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12/02/2017, 11:34 PM | #1 |
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Zero phosphate, high nitrates!
Hi all,
I'm struggling with keeping the algae in my tank from growing. Clearly there is some phosphate due to the algae growth, but everytime I test the phosphates it's 0. Nitrate, on the other hand, are hovering at 10 or so. I run biopellets, so theoretically if there was some phosphates, I could reduce the nitrates..... I'm tempted to dose phosphates, but not sure if it's the best idea. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? |
12/02/2017, 11:56 PM | #2 |
RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
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That's a tough question. I'd probably try some GFO first, since it's easy and cheap, and sometimes it helps. You could consider dosing some phosphate. There are some food-grade trisodium phosphate products available, for example, in case the bio-pellets can consume enough nitrate to limit algae growth that way. In the short or long term, though, the algae might outcompete the bio-pellets for the nitrate.
What kinds of algae are growing? Maybe a few cleanup crew members might help.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
12/03/2017, 01:46 AM | #3 |
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Maybe run refugium?
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12/03/2017, 06:35 AM | #4 |
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Location: New Jersey
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Sometimes the algae is sucking up the phosphates enough that it affects tank readings on the test. I agree with using GFO. You will see a difference in growth reduction. Stay on top of regularly changing out the GFO until the growth starts to slow. Usually you get a month out of GFO usage in a stable tank. One with more algae growth may require a 2-3 week usage before changing it out.
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12/03/2017, 11:59 AM | #5 |
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The algae growth I have is mostly clumps of green hair algae and some sort of powdery brown algae.
That said, I dont understand, how would GFO help the problem? I'm already running GFO, but GFO is meant to pull out phosphates. Since I have 0 phosphates but high nitrates, I'm actually considering turning off the GFO... |
12/03/2017, 02:17 PM | #6 | ||||
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12/03/2017, 02:51 PM | #7 | ||
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It's been problematic the past few months.
I wouldnt say crazy bad, but it does cover the surface of most of my rock and some of the sand bed. Green hair, and some sort of brown powdery algae - diatom? Quote:
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3 months or so. They've hovered at the same parameters for the past 6 months +. Maybe? It was so long ago that I dont know the details. |
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12/03/2017, 03:46 PM | #8 |
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Location: Mesa Az
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What are you using to test no and po4? You want a low res tester for po4. 0 on 1 test kit may be .9 on another which imo is not the end of the worl and you want some low levels no3 and po4 in a reef tank. Its possible your skimmer may not be keeping up with your tanks demands. In that case a simple skimmer upgrade will result in a drop in no3 and po4. More info is needed about your tank and filteration, age, bio load, lighting
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12/03/2017, 09:00 PM | #9 | ||
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12/04/2017, 08:06 AM | #10 |
Plumbing Engineer
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 3,260
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Check your phosphate test kit.
I thought the same as you, "Why do I have algea when my phosphates are zero?" Turns out my phosphates were 1.0 and my test kit was garbage. |
12/04/2017, 08:22 PM | #11 | |
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Jonathan Bertoni |
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12/06/2017, 08:40 PM | #12 |
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Run some gfo, get a brush, remive effected rock from tankmif possible and scrub off algae in a bucket of old tank water. If you cant remove the rock then scrub in tank then do a water change, run filter socks ect after.
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