struggling with Phosphates

[reefmaster70]

Hi all. So I am a long time reef keeper, so not new to the hobby, but only recently got back into it after years away. I have a 20g nuvo tank that is running perfectly, and is currently my pride and joy. I set up a new 75g reef tank for a second tank back in June, so yes, it's still "new" and I am still seeing some of the "ugly" phase. I am well versed in how to deal with most of these issues, and on many of them either just adjust my lighing a little bit, add some specific CUC that I may not have enough of, or just "ride it out" and most of these issues tend to resolve themselves in time. I find I can correct most everything with weekly water changes. Anyway, long story short, the cycle went as expected, and parameters are all in check with the exception of my Phosphates. I do check both Phosphate, as well as ULR Phosphorous, to always double check my numbers. I also have tested my new water change saltwater for Phosphates just in case....there are none, or very very little anyway.

So my Phophates at todays testing are still at .90 ppm. Nitrates at about 12, Alk at 10.5dkh, Mag at 1350. I have been throwing in a small bag of phosguard into the sump, that didn't really seem to make very much difference, so about a week ago I added a two little fishies Phosphate reactor 150 to my sump. I put in about a 1/3 cup of Phosban into the reactor, and am running it, so it just slowly turns over the surface of the phosban. I was expecting my Phosphate reading after a little over a week of running it to be significantly lower, but it's not.

Hoping someone may be able to give some advice, or tips on how to get my phosphate to start moving in the downwards direction? I do not fee heavily. I feed frozen foods that I rinse, to get rid of some phosphate, and I also feed Vitalis marine pellets that are also suppose to be very low in phosphates. Not sure where all my phosphates are coming from at this point.

Thanks for any help

 

[bubbgee]

The rocks are probably releasing phosphates. Are these live rock or dry rock?
At this point, I don't see any issues with having high phosphates, especially if you just add soft corals. The soft corals will grow and eventually suck all of that phosphates down to a more manageable level. Having any macro algae will also help.

 

[reefmaster70]

The rocks are probably releasing phosphates. Are these live rock or dry rock?
At this point, I don't see any issues with having high phosphates, especially if you just add soft corals. The soft corals will grow and eventually suck all of that phosphates down to a more manageable level. Having any macro algae will also help.

that's what I am thinking too, but not 100%. So the rock in this tank is all OLD actual "Live rock". It is all Pukani from Fiji that I bought years ago. Until it was taken out of it's last tank, dried and stored in rubbermaid boxes for about 15 years. I brought it in from Fiji wrapped in wet paper back in the day. In June, I had put it all in a large brute trash can with new saltwater and started seeding it with Dr. Tim's bacteria. I also put some reef rubble from my established tank into the brute as well, and just let it run for about 60 days or so. I do understand talking from other people that Pukani did tend to have high phosphates. I am not sure if maybe I should start carbon dosing to help draw that out of the rock. I do have both LPS (mostly Frogspawn, hammers, and a couple torches) some Acan Lords, and then Zoa's and mushrooms, one nice pocilipora, and a couple green slimer sps frags, that's about it. I don't plan on keeping any other sps however. just softies and lps. I'd just really like to see my phosphates down around .1, I'd be happy with that.