High phosphates in Tropic Marin Pro Reef

[gnatp2]

I have been using Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt and just tested a newly mixed batch of saltwater. I came up with .14 on my hanna meter. I checked my freshwater after coming out of my filter and got .04.

Anyone else notice this?
Nate

 

[scumonkey]

I only use that salt and, it has been known to have (when freshly mixed) a high Phosphate level.
Not to worry, with good tank husbandy it won't throw your levels off....it's normal for that mix.
My phosphate levels stay at .02 -.03 no problem (and I use a Hanna meter to test)

 

[chc]

I saw this same thing on another site. They had tested TM Pro and got high readings also. I'm not sure if its ok to link to other sites but here it is.
http://www.***********.com/reef-discussion/511-phosphate-talk.html
guess not

 

[chc]

These were the results

Tropic Marin Pro:
Salinity 1.026
Calcium: 450ppm
Magnesium: 1220
Alk: 7.7dkh
Phosphate: .10 and .12 (2 tests)
Source RODI water meansured: .02


Tropic Marin Regular:
Salinity 1.025
Calcium: 400ppm
Alk: 7.4dkh
Magnesium: 1110
Phosphate: .14 and .16 (2 tests)
Source RODI water meansured: .02

 

[gnatp2]

What do you mean exactly by "with good tank husbandy it won't throw your levels off"

All I can figure is that the phosphates bind to the live rock and sand in the tank and minute amounts are used by other organisms.

Since I was an idiot when I first started with my tank and didn't use ro/di water, I'm sure that my rock is totally saturated with po4 and anything I add just sits in the water column.

Nate

 

[scumonkey]

What do you mean exactly by "with good tank husbandy it won't throw your levels off"

I mean if you run Rowa or Phosban in your system, and keep changing it out when needed,
along with frequent water changes....
I also read a long scientific paper somewhere,(but can't remember where at the moment),
That said something about the high phosphate level readings
in newly mixed TMPR salt were misleading and it explained why....
I'm not a chemist but I've never had a problem with the salt (and won't
use anything else).

 

[gnatp2]

Yes, I run a phosban-like product which does help quite a bit.
I'd be very curious to read that paper about the phosphate readings being misleading.

Thanks,
Nate

 

[tosiek]

last i heard, all salt mixes added some level of Po4. There are people using this brand of salt and have almost 0 Po4 in their tanks so all you need is some good husbandry, make sure your doing water changes and have a good method for P04 removal. My Po4 is usually at .03/.05 and i use TMP and have no problems getting color out of my acro's/coral.

 

[tosiek]

oh, and Reefcentral has some topics on P04, salt mixes and removal that are super helpful reads.

 

[NYreefNoob]

tm

i use to use tm but switched to red sea pro and corals are much happier,

 

[bigbris1]

What I want to know is if Tropic Marin claims their mix is phosphate free, like some other brands do.

 

[scumonkey]

yes they do....but I'll still keep using it, (if it ain't broke don't fix it)!

 

[bigbris1]

I just switched back to IO from Oceanic mainly due to the Drs sale & a claim for a member that the using Oceanic will preclude an algae outbreak. I will test the IO when the test kit comes.

 

[fluidimagery]

CHC got those results off a post I made a few weeks ago.

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum...results-phosphate-tests-need-explanation.html

I was getting the same readings as you.

Since, I've switched over to Red Sea Coral Pro and I no longer get that film algea on the tank after water changes.

Red Sea's Values

Salinity 1.026
calcium: 480ppm
Alk: 6.4dkh
Magnesium: 1320
Phosphate: .04
Source RODI water meansured: .02

I add about 30ml of ALK to 25g which brings ALK to 8.4 and Calc to 440. So far the corals are responding great to it.

 

[kimoyo]

This is one of the reasons I wanted to start my tank up with NSW. I don't believe any salt's claim of phosphate-free. I use Oceanpure salt but I've never even tested it.

 

[gnatp2]

yes they do....but I'll still keep using it, (if it ain't broke don't fix it)!

Your tank looks awesome, no doubt.... but in this hobby there is ALWAYS something that needs some improvement. I think we can all agree that we want to add as little phosphate into our tanks as possible.

Fluidimagery, thanks for that link. Looks like we're having the exact same issue. I've always battled a phosphate issue. Never been terrible, but always between .04 and .08 and really would like to try and get it lower and see if I can get even better colors out of my sps.

Nate

 

[jhale]

Nate I believe .04 is a respectable level.
Jason's display tank at greenwich aquaria is at .04 and his colors could not be much better. There's more than just the PO4 that comes into play when you want great color. You might want to think about experimenting with some 400W bulbs.

 

[Wes]

i switched to Red Sea Coral pro as well...

 

[gnatp2]

Nate I believe .04 is a respectable level.
Jason's display tank at greenwich aquaria is at .04 and his colors could not be much better. There's more than just the PO4 that comes into play when you want great color. You might want to think about experimenting with some 400W bulbs.

Yeah, I'm happy when I get the .04 readings, just that I also get a lot of .08 readings. Either way, I def want to use a salt that adds as little phosphates as possible while still adding important trace elements and having a good mg/ca/alk balance.

Nate

 

[fluidimagery]

I haven't heard any bad things about Red Sea Coral Pro, it's meant to be used with RODI to add the trace elements from a clean slate. It's a Cheaper Salt that doesn't need as many additatives as some of the others. IMO, it's a win!