phosphate question

[docforestal]

Hello
I could not find this specific topic in search for no corals

Background:
I have a 9 week 55 gallon tank, fully cycled (ammon & nitrites 0) with some live, some real reef rock, fish and CUC present, feeding on heavy side partly for pods, and partly seeing what the fish will eat other than frozen (wasted flakes go to the CUC )
Nitrates are staying 10-20 weekly 15 gallon water changes
since starting my PO4 has crept up - 0.24, started GFO per BRS calculator; 24 hours later 0.21, 24 hours later (this am, 0.12)
I have no corals and plan to wait a few months more to let the tank age and settle
I do have hair algae, quite pretty - most except some long strands under control with pods and CUC and recent seahare is mowing down the lawn

Question:
How low is too low for phosphate with no corals - I am thinking of removing gfo for now and keeping it in the 0.1-0.15 range for now and a little lower once corals introduced.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Question:
How low is too low for phosphate with no corals - I am thinking of removing gfo for now and keeping it in the 0.1-0.15 range for now and a little lower once corals introduced.

That 0.1 to 0.15 ppm range sounds fine to me.

 

[docforestal]

Thanks very much Randy

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome

Happy reefing. :)

 

[Lavey29]

I agree and very smart to let your tank develop biodiversity and microfauna before adding corals. Fish don't need light so by cutting out light till you get corals you will make your algae issues very manageable.