High phosphates (2-3ppm) but no algae

[tc2007]

As the title says, I have been reading PO4 levels of 2-3ppm at least. I am using Salifert. Also tried API same thing. However I do not see hair algae or any other nuisance algae. I have a Radion XR30 at 20% intensity.

I do get tiny algae on the glass wall but nothing too serious. The rock and sand bed is clean.

Wouldn't high phosphates cause algae to bloom everywhere there is light?

 

[tc2007]

I just remembered that I treated my DT 8 months ago with Chloroquine Phosphate powder. Is it possible that my high Phosphate levels are due to this? I had treated full dose at least 3 times. Apart from that I also had treated with Prazi pro.

Right now I have some corals including GSP, Xenia, Hammer. Also have a BTA and a mini-maxi all doing well for many weeks or months now. I lost some SPS frags that I suspect on Phosphate or Lighting. Not sure what would kill them.

 

[CStrickland]

Phosphate is so weird.
This might be interesting to you, it's a perfectly happy high-phos tank
http://youtu.be/ZRIKW-9d2xI
I guess algae could be limited by anything it needs, but if you're thinking you want lower phos to see if your sps grows better, it will depend on your husbandry a lot. Like, what are you doing to manage it?

 

[tc2007]

Yes I saw that video some days ago. Other than high PO and Radions at 50% I could not find anything wrong with my params. Right now I am not doing anything other than running chemipure in the filter bag. My sump is too small for a media reactor.

I may try another frag now that my lighting is at 20%.

 

[CStrickland]

Do you not have a skimmer, or vacuum your sand, or change your water?
The bacteria that live in our rocks and sand can convert nitrogen into a form that escapes the tank on its own, as a gas. Phosphate is different because you have to actually take it out through tank husbandry by trimming algae, or emptying you skimmer or whatever. Otherwise, you are adding and adding it when you feed (as well as other nutrients that get handled by the biofilter), but sooner or later the places in your tank where it can hide from our tests by binding to carbon run out and it starts to climb in the water.

 

[PhaneSoul]

Have you introduced algae to your tank ? Frags, spores in lfs water, ect.. Its gotta be introduced to have it. Like said earlier, something could be limiting. Do you have a cuc? They could be eating it before you can see it. Can you post a pic?

 

[tc2007]

I have a skimmer, change 15-20% water every month. Feed 2 times a day, frozen + flakes. I do not vacuum the sand, but have plenty of flow. I have some crabs, emerald and hermits. No snails.

It's not like I don't have any algae. When I had 50% LED intensity there was some growth directly below. Now at 20% it's all gone. I have some tiny hair algae growth on the wall but that gets removed every so often.