Trouble shooting P04 issues with source water

TJQ · 01/08/2014, 11:35 AM

My current tank is well over a year old and SPS growth hasn't taken off yet due to Green Algae. I suspect it might be my source water/RO system setup.

Hannah P04 checker with new regents
0.45 Tap Water
0.12 Post RO water *
0.01 New Salt Water Storage Tank **
0.03 Display Tank ***

Notes:
* Using 4 Stage Vertex RO Unit 100 GPD, 0 TDS from two different meters, all new filters

** Mixed with the original 0.12 RO water + Instant Ocean and the P04 drops to 0.01.

*** It's obvious that there is tons of P04 in the tank with the green algae on rock work, luckily some tangs keep everything short. I run BRS GFO changed ever 4-6 weeks per recommendations. I suspect the reading of 0.03 is due to the algae sucking it up first.

Questions:

1) Could the Hannah be giving a completely false reading for my RO water? 0.12 P04 seems strange with 0 TDS.

2) Mixing 0.12 P04 water with Instant Ocean yields P04 of 0.01. Now I'm really confused.

3) Overall does this look like a RO water issue? I believe my Husbandry and Feeding is decent enough, but I wanted to eliminate source water first.

Thanks! (I'm getting a little frustrated here)

tmz · 01/08/2014, 12:13 PM

I,m not sure the colorimeter works as well with ro/di water. There are several reports of diffiuclty with 0 tds readings and less than 1ppm readings for PO4. I'd be more inclined to accept the replacement saltwater reading. Even then colorimiters have limits to accuracy as do test kits.

A secn di filter could clean up any tha gets trough the first.

The algae may be scavenging it quickly and/or leaching from the rock and substrate may be ocuring. Pocketts of detritus build up can feed the algae too. Sometimes from an older sandbed.

TJQ · 01/31/2014, 05:24 PM

Thanks! A couple weeks later I'm pretty sure that most of my problems are due to detritus build in the sump & substrate. I'm going to see how keeping the tank super clean goes.

julie180 · 02/01/2014, 08:42 AM

Are you testing "fresh" made RODI water? Once it hits your container, its probably contaminated by things in the air, storage container etc..

snorvich · 02/01/2014, 09:44 AM

Did you use base rock and convert to live rock? If so, it is likely leeching phosphates. But I agree getting the water issue solved should be first priority.

01/08/2014, 11:35 AM	#1
TJQ Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 116	Trouble shooting P04 issues with source water My current tank is well over a year old and SPS growth hasn't taken off yet due to Green Algae. I suspect it might be my source water/RO system setup. Hannah P04 checker with new regents 0.45 Tap Water 0.12 Post RO water * 0.01 New Salt Water Storage Tank 0.03 Display Tank * Notes: * Using 4 Stage Vertex RO Unit 100 GPD, 0 TDS from two different meters, all new filters Mixed with the original 0.12 RO water + Instant Ocean and the P04 drops to 0.01. * It's obvious that there is tons of P04 in the tank with the green algae on rock work, luckily some tangs keep everything short. I run BRS GFO changed ever 4-6 weeks per recommendations. I suspect the reading of 0.03 is due to the algae sucking it up first. Questions: 1) Could the Hannah be giving a completely false reading for my RO water? 0.12 P04 seems strange with 0 TDS. 2) Mixing 0.12 P04 water with Instant Ocean yields P04 of 0.01. Now I'm really confused. 3) Overall does this look like a RO water issue? I believe my Husbandry and Feeding is decent enough, but I wanted to eliminate source water first. Thanks! (I'm getting a little frustrated here)

01/08/2014, 12:13 PM	#2
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I,m not sure the colorimeter works as well with ro/di water. There are several reports of diffiuclty with 0 tds readings and less than 1ppm readings for PO4. I'd be more inclined to accept the replacement saltwater reading. Even then colorimiters have limits to accuracy as do test kits. A secn di filter could clean up any tha gets trough the first. The algae may be scavenging it quickly and/or leaching from the rock and substrate may be ocuring. Pocketts of detritus build up can feed the algae too. Sometimes from an older sandbed. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

02/01/2014, 09:44 AM	#5
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Did you use base rock and convert to live rock? If so, it is likely leeching phosphates. But I agree getting the water issue solved should be first priority. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

01/31/2014, 05:24 PM	#3
TJQ Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 116	Thanks! A couple weeks later I'm pretty sure that most of my problems are due to detritus build in the sump & substrate. I'm going to see how keeping the tank super clean goes.

02/01/2014, 08:42 AM	#4
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Are you testing "fresh" made RODI water? Once it hits your container, its probably contaminated by things in the air, storage container etc..