Phosphate help

[bossman818]

Hello everyone,

I need some help. Phosphates are zero. Tested with Hanna tester 4 days in a row. Salifert tester coming tomorrow to confirm. I dosed neophos 2 days in a row and phosphates are undetectable. Nitrates are around 12. Dkh is at 7.1. Calcium 450. Magnesium hasn’t been tested. Should I just keep dosing neophos to bring phosphates up?

I have 7 fish 65 gallon. I feed nori and mysis. I did a crazy reef roid feed and phosphates still at zero. I do have algae on the sand bed and rocks. Half of my rocks are about 3 weeks old. Added new ones. Can that be causing the phosphate consumption? Am I doing something wrong ?

 

[aSaltyKlown]

It is most likely binding to the substrate and rock as soon as you put it in. It can take some time before it stabilizes. Double or triple the dose. I had to triple my dose for a couple of days before I saw it read anything after 24 hours, and then I still had to dose almost daily for a few weeks. Keep at it and it will come to an equilibrium.

 

[VintageReefer]

If you already have algae issues why are you dosing phosphates. You probably have low phosphates being consumed by algae

Do you have any actual issues with coral health?

Yes new rock will absorb phosphates. And then you’ll find you can’t get phosphates down, and end up constantly taking measures to pull it back out

If it was me I would focus on the algae not the phosphates.

I ran my tank Dec 2022 to July 2024 with phosphate below .05. I would test 0 for months at a time. But my sump was growing macro so it was producing phosphate, but algae was consuming it.

Eliminate the algae and your phosphate will likely increase to low detectable levels

 

[aSaltyKlown]

Disregard my post, it's about 5 hours past my sleep time and I did not fully read the post. Take care of the algae first as mentioned.

 

[VintageReefer]

Disregard my post, it's about 5 hours past my sleep time and I did not fully read the post. Take care of the algae first as mentioned.

Everything you said is valid, but algae first then see what phosphate actually is, and if phosphate dosing is needed

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hello everyone,

I need some help. Phosphates are zero. Tested with Hanna tester 4 days in a row. Salifert tester coming tomorrow to confirm. I dosed neophos 2 days in a row and phosphates are undetectable. Nitrates are around 12. Dkh is at 7.1. Calcium 450. Magnesium hasn’t been tested. Should I just keep dosing neophos to bring phosphates up?

I have 7 fish 65 gallon. I feed nori and mysis. I did a crazy reef roid feed and phosphates still at zero. I do have algae on the sand bed and rocks. Half of my rocks are about 3 weeks old. Added new ones. Can that be causing the phosphate consumption? Am I doing something wrong ?

Trust the Hanna, don't double test with salifert hoping to get results you want .
Salifert is pretty useless for phosphate anyway.

Get the Algae under control and then worry about phosphate.
Cut out the overfeeding trying to raise phosphate - you're just feeding ammonia to algae.

Toothbrush and elbow grease until algae under control.

 

[bossman818]

I have noticed algae on sand bed is slowly dying off. Does dosing phosphate cause that? I will scrub the rocks today because it isn’t much algae. My corals seem fine except for one mushroom that looks kind of faded. I thought I knew all about reefing until I ran into this issue lol.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have noticed algae on sand bed is slowly dying off. Does dosing phosphate cause that? I will scrub the rocks today because it isn’t much algae. My corals seem fine except for one mushroom that looks kind of faded. I thought I knew all about reefing until I ran into this issue lol.

How old is the tank?

 

[bossman818]

How old is the tank?

Its 10 months.

 

[colebartholow]

This might be a lifesaver.

I set this tank up a little over two years ago. I filled it with mostly LPS and some SPS coral about a year ago. The coral all slowly died except for my softies and a few LPS that are still barely hanging on.

I never understood because my calcium alkalinity were always on point and I just didn’t understand. My nitrates were always 15 to 20 but might phosphorus/phosphates were always zero. I’ve kind of given up over the last six months and kinda just let everything run its course so I’m hoping that I can try this and see what happens.

 

[bossman818]

After dosing NeoPhos it went to 0.15 steady for a few. Doing a small water change to bring down slowly or does anyone know if phosphates will be depleted by something in the tank and how fast?

 

[gbroadbridge]

After dosing NeoPhos it went to 0.15 steady for a few. Doing a small water change to bring down slowly or does anyone know if phosphates will be depleted by something in the tank and how fast?

There is nothing wrong with 0.15ppm.

That's a good number.

 

[bossman818]

I just ordered a bunch of acropora frags. Hopefully it’s not too high. First time getting acros and I’m kinda nervous.

 

[VintageReefer]

I keep acros at .4 - .5
You’ll be fine with .15

 

[bossman818]

I keep acros at .4 - .5
You’ll be fine with .15

I appreciate that. I was over here about to start the dreaded water changes

 

[VintageReefer]

I appreciate that. I was over here about to start the dreaded water changes

 

[bossman818]

They are amazing! I can’t wait till I get mine in. Thanks for sharing!

 

[VintageReefer]

They are amazing! I can’t wait till I get mine in. Thanks for sharing!

You’re welcome!

Disclaimer - purple/pink guy on the bottom middle is not an acro. But he blends in well so I keep it with some

Vivid’s branching cephastrea

 

[gbroadbridge]

They are amazing! I can’t wait till I get mine in. Thanks for sharing!

Given your tank is pretty young at 10-11 months, and your recent algae problems, go slow with the acros.

One or two frags and see how they settle over a month.

If they're okay add a few more, but remember not to crowd them.
They start small but will fight for space in a couple of years time.

 

[bossman818]

Given your tank is pretty young at 10-11 months, and your recent algae problems, go slow with the acros.

One or two frags and see how they settle over a month.

If they're okay add a few more, but remember not to crowd them.
They start small but will fight for space in a couple of years time.

I ordered 6 frags. I’m so screwed. Lol I’ll spread them out as best as possible. I have a thriving clam and a friend said if you can keep a clam you can keep acros. I really hope he is right.