ICP test results - help!

[tb582]

Ugh I continue to battle PO4 - using rowaphos in a reactor but it’s only slowly making a dent.

@Randy Holmes-Farley this is screaming for your skills and knowledge … advice please!

 

[TehBrainz]

What is your bioload, feeding regime, and maintenance regime look like?

First you need to identify the root cause (which is I think what your post is trying to point towards).

I have good luck with GFO, but that comes with caution as it can VERY quickly strip the PO4 from the water and cause more problems if you use too much

 

[TehBrainz]

A few other questions:

Before chasing numbers, how does your tank look with those PO4 levels? Can you provide a full tank shot? What sort of corals do you have, if any? Has it always been this high? Some folks on R2R run elevated PO4 with no issue. I typically run 0.2-0.3 ppm myself, which is high compared to the low nutrient systems, but I have "dirty tank" loving corals.

Also, PO4 should be monitored fairly frequently and deserves an at-home test kit. There are a couple different Hanna checkers as well as Salifert and some others

 

[MnFish1]

I'm curious if you double checked the 'ICP' test results of nitrate and Phosphate with tests done locally (though the fact that the P and the PO4 are both elevated suggests this shouldn't be an issue).

Are you feeding high PO4 foods? or overfeeding? What dose of rowaphos are you using - and how are you using it (i.e. reactor, etc). Do you have enough filtration>

Also - was your 'live rock' by any chance from an old tank - that may be leaching PO4 into the water?

Any way - Water changes will resolve the issue if you want to resolve it short-term.

 

[tb582]

The fish are great, the corals could be better. I do have ULR po4 Hanna checker.

The issue is likely over feeding if I had to guess but I’ve always seemed to have high po4.

 

[tb582]

I'm curious if you double checked the 'ICP' test results of nitrate and Phosphate with tests done locally (though the fact that the P and the PO4 are both elevated suggests this shouldn't be an issue).

Are you feeding high PO4 foods? or overfeeding? What dose of rowaphos are you using - and how are you using it (i.e. reactor, etc). Do you have enough filtration>

Also - was your 'live rock' by any chance from an old tank - that may be leaching PO4 into the water?

Any way - Water changes will resolve the issue if you want to resolve it short-term.

I’ve been doing 5gal water changes per week, but it too hasn’t seem to make a difference.

From what I understand, the PO four is not something that water change will help because it’s likely in the rock.

 

[MnFish1]

I’ve been doing 5gal water changes per week, but it too hasn’t seem to make a difference.

What is the volume of the tank? if you use this calculator, you can estimate what it will take to get to whatever PO4 goal you want. https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/EffectOfWaterChanges.php

From what I understand, the PO four is not something that water change will help because it’s likely in the rock.

You are correct - and I mentioned the possibility that especially if you used old rock they could be leaching PO4. However, though water changes may be somewhat less effective than other methods - they will still work.

 

[beebot99]

I know some have had great success with the Fluval ClearMax bags. They might help you short term.

If you’re using previously used Live rock, it’s possibly seeping from that. You may find yourself using a GFO or Clearmax longer term to keep it down.

I’m surprised you’ve not got a whole load of algae with that much P and Nitrate.

 

[beebot99]

Oh and also, if it’s not related to feeding, have you checked your RODI filters? Assuming you’re using RODI water. I know my tap water here is packed with Phosphates.

The Zinc and Silicon levels also suggest something may be up with your water source.

 

[tb582]

I got the same ICP test for the RO water .. no po4 found.

I’m using rowaphos in a reactor but it’s taking forever. I also have cheato running in the refugium but might get some different macro algae to help

 

[PharmrJohn]

Also - was your 'live rock' by any chance from an old tank - that may be leaching PO4 into the water?

That was my first concern. The numbers pretty much support that possibility.

 

[tb582]

That was my first concern. The numbers pretty much support that possibility.

No it wasn’t from an old tank, I’ve had this tank for about a year and some of the rock was “wet”/live from LFS and some was dry rock…

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm not seeing a big problem, except potentially the phosphate. I'm not certain it is a huge issue as some great tanks have phosphate nearly that high, but I'd probably look to slowly lower it.