What form of PHOSPHATE control do you use for the best SPS and Coralline growth?

CleveYank · 03/29/2010, 09:16 AM

Just wondering of some of the Phosphate controls out there what's the most popular.

This is a general category poll.

jubjub · 03/29/2010, 09:43 AM

i run a reactor with BRS seems to work good i kind of have problems when i dosed alot of vodka, so with my 120gal i keep dosing at about .7mL's....for me my tank seems happier when i wasnt doing weekly water changes more stable atleast....also side note elbo wrenching water changes?one of the best things i did was just get a maxi 1200, and a long piece of tubing, you put pump in tank to pump it out, then in what you want back in the tank to put it back in....water changes are painless now....

maybe someone can correct me if im wrong on this but arent phosphates related to nitrates some how? i run a RDSB to reduce my nitrates this has seemed to help with my phos levels

lordofthereef · 03/29/2010, 10:06 AM

What if the option is none of the above?

username in use · 03/29/2010, 10:11 AM

Yeah, where is the option for minimal water changes while reducing the input of phosphates to begin with, and having no problems?

Mr Coffee · 03/29/2010, 10:20 AM

Xenia are natural consumers of phos. I have a small clump in my display and then have moved to having a larger group in my fuge. I have used all of the above with the exception of the bacteria AND carbon dosing. Then again I test and seem to have 0 Phos so often I wonder if my test kit even works. So I am the 1 big algae scrubber option or at least I was until my foxface cleaned my tank up completely.

lordofthereef · 03/29/2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username in use

Yeah, where is the option for minimal water changes while reducing the input of phosphates to begin with, and having no problems?

CleveYank · 03/29/2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

What if the option is none of the above?

Well then I guess the fellow that set up the poll decided that your opinion didn't matter. DOH...I am kidding of course.
It matters, but what I'm gearing this question at is with the reasonably stocked systems that have been around a while with nutrient coming in and how it's addressed between the 1st 2 questions.

Most folks have to do certain measures to counter these nutrients to prevent the phosphate to kick start the micro algae infestation that would result. So in the eyes of majority your case would not apply if none of the above.

For whatever reason there's always going to be 2 to 3 % that don't fit the typical. For sake of that I didn't offer the option. I really was looking for out of the GFO crowd vs the Carbon bacteria dosing crowd. Knowing full well that there's xenia, clam, algae turf, refugium, and zeo, neo zeo and think there's another one with a funny name...and other options and hybreds to combat phosphates.

So the last couple questions.
Waterchange one of course is for either the new hobbyist or old school that just do the water changes and believe those are the best way to not only control phosphate, but everything else that can ail a reef system. And even this could be nitpicked to death as far as system stabilty yes or no or other.

The last response of course is just another one of my sad attempts at levity. But if the stink fits? By all means step in it and vote for that one.

PS. In case nooone noticed I did leave it at multiple answer in case parts of each are being applied.

Metal Man 1221 · 03/29/2010, 11:21 AM

water changes and carbon dosing

the only thing i dont like about carbon dosing is that the ethanol in the vodka has severly limited my zooplankton population (pods etc.) so if you try dosing carbon, sugar or vinigar can be substitutes, vinigar wan also help with kalk dosing as well

CleveYank · 03/29/2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Man 1221

water changes and carbon dosing

the only thing i dont like about carbon dosing is that the ethanol in the vodka has severly limited my zooplankton population (pods etc.) so if you try dosing carbon, sugar or vinigar can be substitutes, vinigar wan also help with kalk dosing as well

Hmmm I wonder if that's what happened to my pod population that was building back up.
Must be with the vodka dosing the system gets too clean.
Reason number 86 why I'm glad I ditched it.

NaClH2Opgh · 03/29/2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CleveYank

Hmmm I wonder if that's what happened to my pod population that was building back up.
Must be with the vodka dosing the system gets too clean.
Reason number 86 why I'm glad I ditched it.

Hasn't affected my population at all. I doubt it is the carbon dosing. I have a mandarin goby and yellow wrasse and pods are still plenty in my system. I added them once 2 years ago and have not added any new since. I also have no fuge or macro in my sump. Not sure on the science of why ethanol would restrict growth of pods.

CleveYank · 03/29/2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaClH2Opgh

Hasn't affected my population at all. I doubt it is the carbon dosing. I have a mandarin goby and yellow wrasse and pods are still plenty in my system. I added them once 2 years ago and have not added any new since. I also have no fuge or macro in my sump. Not sure on the science of why ethanol would restrict growth of pods.

I would agree that the link of or a direct impact as in the ethanol is influencing the numbers. What I'm thinking is less nutrient, less micro algae and therefore less food and hiding areas for pods.

NaClH2Opgh · 03/29/2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CleveYank

I would agree that the link of or a direct impact as in the ethanol is influencing the numbers. What I'm thinking is less nutrient, less micro algae and therefore less food and hiding areas for pods.

I would agree on the points of less macro therefore less hiding places. That is why I use rubble rock in the corners of my display plus all my rock is very porous. pod piles are the only way to go for population increase..

Canadian · 03/29/2010, 06:44 PM

So if I use NP Biopellets am I supposed to choose "carbon dosing"? Most people using NP Biopellets don't add an additional bacterial component long term so it seems the poll is missing an option.

CleveYank · 03/29/2010, 07:53 PM

Nope biopellet is a carbon dosing scheme (it's the solid replacement for vodka dosing right?), so I guess it fits.

jmoney · 03/29/2010, 08:58 PM

No one mentioned zeovit

soulsigma · 03/29/2010, 09:04 PM

I am using NP Bio pellets along wit GFO.

NaClH2Opgh · 03/29/2010, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoney

No one mentioned zeovit

ZEO is a bacteria driven system and also carbon dosing plus a bunch of other items.

slief · 03/29/2010, 10:01 PM

My tank has been up and running several years without an overhaul. As a fish only tank phosphates were never a thing that I had to worry about. As a I got back into reef, phosphates become more of an issue. I run GFO but its wasnt making much of dent. I came to the realization the phosphates are embedded in my rock and sand. After some research both here and abroad I decided to to try Lanthalum. I was running around .5 on my elos test and with 2 small treatments (2 days apart) I reduced my phosphates to .01! It will go back up a bit as the rocks and gravel percipitate some of the remaining phosphates. I will probably treat another time and it should get it to the point where my GFO reactor and fuge can maintain it. Time will tell. I slow dripped a mix of lanthanlum and RODI into 10 micron socks and my fish didnt seem to mind it. I was floored with the results too.

If you want to read up on Lanthalum, do an advanced search here with 'Lanthalum' as the subect and choose "Search Titles Only".

Edit.. I dont currently have any SPS.

jmoney · 03/29/2010, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaClH2Opgh

ZEO is a bacteria driven system and also carbon dosing plus a bunch of other items.

Yes but it is also a very effective way of removing phosphate and nitrate

mr9iron · 03/29/2010, 10:18 PM

I'm tagging along on this thread. I am going to give chemi pure elite and purigen a try to see how things go. Oh, I have a nano!

NaClH2Opgh · 03/29/2010, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoney

Yes but it is also a very effective way of removing phosphate and nitrate

right, via carbon dosing and zeo rocks. I wasn't saying it wasn't efficient just that it would be lumped in with carbon dosing under the this poll.

sanababit · 03/29/2010, 11:20 PM

algae scrubber

sana

thebanker · 03/30/2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Coffee

Xenia are natural consumers of phos. I have a small clump in my display and then have moved to having a larger group in my fuge.

How do you figure that xenia is a natural phosphate consumer?

CleveYank · 03/30/2010, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebanker

How do you figure that xenia is a natural phosphate consumer?

There was a local here about 15 years ago that had a 350 gallon custom display that had a 180 underneath it in the crawlspace of the home with a very large xenia bed that he used to control nitrates and phosphates just like an algae scrubber. The system was very successful. Things like SPS colonies as big as your head and goniporas. It eventualy crashed from a system failure. But xenia apparently can be used for nutrient uptake.

AD87 · 03/30/2010, 07:02 AM

GFO is the way to go. Ensuring you TDS is zero out of your RODI unit.

I hate to babysit my tank with vodka dosing having to dose manually everyday is such a pain. Plus when I go on vacation I dont want to try to explain how to run a reef to a reef dummy and explain why my fish need vodka in thier tank.

View Poll Results: What form of phosphate control do you use?
GFO with a properly setup reactor.	108	59.67%
Carbon dosing with bacteria (vodka or vsv & MB7/probidio)	40	22.10%
Water changes, lots and lots of elbow wrenching water changes.	38	20.99%
I don't worry about it, and my reef system is just one great big algae scrubber.	25	13.81%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 181. You may not vote on this poll

03/29/2010, 09:16 AM	#1
CleveYank 20 Years and Over Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 3,052	What form of PHOSPHATE control do you use for the best SPS and Coralline growth? Just wondering of some of the Phosphate controls out there what's the most popular. This is a general category poll. Last edited by CleveYank; 03/29/2010 at 09:25 AM.

03/29/2010, 09:43 AM	#2
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	i run a reactor with BRS seems to work good i kind of have problems when i dosed alot of vodka, so with my 120gal i keep dosing at about .7mL's....for me my tank seems happier when i wasnt doing weekly water changes more stable atleast....also side note elbo wrenching water changes?one of the best things i did was just get a maxi 1200, and a long piece of tubing, you put pump in tank to pump it out, then in what you want back in the tank to put it back in....water changes are painless now.... maybe someone can correct me if im wrong on this but arent phosphates related to nitrates some how? i run a RDSB to reduce my nitrates this has seemed to help with my phos levels __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

03/29/2010, 10:06 AM	#3
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	What if the option is none of the above? __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

03/29/2010, 10:11 AM	#4
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Yeah, where is the option for minimal water changes while reducing the input of phosphates to begin with, and having no problems? __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

03/29/2010, 10:20 AM	#5
Mr Coffee Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 511	Xenia are natural consumers of phos. I have a small clump in my display and then have moved to having a larger group in my fuge. I have used all of the above with the exception of the bacteria AND carbon dosing. Then again I test and seem to have 0 Phos so often I wonder if my test kit even works. So I am the 1 big algae scrubber option or at least I was until my foxface cleaned my tank up completely. __________________ I dose coffee Current Tank Info: 75 & 90 now a 210 build in progress

03/29/2010, 11:21 AM	#8
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	water changes and carbon dosing the only thing i dont like about carbon dosing is that the ethanol in the vodka has severly limited my zooplankton population (pods etc.) so if you try dosing carbon, sugar or vinigar can be substitutes, vinigar wan also help with kalk dosing as well __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

03/29/2010, 06:44 PM	#13
Canadian Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 1,367	So if I use NP Biopellets am I supposed to choose "carbon dosing"? Most people using NP Biopellets don't add an additional bacterial component long term so it seems the poll is missing an option. __________________ Andrew --- "mens sana in corpore sano" --- Current Tank Info: SPS Dedicated 24x24x20 Trimless with Beananimal Overflow \| 20 g Sump \| Bubble King Mini 160 \| Biopellets in TLF Reactor \| ATI Sunpower 6 x 24W T5HO \| Vortech MP20 \| Tunze Nanostream 6025 \| Eheim 1260 Return \| GHL Profilux Standalone Doser

03/29/2010, 07:53 PM	#14
CleveYank 20 Years and Over Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 3,052	Nope biopellet is a carbon dosing scheme (it's the solid replacement for vodka dosing right?), so I guess it fits.

03/29/2010, 08:58 PM	#15
jmoney Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 970	No one mentioned zeovit

03/29/2010, 09:04 PM	#16
soulsigma Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Battle Creek, MI Posts: 274	I am using NP Bio pellets along wit GFO. __________________ tan Arte realmente vida de imatate de doese Current Tank Info: 48x18x21, 30g refugiuam/sump, (2) 250 w MH and 4 65w DC, Aqua Euro USA skimmer, 2 MP 40, quite one return pump 750 gpm,

03/29/2010, 10:01 PM	#18
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	My tank has been up and running several years without an overhaul. As a fish only tank phosphates were never a thing that I had to worry about. As a I got back into reef, phosphates become more of an issue. I run GFO but its wasnt making much of dent. I came to the realization the phosphates are embedded in my rock and sand. After some research both here and abroad I decided to to try Lanthalum. I was running around .5 on my elos test and with 2 small treatments (2 days apart) I reduced my phosphates to .01! It will go back up a bit as the rocks and gravel percipitate some of the remaining phosphates. I will probably treat another time and it should get it to the point where my GFO reactor and fuge can maintain it. Time will tell. I slow dripped a mix of lanthanlum and RODI into 10 micron socks and my fish didnt seem to mind it. I was floored with the results too. If you want to read up on Lanthalum, do an advanced search here with 'Lanthalum' as the subect and choose "Search Titles Only". Edit.. I dont currently have any SPS. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 03/29/2010 at 10:36 PM.

03/29/2010, 10:18 PM	#20
mr9iron 15& Over Club Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,552 Blog Entries: 1	I'm tagging along on this thread. I am going to give chemi pure elite and purigen a try to see how things go. Oh, I have a nano! __________________ Vince ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Frag tank at the moment, planning another

03/29/2010, 11:20 PM	#22
sanababit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uranus Posts: 3,094	algae scrubber sana __________________ Senior Member of the "Hardly any Water Changes, Temp Swinging, T5ing, No Qtining, Frag Exchanging for Fish Food Current Tank Info: 90RR inwall, Octopuss Skimmer, 2 MP40 wQD, 1 MP10 WQD, 2 Radions G4 Pro, Apex Doser, Apex Controller, 400w heater, 30 Gal Sump, Biopellets, Carbon, Gfo, Macroalgae

03/30/2010, 07:02 AM	#25
AD87 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 1,819	GFO is the way to go. Ensuring you TDS is zero out of your RODI unit. I hate to babysit my tank with vodka dosing having to dose manually everyday is such a pain. Plus when I go on vacation I dont want to try to explain how to run a reef to a reef dummy and explain why my fish need vodka in thier tank.