Phosphate tests & removers

[Bloo]

OK well I'm going to get a Phosphate test first, but doing some research in the mean time.
I went to my one local lfs (they are completely useless) to check out which phosphate tests the have. I can't remember which they were, but the one was cheap and the other expensive - they were both covered in dust so I didn't even bother.
Could someone recommend a good and accurate test ?

So now, are the phosphate removers OK to use (if that's part of the problem)?
I'm FED UP with the outbreak of algae in my tank - after months of not having had any - I now have some dreadful hair algae. I'm *not* buying fish to take care of the problem however I am buying a new Dennerle "Special Plant" light tube which should hopefully help to reduce the problem.

Just for the record, my ammonia & nitrite are both 0, nitrates are somewhere around 10. PH is around 7.4 and I have a Hagen CO2 system.

My poor Vallis (that was once thriving and growing like weeds) is now reduced to a short stubble (as I keep trimming it back).

No other algae (yet!) - just this for the past few weeks.

Edit: shucks wrong section - I'm asking to move it across to planted section.

 

[The-Wolf]

hi bloo
try Sera products phosphate test kit and phosvec
here are a few shops that stock it
croydon http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Shop/ID=286
wembly http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Shop/ID=571
eltham http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Shop/ID=295
manor park http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Shop/ID=297
wandsworth http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Shop/ID=614
N1 http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Shop/ID=553
victoria http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Shop/ID=271
hope there's one not too far from you

 

[Bloo]

Fab thanks - I will try the one in Victoria - someone else recommended it too.

The one in Wandsworth is the absolute PITS ! And they should be closed down in my opinion. makes me mad just thinking about it. Their tanks are always covered in algae and their fish are always riddled with disease. They even keep all sorts of puffers in tanks with other fish

But are phosphate removers OK to use ? As I hate adding chemicals to my tanks.

 

[The-Wolf]

as I sell Sera products daily
I have used most of them, admitedly not phosvec
and I fully recomend them
Sera was founded in 1970, so they have 30+ years experiance with chemicals designed for the aquarium.
here is a little about Sera
http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/type=FaN/pageId=115

 

[Sime]

i used phosvec and found it useless personally. i do get great results using the tea bag type thing you drop in the tank - needs replacing every month or so.

 

[Bloo]

i do get great results using the tea bag type thing you drop in the tank - needs replacing every month or so.

Teabag thing ?

 

[Waterloo Kid]

I'll take a stab at your problem. You said that your vallis used to grow like a weed but now it's struggling due to being prunned agressively. I'm guessing that your tank has gone out of balance. The vallis used to hoover up all the excess nutrients in the water but now they are left for the algae to get hold of. Try to get back to having a strong vallis growth or, if you don't really like the vallis too much, get a replacement fast growing plant to sort out the nutrient levels.
IF that works then you wont need any absorbing resins.

WK

 

[The-Wolf]

Tea bag thing = Hagen green-X
personally the tea bag ones are rubbish and expensive compaired to the larger packs hagen do.
look for this pack

 

[George Farmer]

RowaPhos is widely regarded as the best phosphate remover.

I used it with great success in my 34G. The 250ml pack cost about £12 and lasted 6 months - it is a black powder like substance and comes complete with a filter bag which is placed in the filter. My tap water was PO4 5ppm but tank water PO4 was undetectable. I recommend the Nutrafin PO4 kit.

However, I doubt your algae is caused by excess phosphates alone. What is your lighting, CO2 level and fert regime?

 

[jimbooo]

as above, i use rowaphos in both tanks and the test kit by the same manufacturer. DD i think something like that. cost about £30 for a kit, 100 tests so not cheap but very accurate.

 

[zig]

Yeah bloozoo definatly do tests first, im sure the problem can be sorted out once and for all or at the very least you will know the cause of it.

 

[iggy01]

As gf225 and Jimbooo said, Rowaphos is excellent at removing phosphate. I used it until quite recently when I decided to bin it. I have 4-5 mg/l phosphate in my tap water ( if my test kit is to be believed ) and have yet to see any effect from removing the Rowaphos.

I think Waterloo Kid and gf225 have hit the nail on the head. It could be the algae is being caused by one or more deficiences, rather than just a phosphate issue. It's possibly CO2/fert related.

Good luck.