On going Phosphate issues.. Need some help!
 

Hey all

My Tank: Red Sea Max 250 (66g)

So I have been battling high phos for sometime now. I just used my Hannah Checker and I am up around 0.29. I cannot for the life of me get this down to around .02 - .05 to where I want it. I use RowaPhos and chemi-pure elite.
I do a water change every 2-3 weeks of at least 5-8g. I suppose the best thing is to do some big water changes and add more Rowa but wanted to ask some of you in here. My tank is 85% SPS and the rest is LPS.

Can anyone give me some pointers on this.. I've been reefing for around 5 years and this is just getting to me. My corals look good, the colors are great but I am starting to get brown algae on some of my coral tips where flow isnt getting too.

Any help would be great..

Thanks

My levels:
Calc 300 (My doser stopped working, i usually keep it around 450 so I am getting this back up)
Alk 10-11
Phos .29
SG 1.029

I would do a 45 gallon water change fallowed by a 25 gallon water change's every 2 weeks and all your problems will be solved.

How long has this tank been setup, and where did the LR come from ?

I have had the tank set up for about 3-4 years. I have all the live rock from local pet stores, bali rock and fiji I believe

That is what I was thinking.. just do massive water changes...


What is strange is a lot of my GSP is not coming out.. which is nice as it is everywhere but a clear indicator that something is not right..



I have also been dosing amino acids lately.

Sg 1. 029 is a little high should bring it back down to 1. 025-1.026

I'm wondering if your LR is leaching PO4

It does sound like maybe your rock is starting to leach phoshates. You could try dosing FozDown. Salinity is a bit high as others have mentioned.

Your parameters are really out of whack. You should be aiming for something close to this:

SG 1.026
Ca 400-420 ppm
Alk 7-9 dKH
Mg 1250-1400 ppm

Since the doser stopped working and calcium dipped so low and alkalinity so high I would be thinking that the algae-covered SPS tips were probably caused by alkalinity swings. Alkalinity swings will PO GSP ime too. Increasing the amount of GFO you're using will cause a bigger alkalinity swing when you replace it. I would be concentrating on getting those levels in the proper range and keeping them consistent before worrying about anything else. Some people get too focused on nitrate and phosphate levels when things are otherwise looking good. Honestly, if your tank runs fine at 0.28 ppm phosphate I would leave it alone.

Great advice.
This is what I was also thinking. Even though I dose a two part it is soo hard to get my levels to ware I want them. Over all my tank usually looks great with no problems. Need to bring that ALK and Mg down a bit and Calc up again.


Thanks :)