Randy, are these water parameters ok?

[Ehydo]

Randy,

I currently started checking phosphate and is is a 0.1. I was wondering if I needed to reduce it further?

If I do need to reduce it what do you recommend?
I have some phos-zorb that I purchased for my fresh water tanks but have not needed it since I started using RO/DI water(great investment).

My water parameters are NH3-0, NO2-0, NO3-0, PH 8.1 (7.9-8.0 at night), Salinity 1.025(checked on refractometer), Temp 79, CA 450 and PO4 is 0.1.

That is all the tests that I currently have kits, probes or equipment for. I use a Refugium with chaeto and no skimmer. I have to clean minute amounts of algae from the glass once a week.

Also how does everything look?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would try to reduce it further, if that value of 0.1 ppm is accurate, yes. Phosphate can reduce the growth or hard corals and coralline algae, and can drive green algae and cyano (cleaning small amounts of algae once a week is a sign that it is not yet a problem :) ).

There are a variety of ways to reduce it. I most prefer growing and harvesting macroalgae. The chaetomorpha is good if there is enough and it is growing well.

These articles may help:

Phosphorus: Algae’s Best Friend
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm

Iron Oxide Hydroxide (GFO) Phosphate Binders
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.htm

The other parameters look fine. :) This article may help overall:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters (a summary general article)
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

[Ehydo]

Thanks Randy, I have been looking for a chart like that for a while for the tanks parameters. I did many searches in ReefCentral over the past year and never found one.
I just see what other peoples parameters were and see if I matched them.

The test kit that I have does not list PO4 under .1. That is the lowest possible reading.

What kit do you suggest for checking it under .1

And for the macro, it quadrupled in two months. I think it is growing fine. It actually have two different types of chaeo, one is a dark green and stays in tight bundles and the other is a lighter green and does not stay in tight bundles.

Thanks for all of the help.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The test kit that I have does not list PO4 under .1. That is the lowest possible reading.

You might try a better kit (Hach or Salifert, for example), or just not worry about phosphate unless and until you have an issue that would suggest it is a problem. :)

[Ehydo]

Ok, I will take the latter suggestion.