Phosphates went down to zero

[jd-woodlands]

I posted in the macro algae forum as well due to having issues growing Chaeto, but since my tank is SPS dominate i figured I would post here as well. Recently i have been unable to grow my chaeto and have had some slime type red algae in my AIO back chamber, none in the main tank. I finally decided to test phosphates and they are at or near 0, they used to be in the .03 - .08 range fairly consistently.

Should I take action to raise my levels by feeding more or is the algae growth in the back something to be concerned with first? Or should i do nothing and go about my day? SPS growth, color, and PE are doing great at the moment.

Parameters:
78° F
8.6 alk (salifert)
480 cal (salifert)
1500 mag (salifert)
0 Phosphates (Hanna LR 713 and Nyos)
5 ppm Nitrates (salifert)
35ppt salinity
7.6-8.3 ph
280-320 orp
Small Skimmer
GAC in a reactor

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

In my opinion all of that coral is using the available phosphate in the water column up before the chaeto can. Coral itself is a great consumer of phosphate when you have enough of it. I wouldn't add anything until you see a decline in coral health and pe.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Red slime is probably a flow issue in that chamber. I wouldn’t worry about unless it starts showing up in the display. True zero po4 will give problems down the road but that usually only happens if you’re using gfo or chemicals to artificially bring it down. You could put your skimmer on a timer or turn it off completely. I don’t use one on my sps tank.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I posted in the macro algae forum as well due to having issues growing Chaeto, but since my tank is SPS dominate i figured I would post here as well. Recently i have been unable to grow my chaeto and have had some slime type red algae in my AIO back chamber, none in the main tank. I finally decided to test phosphates and they are at or near 0, they used to be in the .03 - .08 range fairly consistently.

Should I take action to raise my levels by feeding more or is the algae growth in the back something to be concerned with first? Or should i do nothing and go about my day? SPS growth, color, and PE are doing great at the moment.

Parameters:
78° F
8.6 alk (salifert)
480 cal (salifert)
1500 mag (salifert)
0 Phosphates (Hanna LR 713 and Nyos)
5 ppm Nitrates (salifert)
35ppt salinity
7.6-8.3 ph
280-320 orp
Small Skimmer
GAC in a reactor

I’m in the Houston area as well. Are you going to reef currents next Saturday?

 

[jd-woodlands]

I’m in the Houston area as well. Are you going to reef currents next Saturday?

Haven’t decided yet....

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I would check with the ulr po4 checker first, I think yours is not sensitive enough to really tell what you have. Your tank looks great by the way, I wouldn’t change anything unless your corals tell you otherwise.

 

[jd-woodlands]

I would check with the ulr po4 checker first, I think yours is not sensitive enough to really tell what you have. Your tank looks great by the way, I wouldn’t change anything unless your corals tell you otherwise.

I tested with a NYOS high sensitivity kit to be sure and it registered 0 as well. Typically my phosphates are high enough to register on the LR as I’m not trying to run at ULNS levels. I’ll keep on feeding and see what happens.

Maybe get another fish or two... worth a post to the fish forums to thing would be compatible.