phosphates

[Tim owen]

Hi all
A few months on from my last post about phosphates. Since my last post i have tried numerous treatments to try and get the phos in my reef tank to stable at close to 0. Everything i have tried have brought it down but when i stop using it the problem comes back. I have read almost every bit of information i can find about phos reduction. I have come to the stage now where i could easily take a hammer to my tank to end the problem once and for all. If anyone has any new ideas i can try please answer my post.
thanks tim

 

[Joeganja]

Do you use rodi water? Do you feed pellets, algae sheets, flakes? How many water changes a month? Most people constantly use gfo in a reactor to help control phosphates especially if they feed a lot. What I do is if I have high phosphates ill use seachem sponge and put that into a reactor and then remove it after a couple of days and use phosban or high capacity gfo. If you use tap water your phosphates may come from that source. I've also noticed certain foods like some brands of pellets will raise phosphates and cause algae growth.

 

[CodyRVA]

Sorry to hear it, it can definitely be frustrating to say the least. What did you use to bring the PO4 down and how long did you use it for? If you have a build up of it in your system, it may take a while, months, before you really rid your system of it; and even then its a continual balance/fight. +1 on water source, make sure you're not contributing to the PO4 daily through your water source, foods, etc. Also +1 on feeding regiments. What do you feed and how often? I rarely feed pellet/flake foods because they are very nutrient dense.

 

[Tim owen]

Hi all
A few months on from my last post about phosphates. Since my last post i have tried numerous treatments to try and get the phos in my reef tank to stable at close to 0. Everything i have tried have brought it down but when i stop using it the problem comes back. I have read almost every bit of information i can find about phos reduction. I have come to the stage now where i could easily take a hammer to my tank to end the problem once and for all. If anyone has any new ideas i can try please answer my post.
thanks tim

Do you use rodi water? Do you feed pellets, algae sheets, flakes? How many water changes a month? Most people constantly use gfo in a reactor to help control phosphates especially if they feed a lot. What I do is if I have high phosphates ill use seachem sponge and put that into a reactor and then remove it after a couple of days and use phosban or high capacity gfo. If you use tap water your phosphates may come from that source. I've also noticed certain foods like some brands of pellets will raise phosphates and cause algae growth.

HI
I always use r o water with di with 0 tds. I do feed pellets, flake, and algae sheets. I feed only every other day and my corals once a week. I don't do water changes as i am running the TRITON method. I use red sea gfo in my sump and i run phos guard in my reactor .What food should i use i do use frozen foods which i melt away the water first.I have been thinking that maybe triton might be contributing towards it.
thanks tim

 

[Joeganja]

HI
I always use r o water with di with 0 tds. I do feed pellets, flake, and algae sheets. I feed only every other day and my corals once a week. I don't do water changes as i am running the TRITON method. I use red sea gfo in my sump and i run phos guard in my reactor .What food should i use i do use frozen foods which i melt away the water first.I have been thinking that maybe triton might be contributing towards it.
thanks tim

Cut down on algae sheets, flakes for sure. I really don't like feeding flakes in saltwater. They don't seem like enough food for larger fish. It's basically like a rice cake lol. Algae sheets deteriorate in the water and break down so much that your phosphates can also come from them. I would try to stop feeding them
And see if you see a difference.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What exactly is your Po4 at now currently. What tests are you using?
IMO don't haphazardly stop feeding your fish. Multiple articles and research have concluded there really no difference in type of foods. its all about amounts.

Another though. Test your Po4 and then take a syringe and pull a sample from you sand bed.

 

[blkhwkz]

The only other thread I see you started said your PO4 was .03 a month ago. Is it still that low? If so, why are you trying to lower it more?

 

[TbyZ]

whatever food you feed it will have phosphates in it.

An algae scrubber is very effective at removing phosphate as well as nitrogen.
My PO4 readings were at 3ppm. Now their zero.
I mainly feed Nori.

some examples of phosphorus content

Table 1. Phosphorus and protein content of some common dry aquarium foods.

Food Phosphorus (mg/g)

Brine Shrimp Direct Golden Pearls 15

Brine Shrimp Direct Plankton Gold Flakes 8.3

IO Marine Pellets Herbivore 10

IO Marine Pellets Omnivore 12


Table 2. Phosphorus and protein content of some common frozen aquarium foods.

Food Phosphorus (mg/g)

Frozen Plankton/Krill Brine Shrimp 1.6

Ocean Nutrition Frozen mysis 0.1


Table 3. Phosphorus and protein content of some common grocery store foods used in reef aquaria.

Food Phosphorus (mg/g)

Nori 6.4

Mussel 1.97

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