Question About Phosphates !

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

Well high all for the last few weeks i have been trying to nail why my tank will not clear and i have nailed it. Turns out my phosphates were rather high. Any how my question is whats the best thing out there to keep them low that does not need replacing ever 4 weeks and WORKS. I just got some Fluval Clearmax mainly because it was so cheap but it worked a treat cleared my tank and lowered the phosphates problem is i would have to purchase it every 4 weeks and dont want to be doing this.

Please dont tell me i am overfeeding as i dont.
Waterchanges are not a option to cure the problem as the phosphates are high out off the tap. Also do weekly to clean sand etc.
My filter i check every week
Try to keep on top off dieing or dead plants.

So adding somthing to my filter seem to be the only option

 

[walkers101]

your tank wont clear? what do you mean its cloudy?

if so put a little back of carbon or a polishing pad in the filter

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

your tank wont clear? what do you mean its cloudy?

It was cloudy but it is hard to explain what is was like.

It was clear as glass looking from the front it was only cloudy when looking from side to side only way to explain it

Also carbon did not touch it. Polishing pad did not touch it. It was a HIGH Phosphate problem. FACT

 

[Twinklecaz]

Oh mine's been like that before.

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

Oh mine's been like that before.

Well i lower my phosphate reading and to say it is now clear is a understatment i am over the moon with it.

Just need a good cheap way off keeping it down now though

 

[Twinklecaz]

I have to admit to not even knowing what phosphate is or what it does

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

I have to admit to not even knowing what phosphate is or what it does

Hell if i truthfull i aint got a clue my self. I just could not clear that haze i was talking about. A shop mentioned phosphates and i thought hell why not stuck some gravel looking stuff in my filter 48 hours later tank clear phosphates reading .05ppm So had to be the problem

 

[BethK]

it's pH

you putting any other chemicals in your tank? What is the pH reading from water straight from your tap? what plants and ornaments do you have in your tank?

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

it's pH

you putting any other chemicals in your tank? What is the pH reading from water straight from your tap? what plants and ornaments do you have in your tank?

I might be wrong but i think pH and Phosphate's are compleatly different things.

Also yes have plants in the tank dont know what they are if i truthfull though ornaments jus have slate and bog wood.

ph out of the tap. 8.6
ph in tank 7.8

Oh only add ferts and follow the dosage to the letter.

 

[BethK]

think you're right, phosphates is PO4,right?

do you over feed your fish? If I remember correctly from school (long time ago), Phosphate in water is organic,therefore it will feed. Live plants should help lower the level, i take it 0.05 is the highest level without causing concern?

It would mean protein skimmers would be no good and it should be broken down by bacteria. Is your tank cycled?

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

think you're right, phosphates is PO4,right?

do you over feed your fish? If I remember correctly from school (long time ago), Phosphate in water is organic,therefore it will feed. Live plants should help lower the level, i take it 0.05 is the highest level without causing concern?

It would mean protein skimmers would be no good and it should be broken down by bacteria. Is your tank cycled?

How i understand it phosphates is the same as nitrate i can not be lowered with out water changes. And as i have high phosphates in the tap doing a water change will make it worse. 0.05 is what i understand as being the highest you want as algae can take hold with it being 1ppm and 2 to 3 ppm is bad. it comes outta my tap at 2ppm. It is deffently not overfeeding. If i had to put money on what it was it would be the fact it comes outta my tap high and dieing plant leaves in the tank that i am now trying to keep on top off

 

[BethK]

would ph buffers help ease it?

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

would ph buffers help ease it?

Doubt it. As i dont think the ph is related in any way to the amount off phosphate

 

[Curiosity101]

Doubt it. As i dont think the ph is related in any way to the amount off phosphate

You're right, it isn't.

A guy I know lost his whole pleco breeding stock (around £1000 worth) due to a phosphate spike in our local water source. I would presume the only long term solution is to get something like the nitrate reactor chamber, but obviously the phosphate version and stick it on your tap. Nip over to the marine section and they'll be able to tell you exactly what they use, if I remember correctly it's the stones/chips you use, but they can be 'refreshed' and then re-used.

Sorry I'm not more help, I'm not a marine person and it's all a bit hazy. But they're definitely the ones to ask!

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

Doubt it. As i dont think the ph is related in any way to the amount off phosphate

You're right, it isn't.

A guy I know lost his whole pleco breeding stock (around £1000 worth) due to a phosphate spike in our local water source. I would presume the only long term solution is to get something like the nitrate reactor chamber, but obviously the phosphate version and stick it on your tap. Nip over to the marine section and they'll be able to tell you exactly what they use, if I remember correctly it's the stones/chips you use, but they can be 'refreshed' and then re-used.

Sorry I'm not more help, I'm not a marine person and it's all a bit hazy. But they're definitely the ones to ask!

Cheers will take a lookk over there now