Hanna Phosphate,Phosphorus ULR & GHA

[Reefist]

Hi
I've been battling GHA for a year now. So a year ago I bought a Hanna Phosphate checker . Over a year I brought my Phos down with GFO and
weekly water changes. Check RO water of course. It went from .15 down to about .02 thru the year. About 2 weeks ago the checker started reading 0.
I figured with no loss in GHA infestation the meter must be shot . So instead of buying a new one I decided to buy the Hanna Phosporus ULR checker. That test read 0. Am I nuts here or what?I carbon dose Vodka 8ml/day. I pull pull out GHA weekly, sometimes alot sometimes a little but it doesnt easily let go. The one thing I did find this week is a large portion of sand clumping. Hard as a rock. So I pulled out as much as I could. Alot is around the rock structure. So Im interested in hearing what anyone thinks about the 0 readings and anything else that might shed some light on the tanks condition.

The tanks parameters are up to snuff. 300g total system. 3-250w 20K radiums
2-160w VHO actinics,MR3 skimmer, Bubble Magnus 3 part dosing. Low SPS coral amount and slow growth. I even bought a Sea Hare and it just cleans the sand. Lots and Lots of snails and hermits. Been in this hobby a long time.
Thanks for any input
Tom

 

[bid2ask]

The Gha is giving you false readings as its sucking up the po4, what kind of rock is in the system?

 

[Reefist]

Hi
Thanks for responding
The rock is Fiji show from a very long time ago maybe 15 years moving from tank to tank.
I will admit its getting better but that maybe from scrubbing and pulling the GHA out. But its everywhere . High or low current and same with light. Ive lost alot of corals because of it. I dont want to purchase anymore coral till the tank is clean. Maybe a tear down is the only way . It just makes me nuts I spent all this time.
Thanks
Tom

 

[lrasser]

mine reads zero until my gfo is exhausted. Once it goes up I change out the media and start over.

 

[Reefist]

Thanks for responding
Yeah I just changed GFO to Drs Foster and smith Phospure. It went right to zero. It is a coarser grain and I can pump alot of water through it with out it breaking down. It tumbles lightly.
Thanks
Tom

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Tom,
Pull out a rock, put it in fresh seawater, let it sit overnight & check for PO4 next day.
Rock could be the problem.

 

[Fragmented 99]

Phosphates are at zero because the algae is sucking it all up . Zero just means you don't have more phosphate then the algae can use

 

[Reefist]

Yeah thanks. Its actually starting to clean up. I realize now I had a sand bed crash. It solidified. Im taking out the chunks I can get to. I have to say if anyones reading that Phospure has been the best GFO I ever used. Really made a differenceyou could see daily. Ive spent a ton of money on other brands. Who would have thought.
Tom