Guess the Phosphate level

[Thales]

This is fun.

Here is a link to an article about the system with a very soft focus on water quality, and the numbers are pretty general so I think it doesn't really spoil the game.

http://packedhead.net/2012/evolution-of-a-10-year-old-reef/

If this kind of link is not ok on RC, please let me know and I will happily remove it.

 

[sirreal63]

The link looks fine Rich, no issues that I see. I want to thank you for posting this, it has been a long time since I browsed Skeptical Reefkeeping, I have a few years worth to catch up on. It should be mandatory reading for new hobbyists. :beer:

 

[Thales]

The link looks fine Rich, no issues that I see. I want to thank you for posting this, it has been a long time since I browsed Skeptical Reefkeeping, I have a few years worth to catch up on. It should be mandatory reading for new hobbyists. :beer:

That's awful nice Jack! The next installment is about testing, chasing numbers and phosphate.

 

[therra978]

.17

 

[jazzman7838]

So the phosphate concentration is 100 times higher than the "limiting" concentration and yet you have no algae problems? What's your secret?

 

[Thales]

So the phosphate concentration is 100 times higher than the "limiting" concentration and yet you have no algae problems? What's your secret?

Ha!

 

[Allmost]

So the phosphate concentration is 100 times higher than the "limiting" concentration and yet you have no algae problems? What's your secret?

what is this limiting thing u speak of ?

 

[sahin]

0.1-0.3ppm regardless of how much GFO is used or how much feeding is reduced and water changes are increased.

So my questions to you are:

1. How do you not have nuisance algae?

2. At such a "high" PO4 level, why do your SPS stay coloured up?

3. Which leads to: is our understanding of PO4 level and SPS colouration somehow wrong?

Beautiful tank.

 

[galleon]

Awesome!!! How do we nominate for TOTM?

 

[sahin]

what is this limiting thing u speak of ?

0.03ppm?

 

[sahin]

awesome!!! How do we nominate for totm?

+1

 

[reefmutt]

I think its clear that sps can handle some po4.
Thales' beautiful tank is proof of that. I have the same problem but .1 seems to be my insurmountable number.
if one were to compare the colours of thales' acros to a zeo tank, where p is extremely low, one could say that the colours are nicer in the zeo tank, if one preferred the pastel look of a zeo tank..

i get it that we often 'chase the numbers' too much instead of practicing good husbandry and watching our corals thrive..

I second sahin's 3 questions..

thales, where do you keep your no3? is there a golden ratio between no3 and p04 (redfield related?..) which allows them to stay well coloured and not turn all brown?

very interesting..

 

[Clownemone]

so what's the phosphate level? did I totally miss it? : ( don't keep us hanging, some of us (more like me) might not be able to sleep! lol!

 

[Fail_sh3d]

I'm going to say...

.03

 

[dirtycontour]

It was in the article he linked. .1-.3 ppm.

 

[Clownemone]

ha! thanks dirtycontour!

 

[Thales]

It was in the article he linked. .1-.3 ppm.

Nope! That is where it was running when that article came out, July 2012 - which is why I said linking to the article wouldn't spoil the game.

There has been one guess so far that is pretty close....

 

[ssscuz]

How many sps frags do you lose that come from ulns?

If u pick all coral that like the same parameters, or are tank hardened to higher nutrient it will survive.

Regardless this is a stunning tank, I just hope a heap of ppl don't go feeding their tanks up to try "copycat" this and lose the lot

 

[sahin]

Nope! That is where it was running when that article came out, July 2012 - which is why I said linking to the article wouldn't spoil the game.

There has been one guess so far that is pretty close....

Dont be implying that the PO4 level is even higher!

Well, now I'd say that the PO4 must be like 3ppm! ??? :lol: Or is that too extreme?

 

[cnforellik]

.6 ... Which is where mine is as well...