Rich Ross - Home Tank - guess the phosphate

[Abhishek]

The main tank runs generally around 78

So you run it at 78 for the NPS ?

 

[Thales]

So you run it at 78 for the NPS ?

I just looked, it runs aroudn 78-80. I run it like that because it is a nice average that isn't to heat loaded for when it gets hot here. I'll let it drop in the winter.
Not all NPS like it cooler.

 

[Thales]

I posted this in another thread just now and thought it might be helpful to bank it here

I have been dosing lanthanum chloride into my skimmer for almost 2 years now into my Bill Wann skimmer. Started at 10ml diluted into 1000ml DI dosed at 30ml a day (though that has changed over time, I have played with concentrations and dosages over time). Phosphate started at 1.6 and has been as low as .2 but is now at .72. I feed a lot, and have been feeding more lately to keep baby coral happy. The road to low phosphate via lanthanum dosing is long and likely forever if you feed a lot. I may or may not up my dosing of lanthanum after the spawning I am waiting for this month happens or doesn't happen.
I am not really worried about high phosphate and started dosing lanthanum in the skimmer at lower amounts because it was easy and Craig Bingman was interested if it would work - I know me, I am not going to deal with clogged filters (I have no mechanical filtration for that reason). It seems to have brought the general level down, and as I say, I may, just for fun, try to get it lower.
YMMV

 

[User1]

I posted this in another thread just now and thought it might be helpful to bank it here

I forget who's dosing model I followed but I rigged up an iv type drip of LC into a zillion micro filter sock over time. It worked well but did clog up pretty quick from what I recall. Never tried into the skimmer... Great tip!

Hope all is well.

 

[Silent]

I forget who's dosing model I followed but I rigged up an iv type drip of LC into a zillion micro filter sock over time. It worked well but did clog up pretty quick from what I recall. Never tried into the skimmer... Great tip!

Hope all is well.

Into the skimmer is so easy and works very well.

 

[tripdad]

@Thales , have you noticed any negative effects from LC dripping? Do you keep any bi-valves in your tank? I am contemplating an LC drip but have heard thoughts floated that it may have residual effects on bi-valves.

 

[Thales]

I'll be taking a break from posting on r2r. If anyone has questions for me, please get ahold of me elsewhere. Thanks and happy reefing!

 

[Abhishek]

I'll be taking a break from posting on r2r. If anyone has questions for me, please get ahold of me elsewhere. Thanks and happy reefing!

This is what I was afraid of ! Can we pm you on R2R ?

 

[User1]

I'll be taking a break from posting on r2r. If anyone has questions for me, please get ahold of me elsewhere. Thanks and happy reefing!

Will be following suit. All the best and catch you on the next podcast. All the best to you and your family.

 

[Daddy-o]

I'll be taking a break from posting on r2r. If anyone has questions for me, please get ahold of me elsewhere. Thanks and happy reefing!

Thats a bummer! I do enjoy reading your posts and reef tank insights. I for one will miss them.
Cheers! Mark

 

[Thales]

Current Nitrate 16, current phosphate .18

 

[Susan Edwards]

beautiful tank. Would love a front view!

 

[Thales]

beautiful tank. Would love a front view!

Thanks!

 

[shootingstar_reef]

this is amazing! I feel a little better about my slightly higher PO4...

Love all the different species in there

 

[Susan Edwards]

this is amazing! I feel a little better about my slightly higher PO4...

Love all the different species in there

Mine is now at .19. Sometimes a bit less. But after it bottoming out and having to dose, I can live with under .2 though would prefer .08 or so!

 

[Thales]

Mine is now at .19. Sometimes a bit less. But after it bottoming out and having to dose, I can live with under .2 though would prefer .08 or so!

What differences do you see at .08 and .2?

 

[Susan Edwards]

What differences do you see at .08 and .2?

Hard to say as it doesn't stay long at .2 as I add phosguard in. I had a horrid bryopsis issue which I'm treating so I expect no3 and po4 to be higher as the algae isn't uptaking those nutrients and putting it back in system. --back to dosing nopox and zero (I had way too low of both before) I just want some po4 so picked .08-.1 as my targets

 

[Thales]

Hard to say as it doesn't stay long at .2 as I add phosguard in. I had a horrid bryopsis issue which I'm treating so I expect no3 and po4 to be higher as the algae isn't uptaking those nutrients and putting it back in system. --back to dosing nopox and zero (I had way too low of both before) I just want some po4 so picked .08-.1 as my targets

Gotcha. Thanks.
I don't think algae issues have much at all to do with nutrient levels in tanks - this Sunday at 2pm MACNA Milwaukee for more info.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Gotcha. Thanks.
I don't think algae issues have much at all to do with nutrient levels in tanks - this Sunday at 2pm MACNA Milwaukee for more info.

what is that? And where? Are you saying high no3 or po4 do not cause high nutrients thus algae?

 

[Thales]

what is that? And where?

Home

MACNA 2023 will be held in Pittsburgh! When: September 8th-10th, 2023 Where: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania David L. Lawrence Convention Center Theme: Inspiring Successful Reefkeeping MACNA 2023 will be Inspiring

macna.org

Are you saying high no3 or po4 do not cause high nutrients thus algae?

no3 and po4 are nutrients. I don't think what some consider high levels of them directly cause algae, but it is more that I think lowering those levels does not help control algae.

When my nitrate was 70 and phosphate was 1.6 for years I didn't have algae problems. I don't have them with the current levels either.

Here is a talk from 2014 about nitrate and posphate