Lowering phosphate

shinna · 10/05/2005, 02:03 AM

Hi my phosphate levels are pretty high & I think this is due to the amount of tap water i used when I originally set my tank up. Since realising this mistake all my water changes have been done using RO. Other than doing a huge water change - which I can't because I don't have enough RO - is there anything I can use to lower my phosphate levels? If its not possible I suppose I'll just have to buy a large amount of RO & get on with it. Thanks

szwab · 10/05/2005, 05:10 AM

what size water changes are you doing in this case larger ones would be more effective than smaller ones. ou can also try a phosphate reactor I know of two; phosnban (two little fishes, and kent. just want to go slow as they can deplete alkalinity. also want to siphon out detrious and make sure you are not overfeeding as that would also be a major source of phosphate. Another trick is to .. when feeding frozen foods thaw it in a cup and do not add back the liquids strain the solid food out and add only the food bits.
HTH

shinna · 10/05/2005, 06:20 AM

I've only been taking a large bucket out & replacing with RO every fortnight. I feed once a day sometimes once every 2 days. I put a small amount of water into a small plastic top, put fresh garlic in & let approx. 1/4 - 1/2 a cube of brine or emerald tree, let it soak for a good hour then pour it into the tank. The fish love it! I might try doing a larger water change

Break122704 · 10/05/2005, 06:47 AM

I know Someone who used phosban and it worked very well

MCary · 10/05/2005, 08:41 AM

Besides using a phosphate reactor you could also consider poly filter pads and dripping kalk.

shinna · 10/05/2005, 08:43 AM

how do i use poly filter bads & what's 'kalk'?

10" Red Devil · 10/06/2005, 10:57 AM

This is a Poly Filter pad, Ill let the website explain:
http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_....asp?ast=&key=

Kalk is short for the german word Kalkwasser, it is Calcium Hydroxide or lime powder. The germans used it for taking care of dead cows so as not to spread disease. Aquarist use it to maintain Calcium and Alk levels in their aquarium, it has to be dripped in slowly. Usually about 1 teaspoon per gallon of water is the way it is used. You can do a search on here to find out more about its pros and cons. One of the pros is that it perfipitates Phosphates.

10" Red Devil · 10/06/2005, 10:58 AM

Heres a nice site with info on Kalkwasser:
http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/b...alkwasser.html

asnatlas · 01/26/2006, 07:47 AM

10" Red Devil, thanks for the links...

shinna how are your phosphate levels and what did you do to get them under control...

bertoni · 01/26/2006, 07:59 AM

Growing macroalgae and harvesting them from the tank is another way to remove phosphate. If nothing in your tank is having a problem, you could probably let the phosphate drop on its own as you do water changes, if you're sure the source was the tapwater.

shinna · 01/26/2006, 08:04 AM

Bought a tub of RowPhos. Put about 1/3 into the pouch that it comes with & put that into the top of my filter with my carbon. I also advise to keep on top of your weekly 5-10% water changes. Within about 3 weeks my reading was almost 0.00! My tank is currently running really well....... touch wood! (English saying if you dont know what that means!!)

asnatlas · 01/27/2006, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shinna
touch wood! (English saying if you dont know what that means!!)

Knock on wood, I think is what you were looking for

Great to hear your tank is doing better...

shinna · 01/27/2006, 04:15 AM

Nope in England we say "Touch Wood!" It's a kind of superstitious saying kind of not to tempt fate! :O)

10/05/2005, 02:03 AM	#1
shinna Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Middlesbrough United Kingdom Posts: 80	Lowering phosphate Hi my phosphate levels are pretty high & I think this is due to the amount of tap water i used when I originally set my tank up. Since realising this mistake all my water changes have been done using RO. Other than doing a huge water change - which I can't because I don't have enough RO - is there anything I can use to lower my phosphate levels? If its not possible I suppose I'll just have to buy a large amount of RO & get on with it. Thanks

10/05/2005, 05:10 AM	#2
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	what size water changes are you doing in this case larger ones would be more effective than smaller ones. ou can also try a phosphate reactor I know of two; phosnban (two little fishes, and kent. just want to go slow as they can deplete alkalinity. also want to siphon out detrious and make sure you are not overfeeding as that would also be a major source of phosphate. Another trick is to .. when feeding frozen foods thaw it in a cup and do not add back the liquids strain the solid food out and add only the food bits. HTH __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

10/05/2005, 06:47 AM	#4
Break122704 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MIAMI, FL Posts: 230	I know Someone who used phosban and it worked very well __________________ LOST GRAVITY CREW Current Tank Info: 29 GL. AC110, Remora Skimmer, 2 maxj900.

01/26/2006, 07:47 AM	#9
asnatlas Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waukee, IA Posts: 4,198	Thanks for the link... 10" Red Devil, thanks for the links... shinna how are your phosphate levels and what did you do to get them under control... __________________ Shawn

01/26/2006, 07:59 AM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Growing macroalgae and harvesting them from the tank is another way to remove phosphate. If nothing in your tank is having a problem, you could probably let the phosphate drop on its own as you do water changes, if you're sure the source was the tapwater. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/05/2005, 06:20 AM	#3
shinna Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Middlesbrough United Kingdom Posts: 80	I've only been taking a large bucket out & replacing with RO every fortnight. I feed once a day sometimes once every 2 days. I put a small amount of water into a small plastic top, put fresh garlic in & let approx. 1/4 - 1/2 a cube of brine or emerald tree, let it soak for a good hour then pour it into the tank. The fish love it! I might try doing a larger water change

10/05/2005, 08:41 AM	#5
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	Besides using a phosphate reactor you could also consider poly filter pads and dripping kalk.

10/05/2005, 08:43 AM	#6
shinna Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Middlesbrough United Kingdom Posts: 80	how do i use poly filter bads & what's 'kalk'?

10/06/2005, 10:57 AM	#7
10" Red Devil Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,611	This is a Poly Filter pad, Ill let the website explain: http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_....asp?ast=&key= Kalk is short for the german word Kalkwasser, it is Calcium Hydroxide or lime powder. The germans used it for taking care of dead cows so as not to spread disease. Aquarist use it to maintain Calcium and Alk levels in their aquarium, it has to be dripped in slowly. Usually about 1 teaspoon per gallon of water is the way it is used. You can do a search on here to find out more about its pros and cons. One of the pros is that it perfipitates Phosphates.

10/06/2005, 10:58 AM	#8
10" Red Devil Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,611	Heres a nice site with info on Kalkwasser: http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/b...alkwasser.html

01/26/2006, 08:04 AM	#11
shinna Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Middlesbrough United Kingdom Posts: 80	Bought a tub of RowPhos. Put about 1/3 into the pouch that it comes with & put that into the top of my filter with my carbon. I also advise to keep on top of your weekly 5-10% water changes. Within about 3 weeks my reading was almost 0.00! My tank is currently running really well....... touch wood! (English saying if you dont know what that means!!)

01/27/2006, 04:15 AM	#13
shinna Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Middlesbrough United Kingdom Posts: 80	Nope in England we say "Touch Wood!" It's a kind of superstitious saying kind of not to tempt fate! :O)