PO4 help!

[renato120]

I just checked my tank for Po4, and I got 0.39
How bad is it? I Have some cyano bacteria on my sand bed. I run GFO for 4 months.
Nitrate is 20ppm

 

[reeferfoxx]

I just checked my tank for Po4, and I got 0.39
How bad is it? I Have some cyano bacteria on my sand bed. I run GFO for 4 months.
Nitrate is 20ppm

Running GFO should help? You do change GFO media regularly, right?

 

[renato120]

Running GFO should help? You do change GFO media regularly, right?

Once a month

 

[reeferfoxx]

Once a month

Sounds like you might need to up it to once a week, for awhile? GFO, depending on the amount of po4, can get exhausted in 3-4 days.

 

[renato120]

Sounds like you might need to up it to once a week, for awhile? GFO, depending on the amount of po4, can get exhausted in 3-4 days.

Its not dangerous too change that often? I heard it can kill corals

 

[reeferfoxx]

Its not dangerous too change that often? I heard it can kill corals

Zero po4 can kill coral. Alkalinity drops from GFO can kill coral. Just monitor your tank and make adjustmenta if need be.

 

[renato120]

Zero po4 can kill coral. Alkalinity drops from GFO can kill coral. Just monitor your tank and make adjustmenta if need be.

I didnt know that!

 

[reeferfoxx]

I didnt know that!

That alk drop also effects pH. You can either test pH or know that with alk dropping, dosing alk will raise pH. So its not a must to test pH, but if you were curious or its important, you will know there is a change. :)

 

[Diesel]

What ever you do, do it slow.
Back off on the food for the fish as well.
Feeding fish is the leading cause of high Po4 and No3

 

[renato120]

That alk drop also effects pH. You can either test pH or know that with alk dropping, dosing alk will raise pH. So its not a must to test pH, but if you were curious or its important, you will know there is a change. :)

I changed the gfo now..... I will check alk tomorrow

 

[renato120]

What ever you do, do it slow.
Back off on the food for the fish as well.
Feeding fish is the leading cause of high Po4 and No3

I will

 

[renato120]

Thank you for the help @reeferfoxx @Diesel

 

[mcarroll]

Honestly, use the tank as your indicator. Sounds like it's humming along nicely. A little algae here or there is natural.

The numbers are higher than prescribed, but you have to remember those are guidelines. Sometimes they're really good guidelines, but they still aren't perfect/don't always apply.

If you're satisfied with how the tank is coming along, then keep doing what you're doing.

Consistency is the key – the tank will really do the rest if you do your part consistently. Consistent feeding is one of the biggies. C0nsistent quantites per day as much as anything.

To reiterate what @Diesel already said: If you do anything, do it slowly. It'll take up to a few weeks before you see the full effect of any change you make.

 

[renato120]

Honestly, use the tank as your indicator. Sounds like it's humming along nicely. A little algae here or there is natural.

The numbers are higher than prescribed, but you have to remember those are guidelines. Sometimes they're really good guidelines, but they still aren't perfect/don't always apply.

If you're satisfied with how the tank is coming along, then keep doing what you're doing.

Consistency is the key – the tank will really do the rest if you do your part consistently. Consistent feeding is one of the biggies. C0nsistent quantites per day as much as anything.

To reiterate what @Diesel already said: If you do anything, do it slowly. It'll take up to a few weeks before you see the full effect of any change you make.

I will! I have been feeding a lot lately... I will feed less for now on. Thanks

 

[jbow50]

Holy crap! Do you do something in a water chemistry field? I just checked the price of that phosphate tester online and it was $600. I know there are hanna checkers and then there are these things!

 

[renato120]

Holy crap! Do you do something in a water chemistry field? I just checked the price of that phosphate tester online and it was $600. I know there are hanna checkers and then there are these things!

I bought last year! Good price

 

[petemichelle]

how accurate do you find it? consistent?

 

[renato120]

how accurate do you find it? consistent?

Better than any other test kits around

 

[renato120]

Po4 is going down! Just checked and it reads 0.03
I will be changing every two weeks instead of every month.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Po4 is going down! Just checked and it reads 0.03
I will be changing every two weeks instead of every month.

Nice work! I hope everything else has been staying stable?