Phosphate

[JackoUK]

I test my water weekly for PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and Phosphate. My PH seems stable, my Ammonia has dissapeared, my Nitrite is dispersing and my Nitrate is increasing. Everything seems fine, my tank seems to be maturing. The only thing is that my Phosphate remains at the highest level on the scale I have with the test. I think it's 50, maybe PPM. My algae isn't half as bad as it was and I do have one of them 'teabag' things in that is supposed to remove Phosphate but yet my readings stay high. My tank is moderatly planted, I purchased some more yesterday, so they should be consuming the Phosphate.

I was wondering if there was anything else I could do to reduce it and if it is harmful to fish at this high amount?

 

[George Farmer]

Phosphate (PO4) kits won't test as high as 50ppm, the upper range will more likely be 5-10ppm. I know the Nutrafin kits top out at 5ppm.

Lots of UK tapwater is loaded with PO4, mine included. This can be actually a good thing for a heavily planted tank with good growth. It means we don't need to add any PO4 to feed the plants.

PO4 toxicity in fish is not known to my knowledge (someone please correct me on that if they know different) although at very high levels it will act as a buffer for pH - this is how many commercial pH buffers work.

High PO4 due to lack of maintenance, overstocking etc. (which isn't relevant for your case it seems) is likely to be a health issue, not for the PO4 in itself, but for the reasons behind it.

If you really want to lower PO4 then RowaPhos is an excellent adsorbing media. It comes as granules in a "sock" or as a sponge. In an semi-planted or unplanted tank I would be tempted to use PO4 removal to help minimise algae issues.

You say "moderately" planted. Unless you plants are growing rapidly, normally associated with med-high lighting, CO2 etc. then nutrient uptake rates may not impact significantly on your PO4 etc.

 

[JackoUK]

Phosphate (PO4) kits won't test as high as 50ppm, the upper range will more likely be 5-10ppm. I know the Nutrafin kits top out at 5ppm.

Lots of UK tapwater is loaded with PO4, mine included. This can be actually a good thing for a heavily planted tank with good growth. It means we don't need to add any PO4 to feed the plants.

PO4 toxicity in fish is not known to my knowledge (someone please correct me on that if they know different) although at very high levels it will act as a buffer for pH - this is how many commercial pH buffers work.

High PO4 due to lack of maintenance, overstocking etc. (which isn't relevant for your case it seems) is likely to be a health issue, not for the PO4 in itself, but for the reasons behind it.

If you really want to lower PO4 then RowaPhos is an excellent adsorbing media. It comes as granules in a "sock" or as a sponge. In an semi-planted or unplanted tank I would be tempted to use PO4 removal to help minimise algae issues.

You say "moderately" planted. Unless you plants are growing rapidly, normally associated with med-high lighting, CO2 etc. then nutrient uptake rates may not impact significantly on your PO4 etc.

Thanks for the help. My test kit is a Nutrafin kit so it mujst be 5ppm+. Like I said I do have some sort of 'sock' or 'teabag' thing in the tank, can't remember the details off the top of my head. Also my algae is still under control, thanks mainly to my Catfish probably, so as long as theres no detriment to my fish i'll leave it and see how it goes.

Thanks again.

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

Another BIG source of phosphates is from over feeding flake foods. If you read the ingredients on yours (if you use flake food), look for Riboflavin-5-phosphates or any others that start out with the prefix "phos" along with anything that is spelled similar.

I dont live in the UK, but my tap water comes from one of the great lakes in the US. I have some pretty high phosphates in my tap water alone and so I do my best not to add more. Keeping an eye on the food ingredients has helped a ton with both my FW and SW tanks.

 

[JackoUK]

Another BIG source of phosphates is from over feeding flake foods. If you read the ingredients on yours (if you use flake food), look for Riboflavin-5-phosphates or any others that start out with the prefix "phos" along with anything that is spelled similar.

I dont live in the UK, but my tap water comes from one of the great lakes in the US. I have some pretty high phosphates in my tap water alone and so I do my best not to add more. Keeping an eye on the food ingredients has helped a ton with both my FW and SW tanks.

Thanks. I do feed quite a bit of flake food so i'll check the label on the tin and maybe use a little more frozen or freeze dried food as an alternative.