coralman05
Member
its been about 2 or 3 weeks now. I used the phoshates remover.. that brings it down to zero but i tested it today and its high again
still can't kepp my phoshates down..
- Thread starter coralman05
- Start date
meowzer
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/387675/still-can-t-kepp-my-phoshates-down#post_3412970
I always wondered...besides food..what causes phosphates?
This is from an article I read on phosphates
Sources of Phosphates
There are many reasons for phosphates to appear and then be present in the water, both external and internal ones.
Some Internal Reasons
high fish and/or coral population in the aquarium,
plant material that dies off and mineralization,
breakdown of undigested food in feces,
bacterial die-off and its decomposition and mineralization,
algal die-off and its decomposition and mineralization,
any other living material that dies, decomposes,
fish slime (and coral slime in reef tanks) that decomposes (cfr Thiel)
Some External Reasons
Overfeeding and the decay of the food that is not consumed,
Phosphate in the water you are using,
Phosphate present in the salt you use to make up water,
Additives that contain it,
Carbon that leaches phosphate into the water,
Calcium hydroxide of low quality used to make limewater,
Phosphate based chelators in additives (cfr Thiel)
Phosphates in buffering compounds,
Using frozen foods and adding the liquid after it thaws, to the tank (cfr Thiel),
Using low grade calcium carbonate in calcium reactors (cfr Knop)
and many others
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///t/387675/still-can-t-kepp-my-phoshates-down#post_3412972
This is from an article I read on phosphates
Sources of Phosphates
There are many reasons for phosphates to appear and then be present in the water, both external and internal ones.
Some Internal Reasons
high fish and/or coral population in the aquarium,
plant material that dies off and mineralization,
breakdown of undigested food in feces,
bacterial die-off and its decomposition and mineralization,
algal die-off and its decomposition and mineralization,
any other living material that dies, decomposes,
fish slime (and coral slime in reef tanks) that decomposes (cfr Thiel)
Some External Reasons
Overfeeding and the decay of the food that is not consumed,
Phosphate in the water you are using,
Phosphate present in the salt you use to make up water,
Additives that contain it,
Carbon that leaches phosphate into the water,
Calcium hydroxide of low quality used to make limewater,
Phosphate based chelators in additives (cfr Thiel)
Phosphates in buffering compounds,
Using frozen foods and adding the liquid after it thaws, to the tank (cfr Thiel),
Using low grade calcium carbonate in calcium reactors (cfr Knop)
and many others
coralman05
Member
so from that could be it my corals.. they look like they've been dieing for awhile now.. and red blooms of algae is popping up in my tank again i really need to figure this out
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Well, figure out why your corals are dying! We will help!
What are your water parameters... nitrite/nitrate, pH night and day, temp readings night and day, salinity, calcium reading, alkalinity etc. A full tank shot would also be nice. What type of lighting do you have and what is your lighting schedule? We will figure this out! I hate to see dying corals.
What are your water parameters... nitrite/nitrate, pH night and day, temp readings night and day, salinity, calcium reading, alkalinity etc. A full tank shot would also be nice. What type of lighting do you have and what is your lighting schedule? We will figure this out! I hate to see dying corals.
coralman05
Member
okayy thanks soo much i hope you can help me out.. I've posted couple of forms and none have completely helped.. I'm going to the pet store now to get all new testing "stuff" pictures and info will be added shortly after that.. thanks a bunchh
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
No problem. I would love to see you stay in the hobby. If all of your stuff dies and you don't know why ... then you get frustrated and leave the hobby. I would hate to see that happen too. C
Can't wait to see the results of your tests. Maybe we can come up with some answers/solution to your problems.
Can't wait to see the results of your tests. Maybe we can come up with some answers/solution to your problems.
coralman05
Member
okay here we go..
Tank: 55
water parameters: ammonia .50
calcium 440
phoshates 1 mg/c
copper 0
pH 8.3
alk 2.7 (kinda high)
nitrate 0
n02 .1
food: instant ocean marine blend gel food( one for fish anther for the coral) marine chips and ocean nutrition formula 2 pellets
type of salt: instant ocean 1.023
temp: 78
also i been using alptasin x.. so let me have it.. anything that's wrong or off let me know.. here some pictures ( go easy:/) not the best tank
Tank: 55
water parameters: ammonia .50
calcium 440
phoshates 1 mg/c
copper 0
pH 8.3
alk 2.7 (kinda high)
nitrate 0
n02 .1
food: instant ocean marine blend gel food( one for fish anther for the coral) marine chips and ocean nutrition formula 2 pellets
type of salt: instant ocean 1.023
temp: 78
also i been using alptasin x.. so let me have it.. anything that's wrong or off let me know.. here some pictures ( go easy:/) not the best tank
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Hah, alright. It looks like you are in the middle of a cycle.
Your ammonia is way high at .5, after the tank sits awhile, your ammonia will go down once the bacteria establishes in your tank. Ammonia reading of anything higher than 0 is bad.
Your nitrite is also a little high, a nitrate reading higher than 0.0 is high. It will come down when your cycle finishes.
Those mushrooms are pretty much good as dead in that tank, sorry mate. Add some Amquel as soon as you can. It will "lock up" your ammonia so that it might be less hard on the mushrooms and fish. It's a temp fix.
HOWEVER not all is lost. Your tank has to finish cycling. That protein skimmer that you have looks like a seaclone - get rid of it and update it to something better. I recommend coralife super skimmers (they have one for a 65g which should work perfect for you.) Some people have not had as much success with them, but they are easy to dial in and maintain - I don't know what their problem is.
You need to update your filter too. I would opt for an Emperor 400 dual biowheel filter. It has pre-loaded carbon filters that are relatively inexpensive, and two filter media trays that you can add additional carbon, zeovite, or other media to. A
Additionally, you need a lot more internal water flow for your tank. I recommend getting a couple of hydor Koralia 550s and put one in opposite corners to improve your water flow. Point one across the water line at the top of the water for a gentle flow for gas exchange. The other powerhead should point across the middle of the tank, gently blowing at the live rocks.
That red looking stuff that you have on your sandbed and all over your rocks is called Cyanobacteria. There are several FAQ pages that you should read through about how to get rid of it.
Your ammonia is way high at .5, after the tank sits awhile, your ammonia will go down once the bacteria establishes in your tank. Ammonia reading of anything higher than 0 is bad.
Your nitrite is also a little high, a nitrate reading higher than 0.0 is high. It will come down when your cycle finishes.
Those mushrooms are pretty much good as dead in that tank, sorry mate. Add some Amquel as soon as you can. It will "lock up" your ammonia so that it might be less hard on the mushrooms and fish. It's a temp fix.
HOWEVER not all is lost. Your tank has to finish cycling. That protein skimmer that you have looks like a seaclone - get rid of it and update it to something better. I recommend coralife super skimmers (they have one for a 65g which should work perfect for you.) Some people have not had as much success with them, but they are easy to dial in and maintain - I don't know what their problem is.
You need to update your filter too. I would opt for an Emperor 400 dual biowheel filter. It has pre-loaded carbon filters that are relatively inexpensive, and two filter media trays that you can add additional carbon, zeovite, or other media to. A
Additionally, you need a lot more internal water flow for your tank. I recommend getting a couple of hydor Koralia 550s and put one in opposite corners to improve your water flow. Point one across the water line at the top of the water for a gentle flow for gas exchange. The other powerhead should point across the middle of the tank, gently blowing at the live rocks.
That red looking stuff that you have on your sandbed and all over your rocks is called Cyanobacteria. There are several FAQ pages that you should read through about how to get rid of it.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Right now for this tank, Phosphates would be the absolute least of my worries. You need to get better equipment and more flow in the tank RIGHT NOW. On top of doing a 50% water change, even sucking up some of the cyanobacteria with an air line tube while your in the process. Put some Amquel in the water right now to help with the ammonia and then do the 50 - 75% water change as soon as you can.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
He might not have any fish, but just incase he did, I included them. I know he has a few inverts in there and a bleached mushroom coral...
Gotta make a lot of changes to get this tank back in shape!
Gotta make a lot of changes to get this tank back in shape!
coralman05
Member
okay thanks.. yeah the promblem is i'm 17 and i have money but, uk i started the tank when i was like 15 so right now i'm in over my head but its all good.. but, i did a 35% water change using disstiled water.. i think the build up from using tap water has came and bit me in my ass but only thing i can do now is water changes.. when should i do my next change/ testings. and is there anything i can buy off SW that will help me with my promblems.. and yes meowzer i have fish.. and i took out my old coral and its outside with the remander of its life
meowzer
Moderator
The reason I asked about fish is because if you did not I would not recommend amquel+
BUT since you do, and you have ammonia, you have to take the toxicity out.....IT WILL NOT remove ammonia.....just make it less poisonous
You need to do weekly (if not more) water changes.....for a 55G I would do 20%..or 10G water changes 2x a week....siphone all the crud out....and STOP feedingthe gel food...get some good frozen foods like mysis, marine cuisine...etc.....rinse foods also....
YUP....You need a larger filter, and more flow...I think I am only seeing one powerhead.....also what do you put in your filter???
BUT since you do, and you have ammonia, you have to take the toxicity out.....IT WILL NOT remove ammonia.....just make it less poisonous
You need to do weekly (if not more) water changes.....for a 55G I would do 20%..or 10G water changes 2x a week....siphone all the crud out....and STOP feedingthe gel food...get some good frozen foods like mysis, marine cuisine...etc.....rinse foods also....
YUP....You need a larger filter, and more flow...I think I am only seeing one powerhead.....also what do you put in your filter???
coralman05
Member
okok and i have one more smaller filter if i should put that in? i have two in there already but ya i understand. .yeah one powerhead and carbon and stuff to catch the waste and in the other one i have the stuff to catch the waste and some bacteria growing stuff thats suppose to help with it.. so how bad is my tankk ?
coralman05
Member
rn 500 and rn 250 there aqua clears.. the rn 500 said on the box it was for 150gal i know that not what it really is for but ya.