Phosphate problems

[ta88brian]

I have a 65 gallon reef tank.Im dealing with a high phosphate problem!0.96 want to lower by half 0.46 to 0.50.nitrates are pretty good. I tried a 30 gallon water change. Did close to nothing. I have a nyos 120 protien skimmer. Also refugium with chaeto. Was going to try a couple 30 gallon water change over 2 weeks.

 

[Aquadude1]

I would pick a schedule like 20 t0 40 percent monthly water changes and just let po4 come down slowly. Dropping it quickly can cause more problems in my experience

 

[painter1982]

What are you using to test? Could the test be off?

 

[Fish Fan]

The reason water changes are not an effective way to reduce phosphate is because the phosphates bind to and release from your rock. Many new tanks suffer from really high phosphate leeching off the rocks, this continues for sometime until the excess phosphate reaches an equilibrium. This is why you don't get a 50% reduction in phosphate when you do a 50% water change, like you'd expect with nitrate, for example.

You can deal with the high phosphate a couple of ways. Here's an article from RHF on his suggestions for parameter ranges. At the bottom there's a summary, and here's what he says about phosphate in summary:
"

• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up."

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/
I hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Jimbo327]

What tester are you using and what is your export mechanism currently in tank?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not recommend water changes to reduce phosphate. It will not be very effective for the reasons cited above. Even a 100% change likely would not give the drop you want.

 

[SocalReefer760]

I keep a bucket of Aquaforest hybrid reef salt. For this situation. Did a 10% water change on my tank a few days ago phosphates went from 0.29 to 0.13 in the matter of a few days

 

[ta88brian]

What tester are you using and what is your export mechanism currently in tank?

Hannah

 

[Reeferbadness]

i use RowaPhos in a media bag - lowers Phos in a way that you can control (pretty quickly but not too quickly).