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#reefsquad (<< Is this thing on 
??)
Guys, I could use some advice, please. I've got a relatively new 25 AIO that has been running since late February, started with about 50% dry base rock, and 50% base rock that had been in my unlit 10 gallon invert tank for well over a year. I have also added some TBS rock rubble in one of the two refgium sections, I also temporarily placed a few chunks of TBS rock in the display, and I let the whole thing brew for a couple of months, before starting to stock with corals and turn the lights on. This is a fish-less coral and invert tank.
Since the start, this tank has been running high nitrate and very low to zero phosphate, which is a situation I've never personally encountered before. I believe it's because this is a fish-less tank, so I'm not feeding fish, obviously
I've done MANY relatively large (approaching like 80%) water changes in the life of this tank, and the nitrate always creeps back up; it's gone as high as 70 ppm.
I've been adding Reef Roids to raise the phosphate (that's all I have on hand). When adding the Reef Roids a pinch a day, I've been able to get the phosphate as high as about 17 ppB on the Hanna Phosphorus ULR Checker. I have been busy this week, and didn't add the Reef Roids for the last two days, and when I tested tonight, I got zero for phosphate. My nitrate today was about 52 ppm. I did another large water change because I have a bright green Psammocora that seems to go brown when the nitrate gets high, but I really don't want to be at nearly zero phosphate.
Again, this is a new situation for me. In the past when I've used dry rocks, I saw rather high phosphate, presumably from phosphates bound to the rock.
Since I have high nitrate but very low phosphate, I thought this tank may be a good candidate for carbon dosing, which I've read has a greater effect on lowering nitrate, but doesn't affect phosphate much. I"ve been doing a solution of 75% white vinegar and 25% vodka. I even sprung for Belvedere vodka because I want the best for my tank
So far, the carbon dosing isn't doing much to lower my nitrate. I've been told it can take some time to work, and I know that the bacteria need phosphate to grow. I'm also not really liking the IM NuvoSkim skimmer I installed here specifically because I started dosing carbon.
Do you guys have any suggestions for me here? I have been considering trying TM's NP Bacto Balance, which is an organic carbon source that claims it never drives either nitrate or phosphate too low. It clams to maintain both at low, but non-zero, concentrations. I like the sound of that, but I'm not thrilled to have to buy a relatively expensive (compared to vinegar/vodka) product here.
Should I try to dose a form of phosphate directly? Or is there a more appropriate product to try rather than the NP Bacto Balance?
I really don't want to be at zero phosphate, my corals look OK, but not great, and I think this is likely why.
Again, relevant parameters just tonight are:
Nitrate: 52 ppm Hanna HR Checker
Phosphate: 0 ppb Hanna Phosphorous ULR Checker
Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you all in advance!!
This tank about 4 days ago:
??)Guys, I could use some advice, please. I've got a relatively new 25 AIO that has been running since late February, started with about 50% dry base rock, and 50% base rock that had been in my unlit 10 gallon invert tank for well over a year. I have also added some TBS rock rubble in one of the two refgium sections, I also temporarily placed a few chunks of TBS rock in the display, and I let the whole thing brew for a couple of months, before starting to stock with corals and turn the lights on. This is a fish-less coral and invert tank.
Since the start, this tank has been running high nitrate and very low to zero phosphate, which is a situation I've never personally encountered before. I believe it's because this is a fish-less tank, so I'm not feeding fish, obviously
I've done MANY relatively large (approaching like 80%) water changes in the life of this tank, and the nitrate always creeps back up; it's gone as high as 70 ppm.
I've been adding Reef Roids to raise the phosphate (that's all I have on hand). When adding the Reef Roids a pinch a day, I've been able to get the phosphate as high as about 17 ppB on the Hanna Phosphorus ULR Checker. I have been busy this week, and didn't add the Reef Roids for the last two days, and when I tested tonight, I got zero for phosphate. My nitrate today was about 52 ppm. I did another large water change because I have a bright green Psammocora that seems to go brown when the nitrate gets high, but I really don't want to be at nearly zero phosphate.
Again, this is a new situation for me. In the past when I've used dry rocks, I saw rather high phosphate, presumably from phosphates bound to the rock.
Since I have high nitrate but very low phosphate, I thought this tank may be a good candidate for carbon dosing, which I've read has a greater effect on lowering nitrate, but doesn't affect phosphate much. I"ve been doing a solution of 75% white vinegar and 25% vodka. I even sprung for Belvedere vodka because I want the best for my tank
So far, the carbon dosing isn't doing much to lower my nitrate. I've been told it can take some time to work, and I know that the bacteria need phosphate to grow. I'm also not really liking the IM NuvoSkim skimmer I installed here specifically because I started dosing carbon.
Do you guys have any suggestions for me here? I have been considering trying TM's NP Bacto Balance, which is an organic carbon source that claims it never drives either nitrate or phosphate too low. It clams to maintain both at low, but non-zero, concentrations. I like the sound of that, but I'm not thrilled to have to buy a relatively expensive (compared to vinegar/vodka) product here.
Should I try to dose a form of phosphate directly? Or is there a more appropriate product to try rather than the NP Bacto Balance?
I really don't want to be at zero phosphate, my corals look OK, but not great, and I think this is likely why.
Again, relevant parameters just tonight are:
Nitrate: 52 ppm Hanna HR Checker
Phosphate: 0 ppb Hanna Phosphorous ULR Checker
Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you all in advance!!
This tank about 4 days ago:
