battling PO4

[dz6t]

If they are the same brand and you bought both cartridges together, yes, it can be a bad batch. What brand did you buy if you want to share?

 

[MarkSzy]

These are from two different batches, the first one I bought bulk years ago and don’t remember the brand. The one I just bought was from Kolar.

 

[daves-reef]

I do have a refuge, i have grape caulerpa in it that grows like crazy.

What type of light and how long of a light cycle are you running on the refugium. Increasing the light duration and if possible light output may be a beneficial option. Maybe need uber crazy refugium growth for added export. But if you don't have any adverse display algae signs in systems then may be you are out competing display lights already. Other than the test kit number what adverse phosphate effects are you having?

 

[Reefried]

Did you use the marine Hannah checker to test your RO water?

How many fish do you have? How many cubes of frozen do you feel daily? Did you say 1 sheet of nori per day?

Phosphate is 90% due to food and feeding. I guarantee if you don’t feed the tank anything for three days and test again it will go down significantly without doing anything else.

I personally don’t like GFO and would only use as the last thing to reduce pO4. I do like bacto balance. However while it won’t bottom out nutrients levels totally, it will reduce nitrate quickly.

I would bet that 90% of reefers over feed.

 

[MarkSzy]

What type of light and how long of a light cycle are you running on the refugium. Increasing the light duration and if possible light output may be a beneficial option. Maybe need uber crazy refugium growth for added export. But if you don't have any adverse display algae signs in systems then may be you are out competing display lights already. Other than the test kit number what adverse phosphate effects are you having?

I have a kesell light set on grow for 11 hours at night. Other than the number being high and the new goni I got not opening everything seems normal. I have a little hair algae in my powerheads but the tangs are taking care of any that grows in the tank.

 

[MarkSzy]

Did you use the marine Hannah checker to test your RO water?

How many fish do you have? How many cubes of frozen do you feel daily? Did you say 1 sheet of nori per day?

Phosphate is 90% due to food and feeding. I guarantee if you don’t feed the tank anything for three days and test again it will go down significantly without doing anything else.

I personally don’t like GFO and would only use as the last thing to reduce pO4. I do like bacto balance. However while it won’t bottom out nutrients levels totally, it will reduce nitrate quickly.

I would bet that 90% of reefers over feed.

Yes I used a Hanna check ULR

I have 4 tangs, 4 anthias, 2 clowns, 2 wrasse, 1 dottyback, 1 cardinal, 2 blennies, 1 mandarin I’m my 200 display and 30 frag that are plumbed together. I make my own frozen food mix but it’s about 2.5 cubes of frozen. And a pinch of pellets.

I would assume if I was overfeeding I would also have nitrate problems but my last test was zero and only 5 the week before.

 

[Reefried]

Yes I used a Hanna check ULR

I have 4 tangs, 4 anthias, 2 clowns, 2 wrasse, 1 dottyback, 1 cardinal, 2 blennies, 1 mandarin I’m my 200 display and 30 frag that are plumbed together. I make my own frozen food mix but it’s about 2.5 cubes of frozen. And a pinch of pellets.

I would assume if I was overfeeding I would also have nitrate problems but my last test was zero and only 5 the week before.

I don’t believe the marine checker will work properly on fresh water but I may be wrong. It doesn’t seem like you’re overly feeding. I would definitely just stop feeding for 2-3 days and see what your phosphate number is. I know it’s tough with Anthias but you should be fine.

 

[Sdeluca10]

I also use the phosphate-E and it works well, it’s just very expensive if it’s necessary on a regular basis.