How long is phosphate cycle for established tank?

[plankton]

In another thread I described my accidental overdosing carbon chain, not monitoring phosphate that lead to zero testable phosphates and RTN of an nice tort. My phosphates were around 0.08 and dropped to 0.00 over two weeks.

Since the RTN of my tort I turned off skimmer, stopped carbon dosing and increased feeding tank from once per week to every other day. SPS growth, color and polyp extension are amazing. Just tested phosphates (it’s been five days) and reading is 0.01 (see pic).

How long until I should start seeing phosphate levels rise? My goal is to get phosphates slowly back up to around 0.10

PS I do still have a couple spots of hair algae that I’ve named and just live with them.

 

[Bfragale]

0.01 is not too bad, remember there is probably more in the tank that the corals and algae are taking in. But it sounds like your on the right track my friend.

 

[Dkmoo]

got a shot of the tank? also tank age?

if you are feeding stuff that matches the N and P ratio of what your tank absorbs, then you may not see any P04 increase, which is a good thing, that means most are going where it should be going - into your corals/fish/biome. what ur checkers detect is only left over.

I feed a ton but Po4 never goes above 10PPB.

if new tank, could be due to sand/rock absorbing po4 as battery and release later. doesn't sound like that's the case if you see positive coral reaction (meaning they are eating it)

 

[plankton]

Tank is almost a year old now (born March of 2020 when work asked us to shelter in place due to COVID-19) and here are a couple blurry closeups I took yesterday when I shutoff pumps to feed.

 

[plankton]

To answer my own question : 7 days!

Today I measured 0.18 ppm on Hanna ULR phosphate test up from 0.01 so turned on skimmer to aerate tank and pull some of the nutrients out of the tank. I’m fine with this value although i wish it grew slowly over time and not spiked. All corals look good except my centerpiece monti where polyps pulled in. Here is what skimmer looked like first hour. LOL

 

[Spare time]

When you said feeding tank once per week, are you saying feeding coral food or the fish once per week?

 

[plankton]

I feed fish everyday. Was feeding corals once per week but not do three times per week. Phosphates 0.03ppm