Phosphate

[jeff_hopkinson]

Hi, i have two 40gal tanks one is fine the other i have a prob with phos, too high, i am running a fluval 2plus filter internal with two rowaphos sponges in i also have an external filter. at first i run the inter filter with one proper sponge and one rowaphos but this did not bring the reading down, so now i am trying the other way. has anyone got any other ideas.

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

Are you using tap water? That could be where it is coming from.

 

[@ombomb]

Are you adjusting the pH of the tank in question?

Is the tank overstocked?

What is the phosphate level of the tank / other tanks / tap water?

 

[jeff_hopkinson]

Hi, i have used a dose of seachem alkaline buffer to raise the ph from 6.0 to 6.8 the phos level is 5.0 but in the other tank it is 1.0 as for being over stocked i have 5 harlequins 5 smaller bronze harlequins 2 cardinals 1 neon 2 glowlights 3 dwarf rainbows 4 mountain minnows 2 white mollies 2 bristlenose plecs not fully grown yet

 

[@ombomb]

The buffer you are using is phosphate based, so every time you add it, you are basically adding a big dose of phosphates to the tank. With the possible exception of the Mollies, I think all the fish you have listed would be quite happy with a pH of 6.0 anyway.