GFO - Phosphate question

[cee]

I need to invest in some more test kits. The Phosphate kit I have is API, and I doubt I will ever buy another one of them. The Salifert kits are much better. I also need a Mg kit, but don't have one at all yet.

I have more room in my tank for more livestock, and have considered another tang, but would want something that would eat some of this stuff and get along with my other fish. I have a yellow, blue hippo, clowns, damsels, and a coris wrasse. Any suggestions?

Suggestions depend on your algae. Ever considered a sea hare? They are very good for filamentous algae but can starve quickly once it is gone. The CR had some recently and would probably take them back once your problem is alleviated. If you want to test your phosphates you're more than welcome to bring a sample by anytime. I have the Deltec/Merck kit. It is the next best kit to a Hanna photometer and measures very low values. I wouldn't trust the API kit for anything other than alkalinity. I kind of doubt your PO4 is that high, honestly. I use their kit for calcium but had to calibrate it against another as it was off about 25%. My tank is stable now so I'm not concerned about absolute numbers but am concerned more with relative changes. I live outside Clinton so if you're still working in Oak Ridge I'm not too far out of your way. LMK.

Dave

 

[Runner]

It sounds like you have the same stuff I have -- pretty in its way when it is contained, but impossible to get rid of once it spreads. Good thing it spreads slowly. And it isn't bryopsis -- I just killed that in my tank with some Tech M and this stuff got more vibrant, if anything. I control it by pulling it off, but you have to be careful not to let a single strand float away when you do (or it could plant and form another colony).

One of these days I am going to make a phosphate reactor as well. I just run the poly filters at the moment because my tank is small.

 

[Engloid]

Suggestions depend on your algae. Ever considered a sea hare? They are very good for filamentous algae but can starve quickly once it is gone. The CR had some recently and would probably take them back once your problem is alleviated. If you want to test your phosphates you're more than welcome to bring a sample by anytime. I have the Deltec/Merck kit. It is the next best kit to a Hanna photometer and measures very low values. I wouldn't trust the API kit for anything other than alkalinity. I kind of doubt your PO4 is that high, honestly. I use their kit for calcium but had to calibrate it against another as it was off about 25%. My tank is stable now so I'm not concerned about absolute numbers but am concerned more with relative changes. I live outside Clinton so if you're still working in Oak Ridge I'm not too far out of your way. LMK.

Dave

I have considered the sea hare, and did see them at CR. My concern is that my coris wrasse might pick at him since they're a soft and fleshy (and slow) animal. My wrasse doesn't seem to be really aggressive though. He only seems to pick at snails or crabs after they are dead or out of the shells. Your thoughts?

I may take you up on the offer to test the phosphates. I might just have to come off the money and buy myself a better kit for it.

 

[cee]

I have many wrasses and have owned a sea hare before. I don't ever recall seeing it being harassed. That's no guarantee, of course.

 

[Engloid]

I have many wrasses and have owned a sea hare before. I don't ever recall seeing it being harassed. That's no guarantee, of course.

Ok. Thanks. I may give one a shot.

 

[Runner]

When he has cleaned out your tank, perhaps we can relocate him to mine.

 

[Captain Nemo]

I had the same stuff, and I changed the GFO every 2-3 weeks. Mine has since died off and has not come back. May try changing the GFO more ofeten....

 

[copper]

I wonder if Hydrogen Peroxide would be as effective on this stuff as it is reported to be on dinos?

 

[Captain Nemo]

I did the stint with H2O2 and did not see it affect/effect this stuff what so ever in my tank. Maybe with prolonged use it would but I did'nt use the peroxide after about 2 weeks.

 

[Engloid]

When he has cleaned out your tank, perhaps we can relocate him to mine.

That would be fine with me. After that, I could retire him to my refugium until he had another task.

 

[Engloid]

I bought a Salifert kit and it reads only .03 phosphate. That's not enough to have algae issues, correct? I have noticed that my chaeto doesn't grow all that well. it is really densely growing, but doesn't expand in the refugium very rapidly.

I am considering a Tomini Bristletooth Tang, to help eat the sprouts of green algae. I have a little of it, but not enough to call it a problem. I just don't want it to become a problem.