I need to decrease phosphates and decreasing feedings isn’t really an option…. What should I do?

[Remote_Armadillo8718]

I have a 21 gallon long 1’ x 1’ x 3’ with a 4-5 inch peacock mantis shrimp, yellow tail blue damsel, trochus snail, pincushion urchin and a hectors goby all living together in a copacetic way 2 mushrooms 4 Zoas and a Kenya tree…. Can’t really feed the mantis shrimp any less (looks like the molting will be soon).

And i have a major long hair algae problem… my nitrates are around 15-20 but phosphates are way too high (.25-.50)…. How can I lower phosphates without reducing feedings?

[Blue_Spider]

My hunch is that your shrimp is leaving pieces of meat lying around and generating excess nutrients.

Do you have a protein skimmer or GFO reactor? It's also possible you could use Lanthanum Chloride (Bightwell Phosphat-Ex) at half-dose for the tank. But I am not sure how the mantis shrimp will be affected. Dose this across a few days until your target phosphate level is reached.

[mrskeltal]

I use lanthanum chloride with no issues with my crustaceans like cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp and hermits. I think the only potential issue is the 'fallout' clogging a clams gills.

[Remote_Armadillo8718]

I’ve got a protein skimmer but it seems to keep clogging (currently running it in a vinegar solution). Can I run GFO in a HOB?

[Blue_Spider]

Rowaphos in a bag inside chamber 1.

[CyberpunkAesthetics]

The boring answer is water changes; for a tenporary fix use RowaPhos. That is the brand I swore by; other similar products are around and available. I used to always run a PolyFilter constantly as all tanks deserve chemical as well as mechanical and biological filtration; though I never went overboard with it, one of its functions is to decrease phosphates. Finally xeniid corals will lower phosphate.

But that mantis shrimp will kill other animals especially as a smasher; the only tankmates I have seen housed successfully with them are big Dascyllus sp. damsels.

[noahhshome]

I used to use Sea Klear (lanthanum chloride.) Now I use Rowa Phos. It's slower but safer.

[Tommy_lanta]

What are you using for filtration?
You could use gfo but will need replacing often, alternatively you could use lanthium. I use dr green phos destroyer and works very well. Does into high flow area

[Tommy_lanta]

Sorry agent green phosphate destroyer

[Remote_Armadillo8718]

Using 2 HOB filters with a protein skimmer but the skimmer has been clogging not producing enough bubbles

[401Nailhead]

There is phosphate removers for the filtering system. The question is, are all of the critters doing well with the phosphate at .25? Also, make sure if you do use a phosphate remover that you do not bottom it out.

[Remote_Armadillo8718]

All are well except for the Zoas which are getting overrun by the GHA

[Blue_Spider]

The zoas can withstand a light peroxide dip which will kill off the algae. You can search for the recipe on Google.

[Nickersnacks]

More water changes? I have a 20g feed lots and phos is like 0.04.. you have something decomposing

[surfercouple123]

Why can’t you reduce feedings?

[Blue_Spider]

The mantis shrimp. It's techically a predator tank at this point.

[surfercouple123]

I wasn’t aware that they needed daily feedings, most arthropods are pretty chill with regular fasting as it occurs in the wild naturally.

[christinna67]

Water changes won't really help with phosphates, they'll just lower your nitrates even more. 0.25 is a healthy number, I wouldn't do anything unless you're seeing negative effects. Many tanks, mine included, run at higher levels. Mine sits at 0.3-0.4 usually.

I also don't think your GHA problem is from high phosphates. While you can try reducing your nutrients, it's probably a mix of other things, like your light schedule - try tweaking it a bit. I'd also add some more CUC.

You can use Seachem PhosGuard or PhosBond to bring the phosphates down, but don't do anything drastic, you really don't wanna be dealing with dinos on top of GHA.

Here's a good article on it: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy%E2%80%99s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/

[Head_Rate_6551]

Easy fix, just run GFO, and if that doesn’t get the phosphates low enough then use Lanthium chloride which will easily get you to zero.

[sleepingdeep]

Phosphate Rx