Phosphate

[scabbedwings616]

My phosphates are thru the roof .19. I have ran gfo and nothing has happened. I have tried less feedings in the tank, I’ve tried I feel like everything I know besides an additive. I don’t want to do that and want to find the true source of it. I sent in an icp test and should be back by Tuesday or Wednesday. It’s been scanned already. I do water changes once every two weeks to which I do about 25 percent change and 5hen two days later i

 

[Darrell Brady]

or you running it through a reactor

 

[scabbedwings616]

or you running it through a reactor

For the gfo? Yes thru a reactor. I have a refugium as well. Lights are now on 24/7

 

[Saltyreef]

Could be leaching from your substrate...rocks....sand.....
Need more background info on tank. Age, stock, full parameters....
How it was set up and with what....

 

[scabbedwings616]

 

[scabbedwings616]

90g, 20g refugium, 3 year old tank, 8.4dkh, 450 calcium, 1460mag, .19phosphate. Calcium reactor, diamond goby, 6 line erases, powder brown, magnificent foxface, Atlantic tang, lawnmower blenny, swallowtail angel. Lots of clean up crew from crabs to peppermint shrimps, emeralds, snails, harlequin shrimp and cleaner shrimp.

 

[SeaDweller]

How much GFO are you using? are you testing the effluent of the reactor and replacing it as needed? When I had BAD PO4 (i.e 3.0+) I HAD to use lanthanum Cl to get it to acceptable ranges and then use some more to maintain it for a while. The levels see-sawed as it leeched from the rocks and substrate, and now I maintain my levels using Rowaphos at half dose and changing it once per month. 0.19 isn't THAT bad tbh.

 

[Saltyreef]

Ya .19 isnt anything to be overly concerned about but still above recommended ranges.

 

[LesPoissons]

Did you check your source water? If it's not from something in your tank, it may have been your water change water.

 

[Bbfishb81]

Do you clean your sand or have a critter to do that? I usually use a Turkey baster, or use my power head, to blow all the built up detritus out of my rock work about every 2 months.

 

[scabbedwings616]

Do you clean your sand or have a critter to do that? I usually use a Turkey baster, or use my power head, to blow all the built up detritus out of my rock work about every 2 months.

I do the sand bed vacuum 1/2 every two weeks. I will be doing the turkey baster on the Rock in my off weeks. I’m gonna see how that works. Thanks for the idea

 

[Bbfishb81]

No problem. It's not something a lot of people think to do, and won't hurt to try.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I agree .19 isn't that bad. What's your N03 at?

 

[scabbedwings616]

API said 0. Would a tooth brush help on the rocks?

 

[Saltyreef]

I mean honestly, i wouldnt worry about it at this point. From your photos i cant see a neussance algae issue so there would be no point to scrub off the rocks.
If it were me, and i was getting a .19ppm phosphate reading while running gfo, and my corals looked ok, id likely keep it online and replace until phosphate readings were within range. Could take months or years depending how much nutrients are locked up in your rocks.

 

[Saltyreef]

API said 0. Would a tooth brush help on the rocks?

If nitrate is 0, id start looking into feeding more, reducing amount of filtration or dosing nitrate if you fall short on the first two. You want your nitrates @ 5-10 with that phosphate level.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

I agree. No3 limited tanks do not process po4 like you would hope. Also your tank looks good. I would check your source water. If you add some no3 you will see you po4 start to drop. This can be as easy as putting a piece of filter pad in your sump and leaving it. Or you could dose no3. Or feed more. Dosing can be tricky and needs to be done slowly. I had better luck with my fuge when my lights were on 12 hours. Also when is the last time you moved your rockscape and vacuumed the gravel?

 

[greg 45]

Blue Life makes a regenerable phosphate Fx .
I have used it and it works , this will bring down you po4 in no time and you can reuse it.

 

[scabbedwings616]

I agree. No3 limited tanks do not process po4 like you would hope. Also your tank looks good. I would check your source water. If you add some no3 you will see you po4 start to drop. This can be as easy as putting a piece of filter pad in your sump and leaving it. Or you could dose no3. Or feed more. Dosing can be tricky and needs to be done slowly. I had better luck with my fuge when my lights were on 12 hours. Also when is the last time you moved your rockscape and vacuumed the gravel?

Rescaped I am working on it this week. I am going to blow some of the rocks with a turkey baster today. Gravel I do about 1/2 and vacuum it every two weeks when I do a water change

 

[Saltyreef]

You should not have any clouding when you stir your sandbed. If so, you may need to think about rinsing the sand during your rescape.