Help with uncontrolled phosphates in Waterbox Marine X 110.4

[jorgeeandreess]

Hi everyone,

I’m having trouble keeping phosphates under control in my Waterbox Marine X 110.4. I managed to lower them to 0.07 ppm using Phosphate-E from Brightwell, but just a week later they shot back up to 2.4 ppm. I’m feeling a bit lost because I thought I had them under control.


Here’s what I’m doing:


• I have a Reef Octopus Classic 110 skimmer and I’m running it as wet skim to pull out more nutrients.


• I’m using Nyos Phosi-Ex as phosphate removal media, but it doesn’t seem to be working long-term.


• I carefully control feeding and only give my fish what they consume right away.


• I’m dosing live phytoplankton from Reef Nutrition, 2 teaspoons daily because I have a flame scallop (Lima scabra) that requires this amount to thrive.


• I also add Red Sea Coral Nutrition twice a week at the recommended dose.





I can’t figure out why phosphates are spiking so quickly again. I’ve gone over my system multiple times and I can’t identify what’s causing these rapid increases. Any advice or suggestions on how I can better manage phosphates in my tank would be greatly appreciated.





Thanks in advance for any help!



Today's parameters

Sal: 1.025 SG
dKH: 8.4
NO3: 14.9 ppm
PO4: 2.4 ppm

 

[aSaltyKlown]

It can take a while for the PO4 to reach an equilibrium. As soon as you get the PO4 down, it unbinds from the rock and sand, it can take weeks or longer for it to settle down. Just keep at it.

 

[TimSt]

Have you checked your RODI water? A recent ICP showed mine to be a source of phosphate.

 

[jorgeeandreess]

It can take a while for the PO4 to reach an equilibrium. As soon as you get the PO4 down, it unbinds from the rock and sand, it can take weeks or longer for it to settle down. Just keep at it.

But what can i do if last week it was on 0.07 and today 0.24?

 

[jorgeeandreess]

guys sorry is 0.24 PPM the phosphates

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

guys sorry is 0.24 PPM the phosphates

0.24 ppm phosphate is not a big deal, but if you want it lower, another smaller dose of phosphate binder will help. As noted above, it can take a while to reach a new lower equilibrium.

 

[jorgeeandreess]

0.24 ppm phosphate is not a big deal, but if you want it lower, another smaller dose of phosphate binder will help. As noted above, it can take a while to reach a new lower equilibrium.

Thank you! My concern is why it always go up

 

[jorgeeandreess]

0.24 ppm phosphate is not a big deal, but if you want it lower, another smaller dose of phosphate binder will help. As noted above, it can take a while to reach a new lower equilibrium.

Thank you! My concern is why it always go up

 

[14 foot reef]

As you bind and pull the pO4 out, it releases back in the water column from rock and sand, at some point it will equalize and settle near the number you want.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thank you! My concern is why it always go up

That’s what I’m addressing. Until you get the rock and sand to equilibrium with the new lower level, it will try to rise again.

 

[jorgeeandreess]

That’s what I’m addressing. Until you get the rock and sand to equilibrium with the new lower level, it will try to rise again.

Ohhh ok thank you so much! So basically I have to add phosphate - e like weekly to mantain it lower until the rock and sand reach the equilibrium? Or just let it by themself