Too much phosphate?

[Codyheitmiller]

My phosphate is at 0.25, is that enough to start making my monti cap bleach, and bubble tip start to bleach out? I don't get paid till the 17th. P.s. I'm finally employed and am a manager at PetCo. Figured I would help them turn there bad saltwater rep around.

 

[ccCapt]

Phosphate won't cause bleaching. I may cause corals to "brown out" and it will cause nusiance algae growth.

 

[Codyheitmiller]

Well is that too much though?

 

[Mooney0086]

Above 0.1 is too much.
Phosphate remover will work in 24 hours.

 

[carey]

Any phosphates can have a negative impact on your reef. I suggest trying to find the source first before using the chemicals.

 

[Codyheitmiller]

Well I dont get paid for two weeks. Guess I'm SOL

 

[Sarcothelia]

Find an iron based phosphate remover and use it sparingly, don't have to keep it in 24/7. I'm pretty sure phosban is iron based and therefore safer in reefs.

 

[Codyheitmiller]

No money...

 

[ccCapt]

Well is that too much though?

If you can detect any amount on a test kit it's too much, but as I said, it will not cause a coral to bleach. If your corals are bleaching there's another problem and it's not phosphate.

 

[Sarcothelia]

Phosban is like 10 bucks tops for a reasonable amount. They sell it at most fish stores. And you don't have to keep it in all day, just plop in it until phosphates are down and remove, and keep up with water changes until the next phosphate dilemma.

 

[Codyheitmiller]

Once again... I don't have money.... My question is, should I be good till I get paid in two weeks?

 

[Sarcothelia]

Yep. Phosphates aren't going to kill off your tank by themselves. Just keep up with water changes and get some phosban when payday arrives.

 

[Codyheitmiller]

Thanks.

 

[bavass]

The phosban and other gfo works best when used in a reactor. just putting a bag of phosban in the sump does not allow for proper flow through the media. Most of the water will flow around a bag in a sump

 

[Codyheitmiller]

I got one from twolittlefishies.

 

[Sarcothelia]

Just so you know...If you have a sump/refugium you could have free everlasting phosphate remover in the form of chaeto algae . It uses up so much phosphates that no algae but it will grow.

 

[Codyheitmiller]

I have one over flowing with cheato and still have phosphates, just no nitrites/trates

 

[Hinds04]

how is phosphate produced and removed in our tanks?

 

[Codyheitmiller]

Food, the water you use, and removed by media.