What is your phosphate reading?
 

Just wonder what is your phosphate reading. Some say 0, but how was it being tested. I have 0.07 ppm by using Hanna checker. Is this still a bit high for mixed reef?

I used to think I had 0 phosphate or close to that with standard test kits (e.g. Salifert), then I got the Hana Checker. It showed that I had 0.1 ppm! I always had algae problems and coral RTN/browning. Then I got some GFO and biopellets. I managed to get a reading of 0.04 with the Hana Checker. I think 0.07 is a bit high and may cause you algae issues. I still have trouble eradicating all my red cyanobacteria and bryopsis.

225g: .02 on Hanna checker
90G: .00 on Hanna Checker

0.015 Deltec kit

Where would you buy these checkers...in Edmonton

So I guess 0.07 is a bit high. I am running biopellets for more than 6 months, shall I also run GFO?

I bought my at OC.

I've been running biopellets for over a year now and noticed that they alone could not strip out enough phosphate from my system. I now run GFO as well and have a phosphate reading of 0.01 on the Hanna checker. Before running GFO I had something like 0.08 to 0.11. A lot of people don't recommend running GFO with biopellets but it seems to work out fine for me.

Which GFO Kien?

our favouritest GFO in all the world, rowaphos! :lol:

What is your nitrate level? Biopellets consume both nitrate and phosphate at a ratio, much more nitrate than phosphate. I don't remember the exact ratio. If you nitrate is undetectable, then you won't be able to lower your phosphate using biopellets alone. There are some speculations that using GFO will hinder the effectiveness of biopellets, but nothing scientific. If you want to try it, go ahead. Make sure you measure both nitrate and phosphate at the same time.

0, zero, zilch, nadda, zip! Always has been, hopefully will always be :) That's with 4 tangs,2 clowns, 3 leopard wrasses and 2 anthias in a 125. Nitrates, 2 to 5ppm just before a water change, and I feed my fish very well.:mrgreen: