How can this be?

[JTL]

I have been fighting phosphates for a while. My tank is in the 700's. So I do a major water change. Still very high. I am thinking what am I doing wrong? I take a water sample of my RO, it is 7. I add salt it goes to 700+++, I try a different salt, same reading. I am using in Instant Ocean and also tried the reef crystals variety. The reef crystals sample was from a new, unopened bag.

 

[dots]

Which test kit? 700's?

Assuming it is high:

What is your water source?

Feeding routine

WC schedule

 

[JTL]

I should have said my TDS is 700 not the phosphates, major error on my part. My phosphates are also high but more like 25. I am using the Salifert kit. What would make the TDS sky rocket with salt?

 

[BrianOKC]

Yes your TDS will go very high when u add salt...... It dissolves in the water column and becomes part of the Total Dissolved Solids and is nothing to worry about. The only time TDS will be important is before u add anything to it.

 

[bertoni]

The TDS of a tank is something like 35,000, if it's at standard saltwater concentration. TDS at 7 might be fine, although I decided to buy a RO/DI unit that would produce water near zero TDS.

What is the phosphate level in the tank?

 

[JTL]

Thanks

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome! Good luck!