Reducing Nitrates and Phosphate

[MedcinMn]

My 24 aquapod has been up for 3 weeks, never cycled due to seeded sand and LR from another tank. Anyhow, all my readings have been perfect (Amm 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrates 0, Phosphates 0, pH 8.4, Ca 400, Mg 1200, dKH 10.9) A few days ago my nitrates started climbing along with my phosphates.

I've got a handful of snails and hermits, along with 1 percula clown that I got a week ago. The only food I've put in is small amounts of frozen brine every other day for the past week for the clown. I did a 4 gal water change last night and my nitrates were reduced from just above 5 to barely detectable. My phosphates however, have slowly climbed from 0.25, to .5 and are at 1 now (even after the water change). My makeup water and salt has 0 phosphates. Should I:

1. Continue doing what I'm doing and start my weekly 10% water changes?

2. Put in Phosguard in addition to my weekly 10% water changes?

I hate to put anything in the water to reduce PO4, but don't see much choice since they are still at 1 even after a water change.

Thx,

Aaron

 

[Mikeeal]

Just a thought, but maybe go buy a small brine shrimp net, and strain the food you are feeding with RO water. I know for a fact that those frozen cubes have a gang of excess nutrients.

 

[Chris13]

Rowaphos or Phosban IMO are the best at removing phosphates. I have the phosban reactor on a trickle with my 24g nano and it works really well.

I did the same as you with the existing LR and Sand. Had a brief patch of diatoms but my weekly waterchange and phosban has kept the tank looking good.

 

[Jim Z.]

Frozen brine is loaded with PO4 and proteins. Water changes and cutting back on the food will help. I feed my Tubastrea and BTA once per week and some red slime will grow throughout the day. The cleanup crew takes care of most of it. Adding some kalkwasser will help your skimmer pull out the phosphate.....Jim Z.

 

[spf9992001]

The water you're using for topoff and changes could be the source of the phosphates. Have you tested it?

 

[Gundo5000]

Chemi pure will take care of phosphates.

 

[Pillz]

I like the seachem phosgaurd. IMO anything seachem is good.

 

[MedcinMn]

My makeup water has 0 phosphates after ro/di. Also, my salt mixture has 0 phosphates as well.

 

[Newreeflady]

I think I read the phosgard can leach aluminum. Do a search, but I believe that is the one.

I plan to try PhosBan which is not supposed to leach anything into the tank.

-A

 

[chocolateblnt]

Phosphate Pad from Drs. Foster Smith took my parameters from a whopping 2.5 to 0.0 for only $10 ...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produ...ll&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1

 

[ZoeReef]

Well this solved my mystery. I've been feeding frozen brine and I can never get my PO4 below 10. Now I know why. I have a Remora and the water seems crystal clear. Time for a change of diet...

 

[chocolateblnt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7211775#post7211775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ZoeReef
Well this solved my mystery. I've been feeding frozen brine and I can never get my PO4 below 10. Now I know why. I have a Remora and the water seems crystal clear. Time for a change of diet...

Zoe ... when you feed any frozen food you should first run that cube under some water in a net or sifter to dissolve the watery Po4 and you're result is only the whole pieces of shrimp you want your fish to eat and not the rest of the watery junk that floats around and feeds phosphates ...

 

[flameangel88]

It's good to know as I was under the notion the 'juice' is good for the rest of tank's organism that feeds on filtering process.

 

[LAZ]

Dont think I can add too much to what's been said but just the same have you thought about using a polyfilter and RO water? I'm shameless when comes to promoting the Polyfilter but I started using one at the suggestion of a friend who is a marine biologist and has AMAZING reefs.It's not a cure-all ( phosphates/nitrates are the scurge of the reef hobbiest ) but it may help some. As for phophates, if your using city water, test it for both nitrates and phosphates.Here in Fairfax County Va. the water is high in phosphates so if I use the water I treat it before I put in in the tank.

HTH

 

[flameangel88]

I've the following in my external filter:
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Phos-Zorb
Boyd Chemi-Pure
Poly Bio Filter Pad 4" X 8"

The tank is 5 weeks old and I'm having problem keeping PH at 8.2 and I've been adding buffer and it consistantly dropping to 8. Ammonia is near zero, nitrite is .25 and nitrate is bet 30-40. Phos close to zero and calcium is 400. I've been performing water changes of 2.5g twice a week to keep the nitrate down which may result from die-off of LRs and feeding 'juice' from the frozen food into the tank as I thought it was good for the other inhabitants in the tank.