Sources of Phosphate

[Dom]

Using my Red Sea test kit, I tested my display tank for phosphates as I have a red Cyano bloom that has been going on for 2 months. I waited it out hoping it would self correct to no avail.

Chemiclean is on the way, but I would prefer to identify the underlying cause.

Red Sea PO4 results = 0.08, and I'd like to get that number down.

I've tested my RODI system and have zero (undetectable?) PO4.

I feed frozen Mysis and Brine daily, but have reduced it to every other day as of 2/11.

I have to check my notes, but I think this may have started when I added a big 10 pound piece of dry rock which was sitting in a different tank for about 6 weeks. I assumed it was cured and put it into my DT. Could this rock be the PO4 source after all this time?

I'm thinking I should yank it from the tank.

Thoughts?

Thanks.
Dom

 

[Pntbll687]

How old is your tank?
What type of rock was used? was it cured before hand? If so, what type of curing, acid/bleach/ro ?
What type of rock is the new rock? Where did it come from? How established was that tank?
What foods do you feed? How often?

All these and more questions can play a part in this. If you can give us some details on your tank it would help a great deal in pointing you in the right direction.

 

[PiggyPuffin]

If you think the rock is the source you could move it to its own bucket for a few days and monitor the P. Keep it heated and with flow...maybe pop in a small animal if you think it is full of bacteria.

 

[Dom]

If you think the rock is the source you could move it to its own bucket for a few days and monitor the P. Keep it heated and with flow...maybe pop in a small animal if you think it is full of bacteria.

Good idea... I like it. I'll remove it. if PO4 goes down, then it's the culprit.

 

[Dom]

How old is your tank?
What type of rock was used? was it cured before hand? If so, what type of curing, acid/bleach/ro ?
What type of rock is the new rock? Where did it come from? How established was that tank?
What foods do you feed? How often?

All these and more questions can play a part in this. If you can give us some details on your tank it would help a great deal in pointing you in the right direction.

It was part of a dry rock order from BRS.

Basically, I cycled it in in a 15 gallon tank... monitored... watched ammonia go up, come down.. nitrates went up. Water changes...

 

[PiggyPuffin]

If it's BRS Reef Saver then I thought BRS said that rock doesn't leach phosphate.

 

[Dom]

If it's BRS Reef Saver then I thought BRS said that rock doesn't leach phosphate.

That may be the case. But there is only one way to find out...

 

[Jim Wood]

Have you tested the TDS coming out of your ATO container? I had similar issues and just realized that my topoff water was 0 TDS going into the reservoir and 49 coming out into the tank.