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10/27/2020, 02:22 AM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 60
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P always rising; N always undetectable
My 12 year old 600ltr mixed reef is doing OK, but only just OK. Coloration in LPS is great. It's just good enough in SPS. The only issue I have with the tank that my phosphate is always on the rise, whilst my N is always below detectable. And I can't figure out why that is.
I run a Mini Bubble King 200. And an algae reactor that gets good growth, but only if I constantly add nitrates manually, so the algae can consume the excess P and the artificially added N. If I don't do that, there's no N and the algae dies. So, I have an imbalance that I correct almost daily. I need to understand why this imbalance keeps returning. I feed frozen mysis and artemia daily. And sometimes switch that around with dry food and algae leaves for my surgeons. I assume these all have N and P in normal naturally balanced levels. What else can it be? Stored in my rocks? How can I check that? Do I just need to keep balancing this out until all P reserves are gone? |
10/27/2020, 10:06 AM | #2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Miller Place, NY
Posts: 7,206
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The only way I know of to check if it's the rock is to place a piece in fresh salt water& let it sit a day then test. The rock should leach some into the water, if that is indeed the problem. All food will introduce phosphate into the water & not necessarily in the right proportions.
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250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps. |
10/27/2020, 11:34 AM | #3 |
Registered Seaweedist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 5,807
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When conditions for a reef tank are good, they're bad for algae filters. With your particular situation, it sounds like you should take the algae filter offline (or greatly reduce its photoperiod), and use a phosphate absorbing media instead.
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
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