High Phosphate Question

mluntz · 04/08/2014, 08:42 AM

I just finished a 3 day blackout on my tank.

Water parameters after the blackout and 10% water change:
Ammonia-0
Nitrate-0
PH-8.2
Phosphate-.22 (Weird, changed GFO yesterday) Hanna Checker
Alk-8.5
Calcium-394
Mag-1450

Tank looks great!

Any suggestions as to the high phosphate reading? Also, my skimmer is hardly skimming anything at all.

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/08/2014, 08:59 AM

Unless algae is out of control, just keep doing regular water changes.
Try not to get hung up on numbers. You can drive yourself crazy chasing numbers. Just watch your tank. It will tell you when something is wrong.
Regular water changes prevent 99% of problems.

mluntz · 04/08/2014, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Salty 05

Unless algae is out of control, just keep doing regular water changes.
Try not to get hung up on numbers. You can drive yourself crazy chasing numbers. Just watch your tank. It will tell you when something is wrong.
Regular water changes prevent 99% of problems.

I am religious about doing regular water changes. Right now the tank looks crystal clear, maybe too clear because my skimmer is literally producing little to no skimmate.

04/08/2014, 08:59 AM	#2
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Unless algae is out of control, just keep doing regular water changes. Try not to get hung up on numbers. You can drive yourself crazy chasing numbers. Just watch your tank. It will tell you when something is wrong. Regular water changes prevent 99% of problems. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.