Continuous water change to lower phosphate?

christian1966 · 05/10/2013, 11:46 AM

I finally decided to try SPS this year but I've always had trouble keeping phosphate (aka algae) down. So far what I have done was remove the sand and go BB, toss out the Chaeto and took down the refugium and replaced with a makeshift settling tank and a bare sump. Skim heavy and add a little GFO. I siphon detritus twice a week and do 10% water change weekly.

Would switching to a continuous water change with a litremeter be more effective in reducing phosphate instead of a weekly change? Or is the difference negligible?

o2manyfish · 05/10/2013, 11:55 AM

What size is your tank ?

What was your reasoning for removing the chaeto ?

What kind of lights ?

Have you been testing your phosphate levels or your tank water and your replacement water ?

Dave B

christian1966 · 05/10/2013, 12:45 PM

Tank is 75g, sump is 30g. I have two Radion LEDS over the tank.

I'm using Salifert for phosphate testing but it shows 0 which I know is incorrect since I'm still getting some algae growth, not alot but more than I feel comfortable with SPS. RODI and new salt water also show reading of 0.

I removed the chaeto because it seemed like just another phosphate addition to the tank. I know you are supposed to thin it out as it grows to remove the waste but wouldn't it be better not to have it in there to begin with so I don't have to worry about another source of phosphate? Or am I wrong in my thinking.

wireefman · 05/10/2013, 12:47 PM

algae turf scrubber....

o2manyfish · 05/10/2013, 12:49 PM

The chaeto absorbs the nutrients. When the ball gets big then you tear the ball back down to size (tennis ball perhaps) and throw out the nutrients. The chaeto doesn't release phosphate into the water. Many years ago before Chaeto when we used Caluerpa it absorbed the nutrients but then could die off or go sexual and release the nutrients back on occassion. Chaeto doesn't have those issues. It just absorbs and grows.

Better yet you share the chaeto with local reefers, and get more people using refugiums.

What kind of algae is growing in the tank. And when say too much algae what does that mean to you?

Dave B

christian1966 · 05/10/2013, 12:56 PM

I used to have a ton of GHA all over my liverock in long strands. Since the changes I've made, the GHA has reduced significantly but still on my rocks, just in very short tufts about 1mm all over the surface. I also have to wipe the glass every two days.

I guess my worry with chaeto was that it has been shrinking and I've been worrying that it's releasing all the nutrients back into my system.

o2manyfish · 05/10/2013, 01:00 PM

Chaeto shrinking is unusual. If you had nutrients the Chaeto should be growing.

How long has it been since you updated your snail population? Sally Lightfoot crabs? Tangs ?

Dave B

christian1966 · 05/10/2013, 01:17 PM

I can't understand why it was shrinking either. I figured the GHA was outcompeting for algae along with my new husbandry methods?

I bought a yellow tang about a month ago that has been helping with the algae. My CUC consists of 5 trochus, 10 cerith, 5 nassarius snails, no crabs.

christian1966 · 05/10/2013, 01:18 PM

Also I feed frozen food (1 cube) twice a day to the fish (5 fish total).

yaridong · 05/10/2013, 01:29 PM

I had long GHA issues as well. I also have chaeto in my sump. I would not get rid of the chaeto but actually get some large turbo snails. They ate up all my GHA quick style. Sea hares will also do the job even faster without knocking stuff over. But sea hares may get caught in one of your power heads....never had that happen to me though...also heard that they are poisonous? Have had a few die in my tank w no problems. I have a 60 g long mixed reef w a 40g sump.

As for cleaning the tank glass I accept that as just a part of owning an aquarium.

Deinonych · 05/10/2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christian1966

Also I feed frozen food (1 cube) twice a day to the fish (5 fish total).

That seems like a lot of food for 5 fish. I feed enough for my 5 fish to eat in 1-2 minutes, which is about 1/8 of a cube tops. I have small fish, though.

yaridong · 05/10/2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deinonych

That seems like a lot of food for 5 fish. I feed enough for my 5 fish to eat in 1-2 minutes, which is about 1/8 of a cube tops. I have small fish, though.

Agreed. I used to feed cubes but that doesn't have too much nutritional value and the cube itself dirties the water. Feed pellets if you can. And make sure they eat it all before adding more. This should help a lot.

christian1966 · 05/10/2013, 04:18 PM

Ok, I'll give that a try. Thanks.

05/10/2013, 11:46 AM	#1
christian1966 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 65	Continuous water change to lower phosphate? I finally decided to try SPS this year but I've always had trouble keeping phosphate (aka algae) down. So far what I have done was remove the sand and go BB, toss out the Chaeto and took down the refugium and replaced with a makeshift settling tank and a bare sump. Skim heavy and add a little GFO. I siphon detritus twice a week and do 10% water change weekly. Would switching to a continuous water change with a litremeter be more effective in reducing phosphate instead of a weekly change? Or is the difference negligible?

05/10/2013, 11:55 AM	#2
o2manyfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Encino, CA Posts: 6,199	What size is your tank ? What was your reasoning for removing the chaeto ? What kind of lights ? Have you been testing your phosphate levels or your tank water and your replacement water ? Dave B __________________ 560g Display. 1500g System Volume. (2) 180g Outdoor Frag Tanks. 340g Sump, 30g 2 story surge tank. Dasatco EXT 9. Bubble King Skimmer. Ozone. UV. 5' Fluidized Sand Filter. Avast Kalk Mixer. Current Tank Info: 560g SPS Dominant Reef / 1500g Total System

05/10/2013, 12:49 PM	#5
o2manyfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Encino, CA Posts: 6,199	The chaeto absorbs the nutrients. When the ball gets big then you tear the ball back down to size (tennis ball perhaps) and throw out the nutrients. The chaeto doesn't release phosphate into the water. Many years ago before Chaeto when we used Caluerpa it absorbed the nutrients but then could die off or go sexual and release the nutrients back on occassion. Chaeto doesn't have those issues. It just absorbs and grows. Better yet you share the chaeto with local reefers, and get more people using refugiums. What kind of algae is growing in the tank. And when say too much algae what does that mean to you? Dave B __________________ 560g Display. 1500g System Volume. (2) 180g Outdoor Frag Tanks. 340g Sump, 30g 2 story surge tank. Dasatco EXT 9. Bubble King Skimmer. Ozone. UV. 5' Fluidized Sand Filter. Avast Kalk Mixer. Current Tank Info: 560g SPS Dominant Reef / 1500g Total System

05/10/2013, 01:00 PM	#7
o2manyfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Encino, CA Posts: 6,199	Chaeto shrinking is unusual. If you had nutrients the Chaeto should be growing. How long has it been since you updated your snail population? Sally Lightfoot crabs? Tangs ? Dave B __________________ 560g Display. 1500g System Volume. (2) 180g Outdoor Frag Tanks. 340g Sump, 30g 2 story surge tank. Dasatco EXT 9. Bubble King Skimmer. Ozone. UV. 5' Fluidized Sand Filter. Avast Kalk Mixer. Current Tank Info: 560g SPS Dominant Reef / 1500g Total System

05/10/2013, 12:45 PM	#3
christian1966 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 65	Tank is 75g, sump is 30g. I have two Radion LEDS over the tank. I'm using Salifert for phosphate testing but it shows 0 which I know is incorrect since I'm still getting some algae growth, not alot but more than I feel comfortable with SPS. RODI and new salt water also show reading of 0. I removed the chaeto because it seemed like just another phosphate addition to the tank. I know you are supposed to thin it out as it grows to remove the waste but wouldn't it be better not to have it in there to begin with so I don't have to worry about another source of phosphate? Or am I wrong in my thinking.

05/10/2013, 12:47 PM	#4
wireefman reefin chef Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: minnesota Posts: 650	algae turf scrubber....

05/10/2013, 12:56 PM	#6
christian1966 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 65	I used to have a ton of GHA all over my liverock in long strands. Since the changes I've made, the GHA has reduced significantly but still on my rocks, just in very short tufts about 1mm all over the surface. I also have to wipe the glass every two days. I guess my worry with chaeto was that it has been shrinking and I've been worrying that it's releasing all the nutrients back into my system.

05/10/2013, 01:17 PM	#8
christian1966 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 65	I can't understand why it was shrinking either. I figured the GHA was outcompeting for algae along with my new husbandry methods? I bought a yellow tang about a month ago that has been helping with the algae. My CUC consists of 5 trochus, 10 cerith, 5 nassarius snails, no crabs.

05/10/2013, 01:18 PM	#9
christian1966 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 65	Also I feed frozen food (1 cube) twice a day to the fish (5 fish total).

05/10/2013, 01:29 PM	#10
yaridong Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern OC! Posts: 129	I had long GHA issues as well. I also have chaeto in my sump. I would not get rid of the chaeto but actually get some large turbo snails. They ate up all my GHA quick style. Sea hares will also do the job even faster without knocking stuff over. But sea hares may get caught in one of your power heads....never had that happen to me though...also heard that they are poisonous? Have had a few die in my tank w no problems. I have a 60 g long mixed reef w a 40g sump. As for cleaning the tank glass I accept that as just a part of owning an aquarium.

05/10/2013, 04:18 PM	#13
christian1966 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 65	Ok, I'll give that a try. Thanks.