Phosphates

[christa1421]

How bad is it if phosphates are 0.00?? I have fish and coral in a 40g breeder with a 20g long sump that has chemi pure elite, phosguard (which I just removed because previously my phosphates were 0.06…removed it since they’ve bottomed out), Purigen, filter socks, skimmer, and refugium with chaeto. Set up in August, cycled since September. Here’s the rest of my parameters: 9.5 alk, 11.6 nitrates, 1.025 salinity, 463 calcium (yes, I know it’s a little high), 1390 mag, 8.3 pH. Not sure what I should do now. Any advice?? Should I remove the chemi pure elite? Should I dose phosphates?

 

[AV corals]

I would highly suggest dosing NeoPhos from brightwell to get those levels up to at least 0.06.

 

[Pistondog]

0.06 is not high. 0.5 is high and needs gfo.
Chemipure elite and phosgard both have gfo, so remove.
Feed some reef roids to raise po4, no need to dose if you've removed gfo.

 

[christa1421]

0.06 is not high. 0.5 is high and needs gfo.
Chemipure elite and phosgard both have gfo, so remove.
Feed some reef roids to raise po4, no need to dose if you've removed gfo.

Thank you!!

 

[areefer01]

How bad is it if phosphates are 0.00?? I have fish and coral in a 40g breeder with a 20g long sump that has chemi pure elite, phosguard (which I just removed because previously my phosphates were 0.06…removed it since they’ve bottomed out), Purigen, filter socks, skimmer, and refugium with chaeto. Set up in August, cycled since September. Here’s the rest of my parameters: 9.5 alk, 11.6 nitrates, 1.025 salinity, 463 calcium (yes, I know it’s a little high), 1390 mag, 8.3 pH. Not sure what I should do now. Any advice?? Should I remove the chemi pure elite? Should I dose phosphates?

Well first thing I would suggest if you haven't already is repeat the test again and see if the numbers are the same. Get an idea first if that is a true result based on the test kit or an anomaly.

If it is indeed 0 then you need to increase it a bit. Few ways to do that before rushing to a product:

Remove anything you have that is absorbing it or removing it
Feed heavily a few days (fish will love you) and retest a couple days after

If your phosphates are still reporting 0 then you could find a simple product to dose if you need. I'd wager feeding heavy a few days both frozen and pellet will get you what you need.

Edit: not that it matters much but you really didn't say how old the display is or how stocked (coral and fish).

 

[christa1421]

Well first thing I would suggest if you haven't already is repeat the test again and see if the numbers are the same. Get an idea first if that is a true result based on the test kit or an anomaly.

If it is indeed 0 then you need to increase it a bit. Few ways to do that before rushing to a product:

Remove anything you have that is absorbing it or removing it
Feed heavily a few days (fish will love you) and retest a couple days after

If your phosphates are still reporting 0 then you could find a simple product to dose if you need. I'd wager feeding heavy a few days both frozen and pellet will get you what you need.

Edit: not that it matters much but you really didn't say how old the display is or how stocked (coral and fish).

Thank you so much!! I’m still new and learning and appreciate the feedback. I removed the phosguard yesterday when the test read 0. Tested again today and it was still 0; so I just removed the chemi-pure elite. I’ll take your advice and feed a little heavy and retest in a few days. Thanks again