So where is exactly should my Phosphate be?

[Bombschell]

Went to a new coral and fish store in my area super nice guys (more on that in a different post later) we were talking and they asked what my Phosphate level was. I don't know was my answer because I haven't been testing for that. What have had is algae that is thinning out but can't quite get rid of. I bought a Hannah tester from them and tested when we got home I got a reading of .05. Is this high, low, or ok and what should I do about it?

 

[DrZoidburg]

Do nothing that is not far off of fresh salt mixes. Let it balance out then get some clean up crew.

 

[Gtinnel]

That's perfect and what I try to maintain, however algea in the tank will skew the results some.

 

[Reefahholic]

Went to a new coral and fish store in my area super nice guys (more on that in a different post later) we were talking and they asked what my Phosphate level was. I don't know was my answer because I haven't been testing for that. What have had is algae that is thinning out but can't quite get rid of. I bought a Hannah tester from them and tested when we got home I got a reading of .05. Is this high, low, or ok and what should I do about it?

.05 is about perfect. Are you using RODI water with zero TDS?

Skimming?

Filtration?

 

[Bombschell]

.05 is about perfect. Are you using RODI water with zero TDS?

Skimming?

Filtration?

I use bottled rodi water as I don't have an unit myself. I stopped skimming after the diatoms cleared up, but other stuff cropped up. I have and EVO 13.5 with the stock filtration for now, I did add a big bag of media to the chamber 1 when I removed the skimmer. Upgrade to filtration is probably the next project though. I did go with the pound of rock per gallon and some supposed "live" sand when we set it up

 

[Bombschell]

Do nothing that is not far off of fresh salt mixes. Let it balance out then get some clean up crew.

Already have a couple nasarius, turbos, and hermits also just added a mithrax which is one heck of a worker!

 

[vetteguy53081]

< .04

 

[Bombschell]

< .04

So how much is too much?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So how much is too much?

When you start hitting > .08 or higher

 

[DrZoidburg]

Honestly the hole chasing phosphate numbers is kind of bolognea. I wouldn't let it go much over .14ppm. Its all about balance not numbers.

 

[Bombschell]

Trying to get that flipping powder out of the packet and into that vial is a real pain! Guess I need a funnel

 

[DrZoidburg]

Trying to get that flipping powder out of the packet and into that vial is a real pain! Guess I need a funnel

I know this problem heh. Try to make the packet the funnel in a way. Give it some gentle taps to get it out of the corner.

 

[Reefahholic]

I use bottled rodi water as I don't have an unit myself. I stopped skimming after the diatoms cleared up, but other stuff cropped up. I have and EVO 13.5 with the stock filtration for now, I did add a big bag of media to the chamber 1 when I removed the skimmer. Upgrade to filtration is probably the next project though. I did go with the pound of rock per gallon and some supposed "live" sand when we set it up

 

[Timfish]

.03 mg/l to .5 mg/l. Keep in mind we're only testing for Dissolved Inorganic Phosphate with our tests and can't test for dissolved organic forms or for particulate forms. Also keep in mind cryptic sponges which you will invariably end up having to some extent are messing with phosphorus also. Here's some links you might find informative:

Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts

https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ecm.1217?casa_token=ziDzrEEJ8g0AAAAA%3AHnfuGTIntMdqOtx2ij-lnoTh7qVg8VBhYFz98e60zfBEvx5IcIVGhmlpUYmzIJuqUNVm0sG8_0vth6lq

Here's fig 4 from the above paper:

2657円まるいち 博多辛子明太子(無着色) 「博多の華」 (ギフト用) 180g Z6572海産物イクラ,タラコ,魚卵 Qoo10]　「博　まるいち　博多辛子明太子(無着色) | therichross.com

2657円まるいち 博多辛子明太子(無着色) 「博多の華」 (ギフト用) 180g Z6572海産物イクラ,タラコ,魚卵 Qoo10]　「博　まるいち　博多辛子明太子(無着色) | therichross.com

therichross.com

Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach (Fastest growth was at .5 mg/l)

Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach

Phosphate contamination can negatively affect corals, modifying growth rates, skeletal density, reproduction, mortality, and zooxanthellae. We determi…

www.sciencedirect.com

High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata

High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata

SUMMARYSeveral untested aspects of the regulation of inorganic nutrient uptake were examined using nutrient depletion experiments with the symbiotic coral Stylophora pistillata. The total inhibition of phosphate uptake in artificial seawater lacking sodium indicates the involvement of a...

jeb.biologists.org

Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle

Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle

Marine sponges are ubiquitous colonizers of shallow, clear-water environments in the oceans (1, 2). Sponges have emerged as significant mediators of biogeochemical fluxes in coastal zones by virtue of respiring organic matter and facilitating both the consumption and release of nutrients (3, 4)...

www.pnas.org

Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges

Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges

Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that raise a conundrum called “Darwin’s paradox”: How can high production flourish in low-nutrient conditions? We show here that in three abundant Caribbean sponges, the granules that have been commonly observed in sponge tissue for decades are...

www.pnas.org

hosphate Deficiency:
Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching:

Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching - Nature Climate Change

Increased dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations in sea water have been linked to a reduction of the temperature threshold at which corals bleach, however, the mechanism underlying this change is not known. This phenomenon is now explained in terms of increased phosphatase activities...

www.nature.com

Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont:

Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont

Reef building corals associated with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) can access environmental nutrients from different sources, most significantly via the uptake of dissolved inorganic nutrients by the algal symbiont and heterotrophic feeding of the coral host. Climate change is expected to...

www.frontiersin.org

Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates

Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates

Enrichment of reef environments with dissolved inorganic nutrients is considered a major threat to the survival of corals living in symbiosis with din…

www.sciencedirect.com

BActeria and Sponges


Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)


Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"

 

[DrZoidburg]

@Timfish when you mention cryptic sponges I think @Subsea should be tagged I think this person knows some on them.

 

[Subsea]

@Timfish when you mention cryptic sponges I think @Subsea should be tagged I think this person knows some on them.

I got my info from Tim.