Where is the phosphate coming from???

[CHEMCHEF]

I started my tank up after sandy and have been having algae problems since.
I have not tested for phosphate as of yet because my Hanna reagent ran out. But I have to assume the algae and sps color loss is due to phosphate. All my other params are in order.
Alk 9
Ph 7.9-8.2
Cal 450
Nitrate 2
Tank is a50 gal cube
Cadlights Tia 1150 skimmer
Running phos and carbon in 2reactors
Bare bottom tank
Just started my fugue back up last night.
I religiously change 5 gal a week and top off with ro.
Kind of at a loss here. I am ataying to think it may be leaching out of rock.
Rick is Brs Eco rock that has been in system for a year or better.
I know it would be better to ask for help after I test for phos buy I figured I woul throw it out there.
Thanks

 

[CHEMCHEF]

I really hate this spell check!!!!!! Sorry

 

[MikeC]

Just curious are you running a reactor or dosing?

 

[strgazr27]

Likely still leaching from the rock. Stupid question but the RO filters/resin are good right?

 

[E.intheC]

That sucks Chef.

I had a pretty substantial Cyanobacteria outbreak after the hurricane myself. I think it's because of all the die-off. I ended up selling my cube but I transferred about half the rock and my few remaining corals into a 20 gallon tank with heat, light, and circulation. The rest of the rock I put in a five gallon bucket (heat and flow, but no light) and have been doing weekly or twice weekly water changes.

There was a lot of junk in the sand that I ditched, and the water in the rock-bucket is much more clear than it used to be. Ditching the sand is worth a shot. I have an un-opened bag of sand if you want it also..

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Just curious are you running a reactor or dosing?

Running a reactor for phos and carbon. No dosing except to get all up after adding phosban.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Likely still leaching from the rock. Stupid question but the RO filters/resin are good right?

I buy rodi from aquarium village and use the Carib sea nsw.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

That sucks Chef.

I had a pretty substantial Cyanobacteria outbreak after the hurricane myself. I think it's because of all the die-off. I ended up selling my cube but I transferred about half the rock and my few remaining corals into a 20 gallon tank with heat, light, and circulation. The rest of the rock I put in a five gallon bucket (heat and flow, but no light) and have been doing weekly or twice weekly water changes.

There was a lot of junk in the sand that I ditched, and the water in the rock-bucket is much more clear than it used to be. Ditching the sand is worth a shot. I have an un-opened bag of sand if you want it also..

Hey E. hope all is well
I ditched my sand also, after sandy. I actually never put new sand back in. Currently going bare bottom.
The tank has been up and running since about November 15-20.
I am going to post some pics of the algae. The really strange thing is that my snails shells seem to be affected the worst.


Sps color loss
2 weeks ago
now

 

[mbg75]

Chem, once u get phosphate test refills
Get phosphate readings of

Tank water

Output of reactor

New saltwater

Topoff water.

 

[SteveZ15]

Im just curios i hope you dont mind if i chime in on this thread. Phos leaches from lr does this always happen or is it because something went wrong . I am gonna cure the lr in my tank to cycle i dont have space to cure the rock outside the tank. Is the curing process is what creates the phosphate or can it leach out all of a sudden .also i dont have a phos reactor i was gonna add it later after i have a fish or two and a few softies or should i get it now before i start the tank.i was gonna put them in and plumb a by pass so they can be worked on without disturbing the system. Thanks

 

[cody0709]

From sand bed

 

[strgazr27]

When you get the refills, test the RO water you are using.

 

[Raul]

Do you use filter socks?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Steve live and dead rock can leach phosphates for a while. Also sand bed can do the same as well after building up sll the organic matter.

 

[MikeC]

Ok I read the part when you sed you DON'T HAVE A SAND BED
I was wondering when you started your poop catcher (refuge) back up do you still have sand in that? And why are you running a fuge w/ a BB?
I know when you go from a DSB to a BB phosphates and bacteria take time to equal out.
Something to do with the amount of bacteria in the rocks that now will die off because it has less phosphates to deal with because you have no sandbed.
The rocks will leach out the bacteria die off and algie will feed off that. You should siphon out as much s possible and keep up with manual removal and frequent water changes untill things level out.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Chem, once u get phosphate test refills
Get phosphate readings of

Tank water

Output of reactor

New saltwater

Topoff water.

Ok. This makes sense. Thanks mike.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

When you get the refills, test the RO water you are using.

Will do

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Do you use filter socks?

Yes. I change them every three days.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Do you use filter socks?

Yes. I change them every three days.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Ok I read the part when you sed you DON'T HAVE A SAND BED
I was wondering when you started your poop catcher (refuge) back up do you still have sand in that? And why are you running a fuge w/ a BB?
I know when you go from a DSB to a BB phosphates and bacteria take time to equal out.
Something to do with the amount of bacteria in the rocks that now will die off because it has less phosphates to deal with because you have no sandbed.
The rocks will leach out the bacteria die off and algie will feed off that. You should siphon out as much s possible and keep up with manual removal and frequent water changes untill things level out.

No sand in refuge. Just cheato, calerpa, and a light.
I figured a fuge would eat up some phosphates while not catching too much detritus because I'm running a filter sock.