Phos Feed

[bandando]

Hello,
as I wrote in others posts, since last November I am dosing Plus NP (1,5 ml day) to increasing PO4 in my tank.

Meanwhile I added 7 fishes (in total 10 fishes of small size because the tank is about 170 litres) and I am feeding them a lot but the PO4 are always 0-0,01 mg/l (TM Test Pro), NO3 too but this is well.

Today I ordered in France TM Phos Feed, in Italy is not available yet.

The question is, when I will receive Phos Feed do I have to continue with Plus NP ? I think so, because I have to continue to dosing carbon and Phos Feed doesn’t have it !

When PO4 will increase (I hope), will I have to pass from Plus NP to Bacto Balance and continue with Phos Feed?

Thak you

 

[bandando]

@Hans-Werner , please coluld you help me.

Thank you in advance

 

[Hans-Werner]

Sorry for my late reply, Marco.

Yes, please continue with Plus-NP for N and additional P supply.

It depends from the development of the nutrients which will be the best way to continue. This cannot be predicted now. I think we will have to look and decide then.

 

[bandando]

Thank you Hans,
I will keep you updated about the values of PO4.

Bye

 

[bandando]

Hello

After 16 days of Phos-Feed (1 ml/day and 1,5 ml/day of Plus NP), today the values are:
- PO4 0,05 mg/l (TM test)
- NO3 1 mg/l (TM test)
At the last test (on 4th of March) the values were at zero yet.
Now I have to maintain constant them.
Do I suspend the Phos-Feed or reduce the dosing?
I think it is correct to continue with Plus NP for the moment. l am thinking to start with Amino Organic.

What do you think?

 

[bandando]

I decided to continue with Plus NP (1,5 ml/day) and I halved the Phos-Feed (0,5 ml/day).

Next week end I will check the values.

 

[bandando]

An update after many weeks.

In the last months the PO4 and NO3 were always very low (0-0,02).
Last check ten days ago, 0,02 both.

Every day I’m dosing 1 ml of Plus NP and 2 ml of Phos-Feed and frozen feed, a little of Reef Royds (the tank is 180 l).

Today new test, PO4 is 0,2 m/l and NO3 2 mg/l , I couldn’t belive my eyes.

Than, what I have to do now?

Have I to continue with Plus NP (I don’t think so) or switch to Bacto Balance?
I think to stop imediately with Phos Feed.

Also I would like to begin with Amino Organic TM for feeding corals.

My goal is to stabilize the values, don’t drop its again.

Advice? Thank you!

 

[Hans-Werner]

An update after many weeks.

In the last months the PO4 and NO3 were always very low (0-0,02).
Last check ten days ago, 0,02 both.

Every day I’m dosing 1 ml of Plus NP and 2 ml of Phos-Feed and frozen feed, a little of Reef Royds (the tank is 180 l).

Today new test, PO4 is 0,2 m/l and NO3 2 mg/l , I couldn’t belive my eyes.

Than, what I have to do now?

Have I to continue with Plus NP (I don’t think so) or switch to Bacto Balance?
I think to stop imediately with Phos Feed.

Also I would like to begin with Amino Organic TM for feeding corals.

My goal is to stabilize the values, don’t drop its again.

Advice? Thank you!

In my eyes nutrient concentrations and ratio are good. You can just stop dosings and watch how parameters develop. I think they will stay quite stable for some time. Then everything is ok.

If nutrient concentrations drop rapidly resume dosing with a lower dosage.

 

[bandando]

In my eyes nutrient concentrations and ratio are good. You can just stop dosings and watch how parameters develop. I think they will stay quite stable for some time. Then everything is ok.

If nutrient concentrations drop rapidly resume dosing with a lower dosage.

Sorry I don't understand well.

Yesterday I stopped Phos Feed.
Have I to stop also the carbon dosing (NP PLUS)?
Is it better if I switch to NP Bacto Balance ?

Thank you

 

[Hans-Werner]

I am sorry but I don't know your tank and I don't know how much nutrients it consumes and whether the target is to balance an ongoing heavy consumption of nutrients or if you only have to saturate and increase the concentration in the tank once. You can check with test kits what is going on in your tank.

I would try to stabilize the nutrient concentrations at the current level or slightly lower. In my eyes nutrient concentrations are good now.

 

[bandando]

Hello @Hans-Werner ,
I'm having troubles dosing Plus NP and Phos-Feed together.
I can't manage to mantein stable the value of phosphate.

Since November 2022, I used to dose Plus NP (until 1.5 ml/day), but with no positive outcomes.
Than, at the end of February 2023, I added the Phos-Feed and finally the PO4 went up significantly.

Right now I decided to maintain the Plus NP at 1 ml/day, and I adjust the Phos Feed based on the amount of phosphate detected.

The issue with follwing this method is that little dosage changes with the Phos Feed cause big changes with the value of PO4 (from 0,07 to 0,25 mg/l).

What's your advice to me, based on the data I came up with?
I also bought the Bacto Balance, but I don't whether it would be a good idea to use it instead of Plus NP?

I'm very confused about this whole situation.

Thank you, hope to hear from you soon, and maybe help me out.

 

[Pod_01]

Hello @Hans-Werner ,
I'm having troubles dosing Plus NP and Phos-Feed together.
I can't manage to mantein stable the value of phosphate.

Since November 2022, I used to dose Plus NP (until 1.5 ml/day), but with no positive outcomes.
Than, at the end of February 2023, I added the Phos-Feed and finally the PO4 went up significantly.

Right now I decided to maintain the Plus NP at 1 ml/day, and I adjust the Phos Feed based on the amount of phosphate detected.

The issue with follwing this method is that little dosage changes with the Phos Feed cause big changes with the value of PO4 (from 0,07 to 0,25 mg/l).

What's your advice to me, based on the data I came up with?
I also bought the Bacto Balance, but I don't whether it would be a good idea to use it instead of Plus NP?

I'm very confused about this whole situation.

Thank you, hope to hear from you soon, and maybe help me out.

From reading on this forum Plus NP uses a type of phosphate the hobby test kits don’t measure. So you need to watch your corals if they are happy they get enough. If too much is added it will show up eventually as it gets converted.
Phos feed is similar but I suspect there is more phosphorus so it shows up faster. I am speculating since I have not seen that product in stores or online. You are lucky to buy some.
Hopefully @Hans-Werner can comment and confirm or correct my statement.

 

[Hans-Werner]

Hopefully @Hans-Werner can comment and confirm or correct my statement.

Yes, it is correct, we use polyphosphates which will not be found completely directly after dosing with test kits. I think some phosphate is found but not the complete amount due to the polymeric character of polyphosphates.

In earlier tests with and without a digestion step I found that most of the phosphate in reef aquaria with low orthophosphate concentrations may be present as polyphosphate. This means, test kits may not measure all available phosphate in reef aquaria with low orthophosphate concentrations anyway.

Polyphosphates are the natural phosphate storage forms of bacteria and algae. My explanation is that in reef aquaria with high biological activity these natural polyphosphates may be the dominating form of phosphates.

 

[Hans-Werner]

The issue with follwing this method is that little dosage changes with the Phos Feed cause big changes with the value of PO4 (from 0,07 to 0,25 mg/l).

I recommend to try to keep the 0,07 mg/l. Since phosphates in both products cannot be found completely directly after dosing, the supply to the corals will be sufficient.

 

[bandando]

A consideration about my experience with Plus NP and Phos-Feed TM.

At the moment I'm dosing only NP Bacto Balance and PO4 is 0,2 mg/l ; perhaps it's little bit high but corals are healty, are growing and the colors are improved.

The tank is clean, no algaes and no ciano ().

@Hans-Werner , I have had the confirmation that what you say about the phosphate is absolutely true.
When it was zero the corals didn't grow and the colours were dull.

I will try to decrease it a little, until 0,08-0,10 mg/l , but always remembering "better more than less".

This is what I observed in my tank.
I hope that this could be usefull to someone.

 

[Hans-Werner]

@Hans-Werner , I have had the confirmation that what you say about the phosphate is absolutely true.
When it was zero the corals didn't grow and the colours were dull.

I am very glad you have been able to reproduce and confirm my results.