General GFO Question

Syntax1325

Syntax1325

Acro Addict
I have been dealing with high P04 since I started my tank a couple of months ago. I have been able to get my P04 down from .8 to just under .1 in two days using only 3 tbs of BRS standard gfo in my 29 gallon tank with a phosban 150. My question is how can that happen? The flow out of the reactor was no more than my RO. Can it really happen so fast?? I used my lfs's Tropic Marin test kit to confirm. I had been using an API at home but they are only good to see if you have P04 in your tank, not how much.

I'm noticing a couple threads of hair algae on one rock.... Should I be concerned at this point? Everything looks good in the tank while I have been running the gfo.
 
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That does seem very fast. It might be accurate, though. I guess I'd watch the level and see what happens. There's the issue of repeatability with the test kit, for example.
 
That seems very fast and I have had similar issues as Jonathan mentions regarding the reproducibility of the test results. My only caution is to be very careful reducing phosphates too quickly, especially from the relatively high levels you started with. I learned this the hard way...shocked a few corals and lost some of them...GFO is efficient stuff. I commend you for starting with a very modest amount. I would test frequently and keep a close eye on your creatures...best of luck JPB
 
Per instructions I am supposed to use 1 tbs per 8 gallons and I'm only using 3. I have about a 35 gallon system, I'm using the recommended amount for 24 gallons at the moment. All corals look good. Am I wrong in thinking that the BTA will be the first to show signs of stress even before the acro's?
 
I am not sure about that. The Acropora corals might complain first. I'd be caution, and reduce the amount of GFO, although that dose is small already.
 
Things look good in the tank. My pink birds is not fully open as usual though. I'll cut the gfo for a while and see if that is the issue. The Birdsnest is usually always 100% open. A little hair algae on one rock. Any advice?

Here's the tank



The algae:




Parameters look good right now... Both nitrate and P04 are about undetectable on API tests.
 
Hmm, that's a tough one. I guess I'd just watch for signs of algal growth for now. If the problem doesn't get worse, that's probably good enough for the moment until the corals are all okay.
 
I noticed a few polyps of my other birdsnest are retracted.... The frogspawn is not fully out. This is all new as of today. I just checked my ph... It's 8.3... Has been consistently 8.1. It's either the ph change or the gfo... Ugh.

I may have gotten greedy with the gfo usage. Water change? Carbon?
 
The pH is fine. The issue could be the GFO. If so, you might want to remove it entirely for the time being. I am not sure water changes will help.
 
The gfo is off. If my Sudden p04 drop caused the issues with the retracted polyps can I anticipate improvement while the p04 goes up due to feedings? Water changes may make it worse by lowering the po4 even more. Carbon is a shot in the dark? I can't test for p04 because I only have an API test, practically useless for my current situation. I'm going to pick up a Red Sea or tropic Marin kit this week. Anything else I can do?

By the way, no ammonia in the tank.
 
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Just give it some time! Sometimes sps can be easily upset over the dumbest things. Give it a day or 2 to see if it gets better. Also I noticed the clam seems happy and from what I know clams seem to be the most sensitive to gfo! Its either from the low po4 or from the small amount of iron it can put in the water. I am not 100% sure but people seem to say no to gfo with clams.

Maybe the chemistry experts can elaborate on that!
 
Clam is very happy. Only been in the tank for two days. Anemone is great as well. Decreased polyp extension in the pink Birdsnest, seriatopora g, then Frogspawn. I'm definitely not panicking g and realize that waiting is the best option at this point. Thanks for the advice and reassuring words. What a crazy hobby.
 
Activated carbon should be safe to add, and might help if any organisms decides to secrete any toxins or the like. I'd just keep up the normal feeding schedule and see how the animals respond.
 
I replaced the gfo with some carbon. The Birdsnest are improving, better polyp extension. The pink Birdsnest is sliming a tad and looks to have a lot of new growth on the tips.... Maybe all this can be attributed to growth??? Maybe the sudden drop in P04 has caused a growth spurt? Heres a picture (taken while lights are dimming so polyps are retracted more)



How do I manage my p04 from now on? I don't want to cause damage to any of the livestock.
 
Use less gfo. Keep it changed regularly but use half as much for example. Its not that gfo is bad for sps its the extremely fast reduction in po4.
 
Does the picture of the acro look like growth? I put carbon in my reactor a couple of days ago. I really like how it polishes the water. Should I put the carbon in my filter sock? I really don't want to go out and buy another reactor.

Is 1tbs a good amount to start with?
 
I'd stop the gfo for a little while until PO4 was detectable. Corals need some,ime,and 0 PO4 can be problematic particularly when quickly adjusted down. I prefer to keep it between .02 and .04ppm per the hanah colirmeter( inaccuracy of hobby grade testing being noted) . Some do well with higher levels. Some oligotrophic algae will grow even at very low PO4 levels. Some rock and substrate might leach some phosaphate too.
 
i would test your po4 with a different brand test kit api does not test po4 down to a level that is useful to reef keeping or take to lfs and have them test.
 
Been a few days so i thought I would give an update. Things are not good. My pink birds nest started to stn yesterday at the base and doesn't have any pe, sliming as well. My Frogspawn is still not fully out and my other birds nest only has partial pe.

Everything else in the tank is doing very well. Hate to lose that birds nest though. It's hard to believe that a change in p04 caused this. ugh.



 
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