Phosphate question

[jmp21677]

I've been battling phosphates for months in my tank. 40 gallon total volume. RO water is at 0.00. It's not coming from my salt as that's been tested as well. So I've narrowed it down to rock or sand bed. Not sure if I can just remove some of the sand or if it has to be replaced totally? Rock is getting a rework so most will be replaced. Any suggestions?

 

[rockhead51]

Are you running anything to chemically filter it? PhosGuard, PhosBan, etc? If not, look I to that either in a sump in the flow, or in a reactor.

 

[jmp21677]

I'm running GFO in a reactor. I want to get away from it. It keeps things at bay but as soon as I turn it off everything goes down hill. I'm not a fan of GFO. I only see negative reaction in my corals

 

[Pife]

I've used cheap lanthum chloride from a pool store with great results. I find dripping it into the skimmer is the best way.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've been battling phosphates for months in my tank. 40 gallon total volume. RO water is at 0.00. It's not coming from my salt as that's been tested as well. So I've narrowed it down to rock or sand bed. Not sure if I can just remove some of the sand or if it has to be replaced totally? Rock is getting a rework so most will be replaced. Any suggestions?

Foods are the typical source. Are you not feeding the tank?

 

[jmp21677]

I do feed but it's minimal really. Tank is only about a 15 months old

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do feed but it's minimal really. Tank is only about a 15 months old

That's still likely to be the biggest source. As an example, one small cube of Prime Reef added to 100 gallons adds about 0.022 ppm of phosphate every day. Other foods have substantially more, and foods may typically account for about 0.02 to 0.3 ppm of phosphate boost to a tank every day. :)

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/3/chemistry

 

[jmp21677]

What should my solution be? I really don't like the GFO and can't get below 0.12 po2

 

[Wunderboiy]

I've had great success with Chaeto & BRS also recently proved that it is quite effective at nutrients reductions. However, you would need room in the sump to accomplish this so I realize it may not be feasible.

 

[jmp21677]

Yeah that's the biggest issue with these red sea tanks... Not really any room for anything.

 

[jmp21677]

Quick bump on this.

 

[Cory]

You wont find any space saving way of removing po4. Unless you have a sump or compartment you wont do much.

You could grow chaeto in the tank. That helps.