get an anemone soon.

Ok - to effortlessly reduce PO4, I would just dose PhosphateRx. I’ve used this for many years without issues. However, some reefers reported fish death (esp Zebrasoma Tangs) due to some concentrations of Lanthanum Chloride.

 

[StartingATank]

LFS had similar results to my testing. I got some new carbon, as it is about time for me to replace mine, and will do that soon

 

[StartingATank]

I am going to do a 25% water change today and replace carbon and clean the filter again, seeing if this would work.