Confused About Phosphate

[soggyhome]

When I test my tap water my Phosphate reading is 3ppm after reading the pinned thread about Ei saying tank levels should be 1-2ppm I'm a bit baffled as what to do.

Am I right in thinking that with the right plant growth they would absorb the phosphates quickly, and therefore require additional dosing to keep the tank readings at 1-2 ppm (my tank readings are 3ppm)

I only increased my lighting yesterday (2.4 wpg) my Co2 levels are fairly stable at 28

Sorry to be a pain with probably a silly question

Thanks

 

[Themuleous]

Haha don’t worry about it, I cant remember who's it was, but someone’s Sig on here said 'the only stupid question, is the one that isn't asked.' I would agree

If you're going down the EI route, which if my memory serves me correctly you are, then your plants will indeed use lots of PO4, and you may find that you do have to add more PO4 during the week to keep the levels up.

I guess the easiest way to find out is to try and see, if you test regularly you'll soon get a feel for if and how much you need to add. You'll probably find that you don’t need to dose after the water change, but perhaps on days 3 and 5, as it will have been depleted by then.

Also, I won't worry that your tank readings are 3ppm, as it is probably better to have more than you need rather than less, and trying to get the 'ideal' 1-2ppm is going to be a hassle, especially after water changes. You will probably find that you need to dose extra NO3, so you have a level of around 20ppm, as this will be the limiting nutrient if your PO4 is high.

Again it's mostly a case of try and see how you get on, regular testing will soon identify what you need to be doing, and the plant health will also be a sign of nutrient deficiencies, if you have any.

I think the above is right; someone with more experience will correct me if it’s not. I’m not 100% up to speed with all this myself yet!

Hope this helps

Sam

 

[soggyhome]

Thanks Sam for the quick reply it helps alot

Some of my plants have started to yellow slightley and others have started to disentegrate with holes forming on the leaves, others however are growing great. This is one of the reasons I decided to add more lights. . . and so the adventure continues. . .lol

 

[Themuleous]

If you've got holes that could be due to a lack of Iron, do you dose this regularly? This might help you understnad what doing on.

 

[soggyhome]

Thanks again for the link. I dose with LeafZone twice a week, but I have just read that having a carbon filter pad in, is a bad thing as it removes nutrients

neadless to say it is now in the bin

I've also taken the Nitrate sponge out as well and replaced with normal ones. Is this right ?

 

[Themuleous]

Sounds like a good idea to me if you've got high light and phosphate then the nitrate sponge and carbon is a bad idea as the plants will need the NO3 and iron (not to mention several other trace elements that the carbon is also probably taking out of the water). Do you have BBA? Thats often a sign of to little NO3.

Let me know if your plants respone, Im sure they will

Sam

 

[Bloo]

My tapwater PO4 is around 5ppm but never really drops below 2ppm in the tank.

 

[craynerd]

hehe, i had the same problem! I`m starting EI and still confused by this...my tap water is 5ppm...and thats the max my phosphate kit reads! My plants are growing like mad yet even after 4 days (just tested tonight for the first time without a water change over that distance!) the phosphate is nearly 5!!! I`m guessing my tap water must be well over!

Chris

 

[soggyhome]

What's BBA Sam?

 

[Themuleous]

Sorry Im porbably just confusing the issue by mentioning BBA. Its black beard algae or brush algae. Its black, very fine threads, forms small clumps on tank decor and plants and gets to about 1-2cm tall.

Sam

 

[soggyhome]

Yep I think I have that

Would anyone have any links so I could see it

Gray

 

[Bloo]

Do you have BBA? Thats often a sign of to little NO3.

Sorry Im porbably just confusing the issue by mentioning BBA. Its black beard algae or brush algae. Its black, very fine threads, forms small clumps on tank decor and plants and gets to about 1-2cm tall.

Sam

I have a bright green strain of BBA (quite pretty but a pest - but mine does not seem to touch plants) - and I have plenty of NO3. Tap anything up to 40ppm and tank usually around 10 ppm after a week (without any additions).

 

[soggyhome]

have a bright green strain of BBA (quite pretty but a pest - but mine does not seem to touch plants)

Well mine is dark brown/black and attatches itself to the plants, hopefully I can get rid of it with a little help from all you veterans. . . . . .please, please

 

[Themuleous]

As I said upping NO3 to around 20ppm seems to be the best way of getting ride of this. All my non-EI tanks are over 20ppm and I never get it. At least if its on the decor you can take it out a boil it (thats what I do, very effective it is too!) but its a bit more problematic when its on the plants too.

Will see if I can find a pic for you

Sam

EDIT - looks like this

 

[soggyhome]

No it isn't that, I seem to have two types. One is very black on the tips of leaves, the other is dark brown almost like a fine root, it is on my bogwood and inter-twined with the roots of my plant that is attached to the bogwood.

I'm searching around trying to find an ID at the moment, will try and get a pic of it.

Gray