Testing Phosphate with Algae

fishsuse29 · 02/26/2017, 08:39 PM

I have been battling a GHA and Byrosis problem for the past 6 months. I believe the issue is due to live rock that i got from another reefer during my tank upgrade 9 Months ago, as the majority of algae is on those rocks not my ones from the previous tank which never had any algae.

The issue is that my parameters have always been 0 for Nitrate and Phosphate using the elos professional test kit is between .015 and .008.

I am assuming that is because the algae is absorbing the nutrients but how can I properly test for phosphate and nitrate to know if my water changes and GFO have been effective?

Also how can you tell if the GFO is exhausted when the numbers all ready at the minimum at all times.

billdogg · 02/27/2017, 05:53 AM

A simple rule of thumb is that if you have algae, you have Nitrates and Phosphates, regardless of what any test might indicate. I replace both carbon and GFO monthly.

fishsuse29 · 02/27/2017, 02:44 PM

Yes I understand that their is nitrate and phosphate in the tank but what I am trying to figure out is how to successfully remove them and test for them if they are leaching out of the rock. As what I believe is happening is that the nutrients are immediately being absorbed by the Alage before they have time to be removed by gfo or skimming. Hence why the tests show 0 and I have slow to moderate cheato growth

02/26/2017, 08:39 PM	#1
fishsuse29 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 374	Testing Phosphate with Algae I have been battling a GHA and Byrosis problem for the past 6 months. I believe the issue is due to live rock that i got from another reefer during my tank upgrade 9 Months ago, as the majority of algae is on those rocks not my ones from the previous tank which never had any algae. The issue is that my parameters have always been 0 for Nitrate and Phosphate using the elos professional test kit is between .015 and .008. I am assuming that is because the algae is absorbing the nutrients but how can I properly test for phosphate and nitrate to know if my water changes and GFO have been effective? Also how can you tell if the GFO is exhausted when the numbers all ready at the minimum at all times.

02/27/2017, 05:53 AM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	A simple rule of thumb is that if you have algae, you have Nitrates and Phosphates, regardless of what any test might indicate. I replace both carbon and GFO monthly. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/27/2017, 02:44 PM	#3
fishsuse29 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 374	Yes I understand that their is nitrate and phosphate in the tank but what I am trying to figure out is how to successfully remove them and test for them if they are leaching out of the rock. As what I believe is happening is that the nutrients are immediately being absorbed by the Alage before they have time to be removed by gfo or skimming. Hence why the tests show 0 and I have slow to moderate cheato growth