PO4

Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
3,983
Likes
283
Points
48
Location
Murrieta
#1
What is everyone doing to control your phosphate in your reef? Trying to see what most are doing with successful reefs .

Also, at what level do you keep your reef ?

Thanks!
 

cboltsd

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2016
Messages
84
Likes
42
Points
8
Location
Chula Vista
#2
What is everyone doing to control your phosphate in your reef? Trying to see what most are doing with successful reefs .

Also, at what level do you keep your reef ?

Thanks!
I’m using the Santa Monica Rain turf scrubber. I also sparingly use phosphate e if I see it’s elevating. I try to stay at .07 - .11.
Pics of my reef @firewaterreefs on IG if interested.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

bakbay

Premium Member
Supporter
Joined
Aug 27, 2023
Messages
527
Likes
313
Points
63
Location
Orange County
#3
What is everyone doing to control your phosphate in your reef? Trying to see what most are doing with successful reefs .

Also, at what level do you keep your reef ?

Thanks!
Well - what is yours at right now? Assume you’re testing with Hanna?

My tanks:
SPS tank: 27/0.20 NO3/PO4, respectively.
Nem tank: 10/0.12 NO3/PO4, respectively.
(Need to raise up some more)

To knock PO4 down, I use Blue Life PhosphateRx (Lanthanum Cloride).
 
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
3,983
Likes
283
Points
48
Location
Murrieta
#6
Well - what is yours at right now? Assume you’re testing with Hanna?

My tanks:
SPS tank: 27/0.20 NO3/PO4, respectively.
Nem tank: 10/0.12 NO3/PO4, respectively.
(Need to raise up some more)

To knock PO4 down, I use Blue Life PhosphateRx (Lanthanum Cloride).
Yea, Hana.
Mine is .3 using Rowaphos. I heard sps didn’t like rowa, and I am not a huge fan Also. Seems like it strips the water fast then spikes , then strips , and so on…

I am using NOpox to bring it down and just ordered a Neptune grow light to start a refuge in my frag tank side of my sump.
 

bakbay

Premium Member
Supporter
Joined
Aug 27, 2023
Messages
527
Likes
313
Points
63
Location
Orange County
#8
Yea, Hana.
Mine is .3 using Rowaphos. I heard sps didn’t like rowa, and I am not a huge fan Also. Seems like it strips the water fast then spikes , then strips , and so on…

I am using NOpox to bring it down and just ordered a Neptune grow light to start a refuge in my frag tank side of my sump.
I don’t like reactors, too much work. I just dose 20 drops of the PhosphateRx into the filter floss every 6mos or so… easy and no mess!
 

Coreygrrt

New member
Joined
Jul 22, 2021
Messages
53
Likes
14
Points
0
#12
Rowaphos is bad for sps? I'm currently vodka dosing. My po4 climbed up to .32 and no3- has held steady at about 27. So I added less than manufacturer recommendation and got my po4 down to .2

I'm trying to hold steady there along with my fuge (and protein skimmer of course), until the carbon dosing kicks in. Currently on day 48 and 4.2 ml

Am I ok to start adding my lps/sps now or wait until the vodka gets it at lower levels? Also taking into account the rowaphos
 

bakbay

Premium Member
Supporter
Joined
Aug 27, 2023
Messages
527
Likes
313
Points
63
Location
Orange County
#13
To each their own. If you like to use GFO, that will work as well. I’ve used it in the past with success but if not careful, it can strip your PO4 down to zero!

I’ve since switched to LC and it’s fast, reliable, and no mess! Like all products, read & follow the instructions — slowly apply at 50% recommended dosage and ramp up as needed.
 

five.five-six

Member
2020 Philanthropist
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
2,268
Likes
1,260
Points
83
Location
Corona Ca
#15
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
3,983
Likes
283
Points
48
Location
Murrieta
#17
Rowaphos is bad for sps? I'm currently vodka dosing. My po4 climbed up to .32 and no3- has held steady at about 27. So I added less than manufacturer recommendation and got my po4 down to .2

I'm trying to hold steady there along with my fuge (and protein skimmer of course), until the carbon dosing kicks in. Currently on day 48 and 4.2 ml

Am I ok to start adding my lps/sps now or wait until the vodka gets it at lower levels? Also taking into account the rowaphos
Not sure how true the comment was…

Maybe it’s bad because it aggressively drops the phosphate in my experience.
 

drexel

New member
Joined
Nov 1, 2016
Messages
1,492
Likes
1,312
Points
8
Location
SFV
#19
Whether you use Rowa or GFO, it’s better to use smaller amounts and change it more frequently, than to drop PO4 drastically. Sudden changes in P will do some damage, especially to sensitive sps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
3,983
Likes
283
Points
48
Location
Murrieta
#20
Whether you use Rowa or GFO, it’s better to use smaller amounts and change it more frequently, than to drop PO4 drastically. Sudden changes in P will do some damage, especially to sensitive sps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I normally start with 1/4 of the reactor but the phosphate was still climbing. I went to a full reactor and it still didn’t move until I started nopox.

My tank is a new 265 gallon with half old cycled rock and half bleached. I think the tank is still processing all the die off from the bleached rock.


This brings up another good question for everyone. How fast of a drop is to fast?

I went from .35 to .20 ish in a week.
 

Latest posts

Top