haze152 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 For some reason I can not get my Phosphates below .36 ( red sea test). It's a 75 gallon DT with 30 gallon sump. Alk 8 cal 450 everything else 0 water 78-80. 150 lbs live rock total in system. I have tried GFO in reactor and bag. Is it possible the test is bad. All of my coral look fine in fact since I started reactor colors look great. I have changed media 3 time in the last 2 weeks test still reads .36. Does anyone have any recommendations. I have not tried to test with hanna test yet. If anyone live in round rock or NW Austin that has one and would test water that would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 have you tested your source water for phosphates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Check it with another test kit. And check the TDS of your rodi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 It is possible you may have an expired test kit. Check the date. Most likely you have a source problem where the PO4 is coming from. If you are confident in your water source and you are not overfeeding your fish with low quality foods then only other source would be using some of the low cost coral accelerates (check for labeling which does not say "free from phosphates"), but more likely the 150 lbs of rock. Some rocks will leech PO4 into the water column for months after introducing into the tank. Pukani has a reputation for this, and is why I prefer Tonga rock. There are a few things you can do, and using high quality GFO is a solution, however; with the levels you are describing you will exhaust your GFO very fast, possibly in only a matter of a day or so. Using the the high capacity products like ROX may give you more time between changes but the $$$ cost will work out to be about the same. Another option is the use of Cl3 or Lanthanum Cloride. This is very effective at removing PO4 from the water column and is relatively inexpensive. I wouildn't reccomend using a commercial pool spa product that is extremely common in the industry, but rather seek out a hobby product such as Blue Life Phosphate Control, Caribsea Phos-Buster Pro and a host of others out there. They are usally used as a monthly suppliment and also require the use of a fine mesh sock to capture the white precipitate produced from the reaction w/ the PO4. This measure is considered reef safe, however I would caution anyone in quickly and dramatically reducing PO4 or nitrates in a mixed reef tank where soft or LPS corals can be affected. Even SPS corals can at least temporaraly react to fast reductions. Therefore I would always exercise caution and begin the first dose at half the recommended amount. Better safe than sorry. And remember a true level of 0.0 ppm PO4 would starve any coral over time, so this should not be your goal. Many SPS hobbists claim SPS do quite well at levels above ULNS (IE): 0.02ppm and higher. If you can mange aslower reduction of PO4 over time thru GFO and manage the costs then this is the route I would take. Especially if the SPS corals are doing well and you are experiencing no algae outbraks. NEON REEFER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 If you had an accurate reading of 0.36, you would be probably be experiencing some pretty heinous algae right now. In light of the fact that your livestock looks well, it sounds to me more like a test with expired reagent than a nutrient issue. Try to make it to one of the stores and either buy a new test kit or have them test it. If you're ever south, I can test it for you if you drop off a sample. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Reminds me I need to order more Hanna reagent for po4. But it sounds like your on an old test like stated above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Like above if you're corals ook good it's something that does not need to be fixed today or tomorrow and a gradual aproach is best. As well, you want to verify your test kit and source for the phosphate. A point I would like to make here is while phosphates and nitrates can certainly cause algae problems it is not a given. It is an association and not a direct correlation. I have been very surprised to see acros, montis and other corals quite happy with phosphate levels much higher than what you have. Conversely I have seen nuscence algae problems in tanks that have acceptable levels of nitrate and phosphate so the picture is much more complicated that a simple direct correlation would suggest. If you have high phophates it certainly does need to be rectified but I would let the corals apperance and behaviour dictate how aggressive I was with my treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haze152 Posted June 3, 2013 Author Share Posted June 3, 2013 The source water RO/DI tested at .02. After the last media change I noticedto browned out acros in tank have started coloring one is turning a bright green and the other a bluish purple. All the food I use contains no phosphates. I am using red sea pro reef crystals for salt. The test still reads .36. Since corals look good I'm not in a big hurry I don't want to strip nutrients to fast and crash. My nitrates ran 10-15 but have been 0 for last 30 days I chaned media brands. I did just buy a better skimmer and its removal is far better then the last one. From what I understand at .25 there is a good chance you will see tissue damage on sps which I am not seeing. White all the new GFO media and reactors or there I am trying to avoid carbon dosing. I will test again tonight and bring sample to LFS and compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Sounds like you've got it under control. Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+olaggie01 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 I have a hanna phosphate meter for sale with several reagents (25+) if you are interested. I'm in Georgetown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haze152 Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Red sea pro test .16 mine and LFS API .25 Low end red sea 0 3 days afte new media. So I'm guessing test again in a few days when levels Change replace media. What is everyone using for GFO brand wise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I started using some I get on ebay. Same as BRS from what I can tell but it's about $10 per pound including shipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 BRS high capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haze152 Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 So I have been running new media for 3 days and did a 25% water change. levels are down to .10 with hana meter thank to olaggie01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 You're on the right track ! Make sure with that tester that you push and hold after C.2 for the three minute timer. Also, make sure that you totally dissolve the powder reagent. It's also important that you get all of the powder without your hands touching the interior of the packet where the powder touches. I like to do a 2 vial system where one vial is just unreacted water and the second vial has reacted water. Also keep those smudges off the outside of the vial. Simple right ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 One thing about food, although I'm glad you have your issue under control. If the food contains animal products, it will have phosphates in it. Maybe not added P04, but it will have P04. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haze152 Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 What did you mean Press and hold. Right now the way I have been doing it is fill vial with test water turn unit on. Wipe vial with micro fiber rag put vial in press button unit then says add c2 at that point intake vial out pour regent in shake vial till all is gone then tap vial to get bubbles out. I then wipe again with micro fiber rag and place vial in and press again and get reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 After c.2, when the reacted bottle is inserted, push and hold for a 3 minute timer to let powder settle and bubbles dissipate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haze152 Posted June 14, 2013 Author Share Posted June 14, 2013 Todays test results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Nice ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haze152 Posted June 14, 2013 Author Share Posted June 14, 2013 Now let's see how long it stays there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 until you feed again : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haze152 Posted June 14, 2013 Author Share Posted June 14, 2013 That test was 1 hour after feeding tested again this morning .01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 So by changing out your filter media and doing a 10% water change you got it to go from .36 to a .01 in 2 weeks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 the 0.36 was erroneous. 0.16 to 0.02 in 2 weeks is doable with GFO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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