PO4
- Thread starter Justkeepswimming
- Start date
You want to go slow, this gives corals and other things time to adjust to the new levels. Too fast and corals won’t be able to adjust and their uptake stops, which causes problems that stack up, causing a roller coaster and essentially shuts down growth. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby. There’s a reason this is the most common phrase used in the hobby.
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It depends on the current level. If you’re over 0.2ppm and higher, then you can drop a little more without issue, maybe 0.05ppm a day? Less is probably safer and if you have an sps dominant tank, smaller amounts will be better. Each tank will be different on how much it can handle, so giving a target number is really hard. Whenever I tried using media to drop PO4, I would cut the amount by half or even a quarter, replace that media every couple days. If I didn’t see a drop, then I would increase the dosage/amount slightly.
I personally don’t like using media, so I carbon dose to feed my corals and dose ammonium chloride to provide nitrogen, because my systems always tend to be nitrogen limited. I also grow chaeto, which helps a little. I also don’t target PO4, which in my 90g always sits around 0.25ppm or more.
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I personally don’t like using media, so I carbon dose to feed my corals and dose ammonium chloride to provide nitrogen, because my systems always tend to be nitrogen limited. I also grow chaeto, which helps a little. I also don’t target PO4, which in my 90g always sits around 0.25ppm or more.
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This is from personal experience or “urban legend” that kept perpetuating through our hobby? I have been using LC for 5+ years — no issues in my tank, from my personal experience. Like I said, I’ve heard people said that it only affect yellow tangs. We need to stop spreading false information or show scientific proof or personal experience?
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This guy should not have used a pool LC solution. You might save a few bucks, but it is not worth it. You don't know the purity, composition, and other ingredients in the pool LC solution. He did a dilution based on 3rd party information, and his starting phosphate was not high 0.16ppm. So he may have either screwed up his calculations or the 3rd party information was wrong on how concentrated it was. And pool LC solution can also have contaminants or wide range of concentration as no one will notice when dumping it into a pool. I do feel if you bottom out on phosphates and continue to add LC, this is when it get a bit riskier for the livestock.
I recommend to either use the aquarium LC products. Or get lab grade LC powder and mix your own solution (but would only recommend for those that have experience doing this).
I recommend to either use the aquarium LC products. Or get lab grade LC powder and mix your own solution (but would only recommend for those that have experience doing this).
