How to raise phosphates?

NastyZ · 12/27/2012, 08:55 PM

Ok so I'm having the reverse problem of most and have 0 phosphates I recently set up a new tank with all new water just reused my rocks and some sand I set up my gfo reactor and carbon everything transformed over and was going great but I recently noticed some of my Lps and montis losing color when I realized I was stripping the water so now I need to get me phosphates but a bit before my corals suffer more any ideas?

90 gal

Nitrates 0
Ammo 0
Nitrites 0
Phos 0
Cal 440
Dkh 10
Ph 8.0
Salinty 1.25

Gary Majchrzak · 12/27/2012, 08:59 PM

what PO4 test kit are you using?

NastyZ · 12/27/2012, 09:07 PM

Both a Elos and hanna

chris s · 12/27/2012, 09:17 PM

I would start by taking the GFO offline. If your water is that clean / stripped any PO4 you add will be sucked up by the GFO. Any food you add to the tank will contain PO4, frozen usually more so than dry. With the GFO offline regular feeding should bump up the PO4 pretty quickly.

Gary Majchrzak · 12/27/2012, 09:19 PM

I will agree that GFO and GAC can cause what you're describing in your corals. I don't think "adding PO4" (per se) is the solution to your problem.
The damage has already been done.
IME (and in agreement with many well know reef aquarists) the use of GFO and GAC should be done sparingly. As you already know, absolute zero PO4 is to be avoided. If you're using more than the manufacturer's recommended dosages of GFO and/or GAC for your tank volume you are definitely using too much. Remove some. Or slow down the reactor. Or both.
Monitor alkalinity as GFO can cause it to drop.
Feed your fishes and corals. Everything should recover. Good luck.

NastyZ · 12/27/2012, 09:29 PM

Yes I have taken the gfo offline once it hit me wht was going on only some of my Lps and a chalice seem to be effected as they started to lose color my sps not so much but there not as vibrant so regular feeding should get it back right and I'm using the recommend amount of gfo but I was having an algae Issue in my old tank but didnt dial the reactor back when putting it In my new tank

hollister · 12/27/2012, 09:37 PM

Where have i been. You want zero phosphates.

NastyZ · 12/27/2012, 09:43 PM

^^^ negative u want low phosphates somewhere around .02-.04 Corals need it just not a lot of it

NastyZ · 12/27/2012, 09:43 PM

Dp..

jwoyshnar · 12/27/2012, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

Where have i been. You want zero phosphates.

You need some kind of phosphate, if not things will starve as the original poster has explained with his issues.

NastyZ · 12/27/2012, 10:16 PM

Yesum possum just glad I could it before everything lost color

hollister · 12/27/2012, 10:17 PM

Phosphates are a unwanted algea promoters. If you have coral then you want a few fish. The waste they produce and the food you feed are benefictial to the coral. Phosphate come from tap water and zero is best.

xcorallusx · 12/27/2012, 10:18 PM

lol get some fish and feed them

Gary Majchrzak · 12/27/2012, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

Phosphates are a unwanted algea promoters. If you have coral then you want a few fish. The waste they produce and the food you feed are benefictial to the coral. Phosphate come from tap water and zero is best.

bad info

NastyZ · 12/27/2012, 11:21 PM

^^ clearly after I just explained it

achillsohales · 12/27/2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcorallusx

lol get some fish and feed them

+1 haha. Thats how I run my mix reef

NastyZ · 12/27/2012, 11:31 PM

I have fish In my tank but I don't over feed them my tank is a sps dominated tank with some Lps so that doesn't help much I only feed once every 2-3 days

xcorallusx · 12/28/2012, 02:22 AM

Feed your fish everyday and your problem will be solved. Plus its inhumane to feed fish every 2-3 days, most reef fish have high metabolisms and require multiple feedings a day.

12/27/2012, 08:55 PM	#1
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	How to raise phosphates? Ok so I'm having the reverse problem of most and have 0 phosphates I recently set up a new tank with all new water just reused my rocks and some sand I set up my gfo reactor and carbon everything transformed over and was going great but I recently noticed some of my Lps and montis losing color when I realized I was stripping the water so now I need to get me phosphates but a bit before my corals suffer more any ideas? 90 gal Nitrates 0 Ammo 0 Nitrites 0 Phos 0 Cal 440 Dkh 10 Ph 8.0 Salinty 1.25

12/27/2012, 08:59 PM	#2
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	what PO4 test kit are you using? __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

12/27/2012, 09:19 PM	#5
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	I will agree that GFO and GAC can cause what you're describing in your corals. I don't think "adding PO4" (per se) is the solution to your problem. The damage has already been done. IME (and in agreement with many well know reef aquarists) the use of GFO and GAC should be done sparingly. As you already know, absolute zero PO4 is to be avoided. If you're using more than the manufacturer's recommended dosages of GFO and/or GAC for your tank volume you are definitely using too much. Remove some. Or slow down the reactor. Or both. Monitor alkalinity as GFO can cause it to drop. Feed your fishes and corals. Everything should recover. Good luck. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

12/27/2012, 09:29 PM	#6
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	Yes I have taken the gfo offline once it hit me wht was going on only some of my Lps and a chalice seem to be effected as they started to lose color my sps not so much but there not as vibrant so regular feeding should get it back right and I'm using the recommend amount of gfo but I was having an algae Issue in my old tank but didnt dial the reactor back when putting it In my new tank Last edited by NastyZ; 12/27/2012 at 09:47 PM.

12/27/2012, 09:07 PM	#3
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	Both a Elos and hanna

12/27/2012, 09:17 PM	#4
chris s Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 94	I would start by taking the GFO offline. If your water is that clean / stripped any PO4 you add will be sucked up by the GFO. Any food you add to the tank will contain PO4, frozen usually more so than dry. With the GFO offline regular feeding should bump up the PO4 pretty quickly.

12/27/2012, 09:37 PM	#7
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Where have i been. You want zero phosphates.

12/27/2012, 09:43 PM	#8
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	^^^ negative u want low phosphates somewhere around .02-.04 Corals need it just not a lot of it

12/27/2012, 10:16 PM	#11
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	Yesum possum just glad I could it before everything lost color

12/27/2012, 10:17 PM	#12
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Phosphates are a unwanted algea promoters. If you have coral then you want a few fish. The waste they produce and the food you feed are benefictial to the coral. Phosphate come from tap water and zero is best.

12/27/2012, 10:18 PM	#13
xcorallusx Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Blacksburg, Va Posts: 670	lol get some fish and feed them

12/27/2012, 11:21 PM	#15
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	^^ clearly after I just explained it

12/27/2012, 11:31 PM	#17
NastyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atascadero ca Posts: 664	I have fish In my tank but I don't over feed them my tank is a sps dominated tank with some Lps so that doesn't help much I only feed once every 2-3 days

12/28/2012, 02:22 AM	#18
xcorallusx Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Blacksburg, Va Posts: 670	Feed your fish everyday and your problem will be solved. Plus its inhumane to feed fish every 2-3 days, most reef fish have high metabolisms and require multiple feedings a day.