Reef Discussion

[Susan Bates]

Hi I have phoshates for the frist time ever, i have had high nitrates but never phosphates, i have seen seachem have a product called phosnet, has anyone used this yet?

 

[Sam Parker]

what level are they at? Having phosphates is not an issue, having none is. Of course, having excess phosphates can be an issue - so what is your level?

 

[Susan Bates]

what level are they at? Having phosphates is not an issue, having none is. Of course, having excess phosphates can be an issue - so what is your level?

They are 1 on salifert test kit, on 1 tank and pushing close to 3 on the other, in 3 years i have never had them

 

[Sam Parker]

1? as in 1.00? and 3.00? That's huge! Normally with phosphate we are talking ranges of 0.01 - 0.20

Did you go from 0 to 1.00 and 3.00 in a short period of time?

 

[Susan Bates]

1? as in 1.00? and 3.00? That's huge! Normally with phosphate we are talking ranges of 0.01 - 0.20

Did you go from 0 to 1.00 and 3.00 in a short period of time?

yes, they did

 

[Azfish]

Get yourself a hanna checker or some sort of test kit that reads in the decimals first off.

If you want a product to reduce P04, I use Lanth or rowaphos if I feel like splurging. Phosnet is just another GFO much the same as all the other GFO's available. Work well in a reactor and need regular changing

 

[Sam Parker]

The salifert kit will read 0, 0.03, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0. Plus you can do the high sensitivity test for more options.

I wouldn't go changing anything too drastic till you work out what has caused the huge swing. A second test kit would be a wise option, tanks rarely go from zero to 1+ in a short period of time without obvious other signs of stress

 

[Fats]

I have used phosguard from seachem and if anything it worked too well. Only left it in for 2 days and went from about 2 down to undetectable. Personal I think it was to fast and but it was good for a quick fix if you need it

 

[ReeferRob]

Sounds like you've had something die or your RO system's malfunctioned somehow. If you never had an issue and all of a sudden you have, you need to figure out why. Try some water changes to dilute them before you throw a bunch of media or chemicals at your tank. I have one tank that never has a phosphate issue and all I do is a weekly 25l water change, the rest of my systems run GFO.

 

[Susan Bates]

Sounds like you've had something die or your RO system's malfunctioned somehow. If you never had an issue and all of a sudden you have, you need to figure out why. Try some water changes to dilute them before you throw a bunch of media or chemicals at your tank. I have one tank that never has a phosphate issue and all I do is a weekly 25l water change, the rest of my systems run GFO.

Thank again Rob, I have tested ro water and salt mix, no phosphates,and i do a 100lt water change out of 400 every week anyway, would reef trace and reef plus add phosphates?I am not feeding much

 

[Sam Parker]

Is there anything else you have changed? Did you move any rocks or have anything die? Unusual to get such a spike in phosphate but not nitrate?

 

[ReeferRob]

Neither of those 2 would cause a phosphate or nitrate spike that I know of. Something has changed, we need to figure out what. Are all fish, inverts and corals accounted for? Have you changed salt/brand? Are you using NSW? Is that a new batch? New supplier? A new food?

 

[Susan Bates]

Is there anything else you have changed? Did you move any rocks or have anything die? Unusual to get such a spike in phosphate but not nitrate?

I did move rock

 

[Susan Bates]

Neither of those 2 would cause a phosphate or nitrate spike that I know of. Something has changed, we need to figure out what. Are all fish, inverts and corals accounted for? Have you changed salt/brand? Are you using NSW? Is that a new batch? New supplier? A new food?

I have been treating for Aipatasia, blue vet and the red sea one, i am using Aqua forrest salt now, but i tested the salt, I can not get lobster eggs for my dragnets so i am now using red plankton

 

[Sam Parker]

My bet will be on the moving of rock stirring up a bunch of detritus causing a phosphate spike. I'd just keep up the water changes and mechanical filtration (if you are running any, if so I bet your filter socks are clogging up like mad) and it should come back to normal soon enough

 

[Susan Bates]

My bet will be on the moving of rock stirring up a bunch of detritus causing a phosphate spike. I'd just keep up the water changes and mechanical filtration (if you are running any, if so I bet your filter socks are clogging up like mad) and it should come back to normal soon enough

thanks, hope that is it, i change my socks every second day anyWay

 

[ReeferRob]

Do a good gravel vacuum and see what happens. I can't see the AiptasiaX causing an issue unless you're killing 20-30 a day and not getting them out of the tank. Make sure you rinse the food in RO water, it's packaged onboard a ship, needless to say, they don't use RO water.

 

[Susan Bates]

Do a good gravel vacuum and see what happens. I can't see the AiptasiaX causing an issue unless you're killing 20-30 a day and not getting them out of the tank. Make sure you rinse the food in RO water, it's packaged onboard a ship, needless to say, they don't use RO water.

Yeah I wash the food, i was killing that many a day, and didn't get them out, i now have a copper band butterfly and no Aiptasia

 

[ReeferRob]

If you do kill them make sure you suck them out of the tank after you kill them.