0.05ppm to 0.10ppm is a good place to be.
Dry rock, used filter media from my previous tank. Wanted to run phosguard to remove any silicates they may have come from the rock, sand, salt etc. I was also unsure what a good target range was and the test I have are only a broad spectrum
How long has this tank been set up? You WILL have to go through the algae cycle (aka "the uglies") and trying to micromanage nutrients in a new tank is pointless.
You have a long road ahead before you need to even THINK about using phosguard, etc. Welcome the diatom bloom, the green algae bloom(s), and even some cyano. Let your tank mature and stabilize. Testing nutrients now does not really tell you anything useful. Once you have some producers and consumers in the tank (in a couple months), then you can look at chemical additives. Water changes should be more than enough to keep things in line for now.
PATIENCE
Personally red sea phosphate pro have worked much better for me, .06 is a good spot to aim
Thank you for the advice, I will stay away from chemicals, hopefully the pods I added can feast on the diatoms!
They are more likely to help with green (film) algae, but can help with diatoms somewhat. The thing about diatoms is, unless you're continuously adding silicates, they WILL go away. It may take a month, or it may take 3, but just let them be. Diatoms are the least disruptive of any of the early algaes and are a completely normal occurrence in new tanks set up with sand and dry rock.
Agreed. At a couple of years in I pretty much lean towards more is better than less.
Yes. My tank runs with phosphate between 0.5 and 1.0, sometimes higher.
