keeping phosphates down

[Just Jim]

I've been trying to keep my phosphates down to let the great colors shine. I've been struggling to keep my heavy fish population fed and phosphates low. I'm looking for some tips. I dose vodka, have a steady skim (with a big skimmer) and do regular rodi water changes. The problem is that I can't seem to find the perfect food. I have fish that require both meat and algae. I tried spectrum pellets, but none of my fish would touch it. I've been using a mix of

mysis
bloodworm
formula 1 frozen
formula 2 frozen

Now a big part of the problem is that I haven't been rinsing. When I was doing just mysis I did, but I can't rinse the formula 1 or 2 so I stopped. Also the flake I've been using lately is the formula 2 so it isn't so great for phosphates. I wouldn't mind making a homemade blend, but it need to be edible to both the fish and lps. Any suggestions?

 

[blakers82]

What are your phosphates reading and on what kit?

Did you try the smaller Spectrum pellets or larger? I have the large and regular and my fish (tangs, wrasses, goby, anthias) LOVE the regular ones. My blenny doesn't go for them.

 

[djmurray]

Ivwould try stay away from the frozen food (unless you can rinse ).


Mt of the time they are packed in high phosphate.

Would you look a bio piopelets?

 

[lurch]

How about adding a gfo reactor to your system. That could drop your po4 significantly.

 

[scionreefing]

My understanding is that flake food carries more phosphates than frozen because of the way its be made.

Raffle grabber

 

[Zuska]

how about dosing vodka?

 

[dzhuo]

The test ways to lower phosphate are:

1. Reduce feeding (within reason to not starve the fish and corals).
2. Water change.
3. Run GFO.

Carbon dosing (or culturing algae) isn't that effective against high phosphate because the reduction is limited by the Redfield Ratio (C:N = 106:16:1). For every 106 unit of carbon and 16 unit of nitrate consumed (in the cellular level to build tissue), only 1 unit of phosphate is used.

Once phosphate goes down, carbon dosing (or algae) would be a better choice (to keep it low enough).

 

[dzhuo]

Sorry DP!

 

[ariel47]

I had high phosphate problems[0.26 in reef and 3.04 in fowlr readings per hanna checker]until I started using aquavision phosphate solutions. My reef phos reading now is 0.03 and fowlr is 0.06.

 

[110galreef]

The problem is that I can't seem to find the perfect food. I have fish that require both meat and algae.

Rods food or Roggers! Perfect for the reef and fishes. They have a seaweed extra one if you have lots of algae eating fish!

Get this stuff...awesome. Also no extra crap. No rinsing as it has tiny particle for the corals as well. It is very pure food, and I feel adds no extra pollutants to the tank to raise PO4.

I have near perfect params:
PO4 6-8ppb (.018-.024) usually 5-6 range. Just enuf for the corla to not starve.
Nitrates 0

I feed ROD's late in the days. Turn off return pump for 30 mins to let everyone eat.

Toss some ON Formula 2 small pellets early or some ON brine flakes. Also throw in some Omega One Super Color Sinking Kelp pellets or Regular Omega One SUper color pellets. Forlmula 1 as well, but fish not seem huge fans. Usually mix up a few pinches of each of these.

Feed corals 2x's a week. 1/8 tsp each Reef Roids, Corals Frenzy, cycloppes, zooplanktos. Also turn off return pump for 30 mins.

Med fish load, 4week 10% WC, Run mesh filter sock i rinse every 3 days or so. Skim avg., 1.5C Rox.08 Carbon changed every 4 weeks too.
NO GFO, NO vodak dosing, NO Fuge, No Biopellets NO FUSS!!
Very simplel and easy.

 

[110galreef]

My understanding is that flake food carries more phosphates than frozen because of the way its be made.

Raffle grabber

Usually more nutrionally dense, so waste will relase more nasties. Make sure to feed slow & that it gets eaten. Alsosince more nutrient dense feed less!