Phosphate Question

[chickenlady]

Hi - I've just had my aquariium water tested - and all is ok but the lfs asked if I had an algae problem and tried to sell me some stuff to put in the water - and it was £20!
I don't have much algae and what there is is eaten by my pleco - and the platys have a go at it as well.
Does anyone else add this anti-algae phosphate busting stuff? (sorry can't actually remember the proper name of the product - the price of it made my brain go blank )

Should I get some or not? I've had the tank for 10 years or so now and hardly ever lose a fish. I carry out regular water changes, etc.

 

[Bloo]

Rowaphos is probably one of the best known phosphate removers.

Seachem is another good brand.

There are loads more out there, but as I don't use these products, I don't know off-had of the others

Edit: Oh, Hagen's "Green X Phosphate remover" is another well known product.

None of these cost anywhere even close to £20 !

 

[chickenlady]

Very many thanks for the info.

 

[karlp]

Do you know how high the phosphate was ?

If you've got a build up of phosphate, then it can normally be sorted out with more regular water changes and feeding the fish a little less (providing it's not in your tap water).

 

[Inchworm]

Hi chickenlady

Do you recall that old saying, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it?" I think it applies in this case. If you have a problem with excess phosphates in your water, you will know it just by looking. Your tank water will look murky.

If it's not, don't add anything. If it is, Hagen's Phos-X is a good product and not too inexpensive. I've used it at times when I've fed too many spirulina discs and it does help a lot.

 

[Bloo]

If you have a problem with excess phosphates in your water, you will know it just by looking. Your tank water will look murky.

Hi Inchworm
I'm not exactly sure how true that is as a consistant indication of high PO4? What do you quantify as excess ? Here in London we sit with phosphates anything from two ppm with 5 ++ off chart (or off-chart for most test kits) - depending on the water supplier. My water is not murky at all - in fact it's crystal clear. However I do have excess algae in my non-planted / CO2 tanks. And as far as I know those readings are very high for tapwater indeed.