Phosphate levels
- Thread starter martlla26
- Start date
Amphiprion
Premium Member
those levels are tolerable, but less is always better. I think Phosban would be best in a reactor of some sort, seeing as how it needs lower flow through rate than, say, carbon (I can't completely recall, but @80 gph maximum, I think).
Ok thanks. For now I put it in between two pieces of sponge in my canister to slow up the flow.
I'm thinking maybe my test kit is off or something. I use RO water from Walmart. I measured it for phosphate after I mixed it with my Red Sea salt this morning and it said 1.0. Then I measured just the water and it said 1.0. Then I measured my tap water and it also read 1.0. What is going on?!? Have I been spending my money on filtered water all this time when its no better than tap?
I'm just trying to make my BTA happy because it doesn't exactly look like its in good health. I want to make my phosphates and nitrates to be zero.
I'm thinking maybe my test kit is off or something. I use RO water from Walmart. I measured it for phosphate after I mixed it with my Red Sea salt this morning and it said 1.0. Then I measured just the water and it said 1.0. Then I measured my tap water and it also read 1.0. What is going on?!? Have I been spending my money on filtered water all this time when its no better than tap?
I'm just trying to make my BTA happy because it doesn't exactly look like its in good health. I want to make my phosphates and nitrates to be zero.
lol, maybe your right and walmart is selling you tap water. My BTA is having troubles to, and i am not sure if it is because of my phosphate levels. Although, i dont have a test kit to tell me for sure. I think the best solution might be to start a refugium and have macro algea suck those nutrients out of the water.
mikeguerrero
New member
martlla26
I use the glacier penguin machines for my RO/DI ultra violet carbon ran H20....
It's 30 cents a gallon.... out here in SF Bay Area....
Mike G
I use the glacier penguin machines for my RO/DI ultra violet carbon ran H20....
It's 30 cents a gallon.... out here in SF Bay Area....
Mike G
Do you have a local pet shop that can test your tank water for you? Having several identical readings from different water sources is troubling. Phosphate binding compounds work fairly well and I place one in the sump to keep phosphate at undetectable levels.
Also, since phosphate is a limiting resource in aquatic and marine environments, its presence is correlated with lots of algal and cyanobacteria growth. If your tank is pristine and relatively free of cyanobacteria blooms, then I suspect the quality of the phosphate test.
By the way, Phosphate is everywhere--trace amounts are found on glassware, fingertips....etc. Contaminated testing equipment can also lead to false positives.
Jim Z.
Also, since phosphate is a limiting resource in aquatic and marine environments, its presence is correlated with lots of algal and cyanobacteria growth. If your tank is pristine and relatively free of cyanobacteria blooms, then I suspect the quality of the phosphate test.
By the way, Phosphate is everywhere--trace amounts are found on glassware, fingertips....etc. Contaminated testing equipment can also lead to false positives.
Jim Z.
My test kit is from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, most of my other tests are from them too. I'm going to see if my LFS can test it for me thanks. My aquarium is pristine, other than some recent growth of hair algae on older pieces of LR. Never had a cyano outbreak, knock on wood! Phosphate levels have never been something I've measured, but I realize I should now.
I've had my BTA since the start of the new year, first it started looking less and less healthy, lost some of its algea. Now I'm not sure, but it looks as if it may be on the rebound. Its too early to tell. It gets daily feedings and my GSM has finally given it some breathing room. Its moved from the back of the tank (with very little light) to more out in the open, still about half way down from the lights.
I've had my BTA since the start of the new year, first it started looking less and less healthy, lost some of its algea. Now I'm not sure, but it looks as if it may be on the rebound. Its too early to tell. It gets daily feedings and my GSM has finally given it some breathing room. Its moved from the back of the tank (with very little light) to more out in the open, still about half way down from the lights.
