Hi Randy, and other Reef2Reefers.
I have a problem that probably most reefers dream about having. I seem to have really low No3 and Po4 levels that I struggle to keep from bottoming out.
I dose NoPox in a moderately stocked mixed reef 350 Reefer, at the level of 1.8ml daily, and maintain No3 in the region of 5. The lack Nitrate seems to cause problems if it falls much below 5, and I see the system suffer, SPS especially. That said the No3 isn't concerning me overly since I seem to have the hang of that.
My problem seems to be with Po4.I have read all of Randy's posts and articles with regard to Po4 and that's where my problem seems to be. I feed 10 fish a frozen mysis cube in the morning, some nori also during the day and pellets in the early evening. I also add either 10ml of Red Sea a and B (20ml total) or a mix of ReefRoids and Coral Smoothie daily. I test my Po4 with a Hanna Phosphorus checker since the Phosphate checker just always reads zero and doesn't have the resolution I need.
I travel often and when away the tank is only getting auto pellets twice a day. When I return Phosphorus reading is often 0 ppb (Nitrate is unaffected and still around 5). If I am home and feeding as above it seems to stay around 7ppb Phosphorus (0.021ppm Phosphate). I do have a small build up of algae on the glass over a 2 day period that is very easy to scrape off, so I guess something is still in the tank to feed this growth.
If I am away for more than a few days the tank definitely suffers and starts to lose colour and some SPS suffer die off. I read in your articles that I should be aiming for a Phosphate level of 0.021ppm or less. I achieve that but if it goes below that the tank suffers.
Do you have any suggestions as to minimum levels of Phosphate for a tank and methods to achieve this without increasing the nitrates?
I have a problem that probably most reefers dream about having. I seem to have really low No3 and Po4 levels that I struggle to keep from bottoming out.
I dose NoPox in a moderately stocked mixed reef 350 Reefer, at the level of 1.8ml daily, and maintain No3 in the region of 5. The lack Nitrate seems to cause problems if it falls much below 5, and I see the system suffer, SPS especially. That said the No3 isn't concerning me overly since I seem to have the hang of that.
My problem seems to be with Po4.I have read all of Randy's posts and articles with regard to Po4 and that's where my problem seems to be. I feed 10 fish a frozen mysis cube in the morning, some nori also during the day and pellets in the early evening. I also add either 10ml of Red Sea a and B (20ml total) or a mix of ReefRoids and Coral Smoothie daily. I test my Po4 with a Hanna Phosphorus checker since the Phosphate checker just always reads zero and doesn't have the resolution I need.
I travel often and when away the tank is only getting auto pellets twice a day. When I return Phosphorus reading is often 0 ppb (Nitrate is unaffected and still around 5). If I am home and feeding as above it seems to stay around 7ppb Phosphorus (0.021ppm Phosphate). I do have a small build up of algae on the glass over a 2 day period that is very easy to scrape off, so I guess something is still in the tank to feed this growth.
If I am away for more than a few days the tank definitely suffers and starts to lose colour and some SPS suffer die off. I read in your articles that I should be aiming for a Phosphate level of 0.021ppm or less. I achieve that but if it goes below that the tank suffers.
Do you have any suggestions as to minimum levels of Phosphate for a tank and methods to achieve this without increasing the nitrates?