high phosphates how do i lower?

JasonJoin · 12-30-2008, 11:04 PM

I have a problem with algea hair in my fuge( I have to clean it out every week so more can grow) and diatom on my sand. I beleve this is because of my phosphates they are at a 2 yes i said 2. My question is how do i lower this? I have checked my RO water and it has none. could it be my sand bed i used from another tank that was taken down long ago and was dry then i added 25lbs of live sand. I am open to all ideas

Thanks
Jason

ReefLady · 12-30-2008, 11:58 PM

What do you feed the tank? Do you rinse the food? Some foods (prepared, frozen, etc) can be high in phosphates.

JasonJoin · 12-31-2008, 12:19 AM

i feed 1/4 cube of frozen brine shrimp every three days all im feeding is 2 clowns and yes i rince in ro water befor i feed.

ReefLady · 12-31-2008, 12:29 AM

This is a wild guess, but have you tested the fresh SW (before adding to the tank). I have heard of traces of phosphates being in some salt mixes.

Adam Black · 12-31-2008, 12:50 AM

Vodka!

JasonJoin · 12-31-2008, 08:10 AM

no i have not tested my salt water i use reef crystals

Vodka??????

Tru2nr · 12-31-2008, 08:35 AM

i dont think its phates thats vodka helps remove but the food might be a big contributor to it and i would be happy if the HA was in the fuge and not the DT but you can run some phosphate removing media either a sponge or via a reactor

Adam Black · 12-31-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonJoin

no i have not tested my salt water i use reef crystals

Vodka??????

Here you go Jason. glassbox-design.com » Achieved through Observation and Experimentation

BLAKEJOHN · 12-31-2008, 03:23 PM

Before you even think of carbon dosing be sure you under stand the chemistry and biology behind it. The best thing to do is to do water changes and run GFO.

BigAl07 · 12-31-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Black

Vodka!

Vodka = A VERY quick way to CRASH a tank.

This method requires constant testing and precise dosing and even then it's still been known to cause immediate and Long-Term problems. It's not something I'd even remotely entertain in a reef tank.

JasonJoin · 12-31-2008, 04:25 PM

what is gfo? I do water changes i do 10% weekley then 30% 1 time a month still no help it stays at 2

thanks
Jason

Adam Black · 12-31-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl07

Vodka = A VERY quick way to CRASH a tank.

This method requires constant testing and precise dosing and even then it's still been known to cause immediate and Long-Term problems. It's not something I'd even remotely entertain in a reef tank.

Like mostly everything else in this hobby, you do have to test constant and dose precisely. Vodka isn't for everyone but in the last week I've seen some amazing tanks that dose Vsv. And yeah there are a few cases of tanks crashing but I think it had more to do with the reefer. Big Al how do you feel about Zeovit? I feel like it's the same thing, but could be wrong. I'm going to get my feet wet pretty soon and I'll document it here on RS.

JasonJoin · 12-31-2008, 06:02 PM

i have been reading about this all day long and i think the way im going to address this issue is by doing these things

1. remove detrius from sand (i did not know i had to)

2. add pre filter sock

3. gfo/carbon with this device
BRS DUAL GFO and Carbon Reactor Bulk Reef Supply

and add the gfo and carbon very slowly so not to upset anything to fast.

The only other question i have at tihs time can i just vacume all the detrius off my sand bed at one time or do i need to go slow with that as well?

BLAKEJOHN · 12-31-2008, 07:29 PM

You can vacume off very lightly the top layer without any problems.

BLAKEJOHN · 12-31-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Black

Like mostly everything else in this hobby, you do have to test constant and dose precisely. Vodka isn't for everyone but in the last week I've seen some amazing tanks that dose Vsv. And yeah there are a few cases of tanks crashing but I think it had more to do with the reefer. Big Al how do you feel about Zeovit? I feel like it's the same thing, but could be wrong. I'm going to get my feet wet pretty soon and I'll document it here on RS.

If you go the zeovit route you need to do it all,... every thing thats has to do with the zeovit, or it is a waste of time and money to do only half the system.

12-30-2008, 11:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
JasonJoin Midas Blenny Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 97 View Gallery Karma Komment	high phosphates how do i lower? I have a problem with algea hair in my fuge( I have to clean it out every week so more can grow) and diatom on my sand. I beleve this is because of my phosphates they are at a 2 yes i said 2. My question is how do i lower this? I have checked my RO water and it has none. could it be my sand bed i used from another tank that was taken down long ago and was dry then i added 25lbs of live sand. I am open to all ideas Thanks Jason __________________ Jason's 75 gallon reef 40 lbs base rock 60 lbs live rock 40 lbs of base sand 25lbs live sand FISH maited pair tank raised clowns 1 fire fish CORAL pulsing xenia (white and brown) zoos (different colors) candycane (neon green) 2 plate corals (1 green w/white tips 1 red w/pink tips) snake coral CUC 80 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners 9 Nassarius 10 Limpets 1 Chitons 28 Florida Ceriths 15 Blue Legs 10 Fly SPeckled Ceriths

12-30-2008, 11:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? What do you feed the tank? Do you rinse the food? Some foods (prepared, frozen, etc) can be high in phosphates. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

12-31-2008, 12:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
JasonJoin Midas Blenny Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 97 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? i feed 1/4 cube of frozen brine shrimp every three days all im feeding is 2 clowns and yes i rince in ro water befor i feed. __________________ Jason's 75 gallon reef 40 lbs base rock 60 lbs live rock 40 lbs of base sand 25lbs live sand FISH maited pair tank raised clowns 1 fire fish CORAL pulsing xenia (white and brown) zoos (different colors) candycane (neon green) 2 plate corals (1 green w/white tips 1 red w/pink tips) snake coral CUC 80 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners 9 Nassarius 10 Limpets 1 Chitons 28 Florida Ceriths 15 Blue Legs 10 Fly SPeckled Ceriths

12-31-2008, 12:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? This is a wild guess, but have you tested the fresh SW (before adding to the tank). I have heard of traces of phosphates being in some salt mixes. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

12-31-2008, 12:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
Adam Black Plate Coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA Posts: 729 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? Vodka! __________________ 65G RR,2-250 Aquamedic pendents(Hamilton 14k DE) with 2 Vho supplements fired with IC440.29g sump. Octo extreme 200 skimmer,Mag 7 return, 2 Maxi 1200 with 2200gph mods.

12-31-2008, 08:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
JasonJoin Midas Blenny Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 97 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? no i have not tested my salt water i use reef crystals Vodka?????? __________________ Jason's 75 gallon reef 40 lbs base rock 60 lbs live rock 40 lbs of base sand 25lbs live sand FISH maited pair tank raised clowns 1 fire fish CORAL pulsing xenia (white and brown) zoos (different colors) candycane (neon green) 2 plate corals (1 green w/white tips 1 red w/pink tips) snake coral CUC 80 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners 9 Nassarius 10 Limpets 1 Chitons 28 Florida Ceriths 15 Blue Legs 10 Fly SPeckled Ceriths

12-31-2008, 08:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tru2nr Reef Lobster Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,302 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? i dont think its phates thats vodka helps remove but the food might be a big contributor to it and i would be happy if the HA was in the fuge and not the DT but you can run some phosphate removing media either a sponge or via a reactor __________________ My 55g Chronical of addiction... Mistakes Have been made in the past.....still trying to clean up from them in the present....mistakes will be made in the future.....so what do we do?...... we party until we make another mistake!!!! WARNING: Corals in Tank, Add Crabs at own risk

12-31-2008, 03:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
BLAKEJOHN Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: KINGSTON, I.L. Posts: 1,073 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? Before you even think of carbon dosing be sure you under stand the chemistry and biology behind it. The best thing to do is to do water changes and run GFO. __________________ 110 gallon acrylic 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Blue Tang, 2 Eng Gobies, 1 Six Line Wrasse, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Lion fish RBTA, Longspine Urchin, Approx. 200 snails Red Monti, Purple Rim Monti, Leathers, Elegence, Yellow Polyps, various Zoa's, FrogSpawn, Ricordias, Greenbirdsnest, Pink Milli, Blue Milli, Bonzai, unknown Acropora's, Purple Digi, GSP, Bubble Coral, Staghorn, Slimer

12-31-2008, 04:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
JasonJoin Midas Blenny Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 97 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? what is gfo? I do water changes i do 10% weekley then 30% 1 time a month still no help it stays at 2 thanks Jason __________________ Jason's 75 gallon reef 40 lbs base rock 60 lbs live rock 40 lbs of base sand 25lbs live sand FISH maited pair tank raised clowns 1 fire fish CORAL pulsing xenia (white and brown) zoos (different colors) candycane (neon green) 2 plate corals (1 green w/white tips 1 red w/pink tips) snake coral CUC 80 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners 9 Nassarius 10 Limpets 1 Chitons 28 Florida Ceriths 15 Blue Legs 10 Fly SPeckled Ceriths

12-31-2008, 06:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
JasonJoin Midas Blenny Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 97 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? i have been reading about this all day long and i think the way im going to address this issue is by doing these things 1. remove detrius from sand (i did not know i had to) 2. add pre filter sock 3. gfo/carbon with this device BRS DUAL GFO and Carbon Reactor Bulk Reef Supply and add the gfo and carbon very slowly so not to upset anything to fast. The only other question i have at tihs time can i just vacume all the detrius off my sand bed at one time or do i need to go slow with that as well? __________________ Jason's 75 gallon reef 40 lbs base rock 60 lbs live rock 40 lbs of base sand 25lbs live sand FISH maited pair tank raised clowns 1 fire fish CORAL pulsing xenia (white and brown) zoos (different colors) candycane (neon green) 2 plate corals (1 green w/white tips 1 red w/pink tips) snake coral CUC 80 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners 9 Nassarius 10 Limpets 1 Chitons 28 Florida Ceriths 15 Blue Legs 10 Fly SPeckled Ceriths

12-31-2008, 07:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
BLAKEJOHN Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: KINGSTON, I.L. Posts: 1,073 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: high phosphates how do i lower? You can vacume off very lightly the top layer without any problems. __________________ 110 gallon acrylic 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Blue Tang, 2 Eng Gobies, 1 Six Line Wrasse, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Lion fish RBTA, Longspine Urchin, Approx. 200 snails Red Monti, Purple Rim Monti, Leathers, Elegence, Yellow Polyps, various Zoa's, FrogSpawn, Ricordias, Greenbirdsnest, Pink Milli, Blue Milli, Bonzai, unknown Acropora's, Purple Digi, GSP, Bubble Coral, Staghorn, Slimer

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