Reef Chemistry: Phosphate Level Testing

Phosphate, which is PO4 (that is one atom of phosphorous and four atoms of oxygen), is an essential trace compound in reef aquariums that is used in protein synthesis. In an aquarium, phosphate levels can get high and that opens the door for potential problems. The three biggest problems one can face from high phosphate are:
1. Algae blooms. Lack of phosphate in the water is one of the bottlenecks of algae growth. Remember it’s less than 0.05 ppm. When phosphate levels rise algae can grow out of control.
2. Coral Appearance. High phosphate can cause browning of corals as it promotes the proliferation of zooxanthellae which typically is more brown in color.
3. Phosphate can directly inhibit calcification. This is a big problem if you are like me and trying to grow lots of stony corals.
If the phosphate is high, what can we do about it? There are actually a lot of different potential solutions to this problem.

Music:
Tracks: “Raindrops”
License Terms:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Video:
Camera information:
Canon C100
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro
Canon EF MP-E 65mm f/2.8 macro
Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8
Free Fly Movi Pro Stabilizer

Copyright Information:
This video was shot and edited by Tidal Gardens. Tidal Gardens owns all intellectual property rights to this content.

[daniellewis]

As someone who has recently built and is currently cycling his first saltwater tank, I find your videos extremely valuable and educational. Thank you so much for putting this stuff out!

[HugDeeznueces]

Great video!!! Please make more on chemistry. Learned a few things from this video. 🎉❤❤

[svithaca]

This is great! Just realized you're about 20 min away from my home!!!

[bobdale]

Anxiously awaiting the video on carbon dosing.

[DC]

Always top notch content from your channel and the fact you're based 15 minutes from my house is just a added bonus!

[mnelson]

8:50 - I love the polyps dancing to the music haha awesome

[TimHarris-photog]

This was excellent! You answered about 4 different questions we had in one video! Thanks again!

[PaulBlaney]

Perfect explanation ... and thanks for dumbing things down as always... it's vids like these that are helping the hobby grow in a positive way 😁 thanks again for teaching us oh wise one 😂🤣

[jjiron]

Enjoyed the chemistry lesson!!! if this aquarium thing doesn't work out and you don't want practice law, you would be an excellent chemistry teacher.

[madrox]

You're doing the phosphate packet wrong. Cut along the dotted line and push the sealed edges in towards each other to create a pyramid/cuboid shape which creates a channel on the flat sides. This is what Hanna told me to do and it made it so much easier.

[rossellis]

Just what I was after thanks. Nice long tanks. A fan.

[theamjadjamousable]

impatiently waiting for the carbon dosing video :D

[Glotzbiene]

Very helpfull as always! Thank you and greets from Germany.

[alexsimon]

Very informative gonna try out some stuff hinted in the video

[franklinmichael]

I bought NOPOX to carbon dose but what happened in my tank was high phosphates (0.25ppm) and undetectable nitrates (0ppm). I decided to buy some sosium nitrate and I used that ro raize my nitrates to 5ppm and then added the NOPOX. This slowly brought nitrate back down to 1-0ppm and phosphate fell to undetectable levels. I'm now adjusting the ammount of carbon I add to maintain nitrates at 3-1ppm and phosphates at a detectable level.
My system volume is 112gallons, I run a skimmer and live rock. I also feed heavily.

[duckslinger]

Another quality video Than, thank you.

[Desmo]

I've had great success keeping down nitrates and phosphates with NoPoX from Red Sea, in my 50 gallon cube I dose 1ml a day which is basically nothing in conjunction with my Matrix in a reactor this keeps everything in check just fine. I do have to mention I also dose Seed and Remediation once a week as well. I'm not trying to deal with GFO or Biopellets anymore and definitely don't care to hassle with algae scrubbers.

[Stevedola]

I thought it was high nitrates>.25ppm
that caused browning and that P04 helped with coloration at concentrations less than .25 ppm

[jdg]

I appreciated the insight into your experiences with PO4. I would like to hear more explanation following your comment concerning 'over dosing' GFO'. What was your experience and how did your identify the excess GFO as the issue?

[rhondadunn]

My phosphate is .50.. I have a refugium and I am growing algae in my macro algae… it’s out of control. I do regular water changes weekly to keep it down but it is always higher than I want it to be… but I have no hair algae in my display so I’m happy…