how do i lower my phosphates? i have somewhere between .03 and .10 ppm according to the salifert test kit (from what i can tell at least). i am have a small alage problem on some rocks but not all tank. i am also having a small cano problem on some of my frag plugs.
ill test my source water(not ro). what will eat the alge best? i need some more cuc any way.
thanks brett.
Well or city?
city
Phosguard will remove phosphate. Most use it in a chamber available for $40 but I believe Shawn (LogansDaddy) has the plans for a pvc one
i know thats what i was thinking but i have no sump. unless i could secure it to somehow that would be out. i do have a hob so i could always put it in a sock i guess. i have a very large pump i got from the meeting that could probably push water high enough
Hey Buzz! Phosguard is the older aluminum oxide form of phos zorber. it works, but at a lower capacity and to a higher final concentration of Phos. the better absorbers are the GFO, granulated Feric Oxide Hydroxide media. a special form of rust. they are very strong and high performance. more expensive though. and also lots of fine red particles that will go through most filter bags. but the fine 100 micron bags work. or another option is a chunk of POLY PAD in the HOB filter. works great too. So do refugiums. I have some extra GFO if you would like to try some. are you attending mondays meeting of DSAS? I’ll bring some for you to try. and perhaps a square of poly filter too. i stocked up a while back, but my fuges have been doing a good job on the phosphate too. so i havent had to use much.
yah ill be there. i saw the polly pads at dpa and thought thay would be good to use. ill probably start using those insted of the regular filter pads. o yah thanks in advance.
here is a curious question… anyone evr have issues with fish and phosphates? no algae issues whatsoever. water tested 5ppm nitrates. 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 78 degrees, 1.0255, but between 5 and 10 on the phosphate chart. guy was having issues with some of his fish that he has had for awhile. no new additions, nothing. i am stumped. emporer angel gets blotchy discoloration and dies. some sort of tang he had dies mysteriously. and a few other hardier fish go with no signs of stress. only thing i concluded was that there must be something foreign in the water that i couldn’t test for. i.e. perfume, air freshener, cleaner, etc. any thoughts?
ok, I’ll bring some for you to try.
Fishguy: High phosphates usually don’t stress the animals out directly, but just lead to more unsightly algae growth.(from what I understand)
bz350 not having a sump is far from a negative in this situation. The best way to run this media is not having a bag laying around in the sump, but a HOB reactor which you could do with your tank.
Overall though you are just putting a bandiad on the problem. What is the source? You said you tested your water… and? Come out as 0? There may be phosphates in your water, but too low of an amount to detect. If you did as much top off as I did this winter, but all of it with tap water then a lot of phosphates could be coming into your tank from your tap.
The other popular source is cheap foodor too much food. What sort of food are you feeding your fish?
i olny feed omega one and ocsionally pellets or frozen. ill test for phosphates in source water now. i picked up some poly pad w/ phosphate remover today. will see how it works
does anyone know of a good home water filter. were looking for something for regular drinking water that i can also use.
fishguy - im sure you dont mean 5-10ppm do you? testkits dont even approach that range and i would imagine that phophate levels that high would be toxic to almost everything in your tank including fish.
brett - a HOB PO4 reactor is very simply and easy. I believe the 2 little fishies run about $40ish(i think) which are set up for HOB or you could do a DIY for probably $10-$15 since it doesnt need to be very large.
would u be able to make me a diy reactor. i have a broken and fractured wrist so if it involves 2 hands im probably out. it’s pretty hard to write this reply lOl
Sure, but your going to have to go to the back of the line. Right now andy, chad, rich, addicted, ento, tom, and probably 5 more people i cant remember are waiting on me for various things. Not to mention all of my own projects going on. Im sure your arm will be healed by the time i have the time. Heck, i bet you will be able to grow a beard by the time im available >LOL<
HAY! i take those 6 chin hairs very seriously. lOl
[quote=“logans_daddy, post:12, topic:1309”]
fishguy - im sure you dont mean 5-10ppm do you? testkits dont even approach that range and i would imagine that phophate levels that high would be toxic to almost everything in your tank including fish.[/quote]
gonna have to look back at the card, but it’s the between the last color and the 2nd to last color on the card.
i was pretty sure it was 5ppm and 10 ppm… that’s why i asked, i don’t think i have ever seen a phosphate level that high.m his tap water tested 0. so where are they all coming from??? food?? can’t be that much if he keeps up on water changes and such (nitrates were 5ppm)
:SURRENDER
Any types of odd rock in the tank that is leaching phosphates in? Coming from carbon?
I know the Salifert kit goes up to 3 ppm so 5 - 10 might not be too far out. I haven’t found anything that says high phosphate levels are dangerous to fish. FYI, The high limit for drinking water is 8ppm in Delaware with a target of 1 ppm.
I can’t image his phosphate levels are that high and he has no algae problems. What type of lighting is he using and how long of a photo period?
An article I came across. http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/phosphates.shtml
source looks like 0 ill test display now
deffnitly not o. looks like .03 and .10 ill be doing a water change today. well see what it looks like after the water change