Phosphate question

[tontra]

Where does phosphate come from? If I am using purified water, can phosphate still be a problem? What damage is done by phosphates anyway?

 

[Avi]

Well, it generally comes in with feeding fish and coral since you don't introduce it if your it with a reliable quality water source. When the foods break down or are ingested and reduced to detritus in your reef, phosphates are introduced. They themselves don't do any harm but the potential for harm is certainly there by fostering micro-algae growths on your live rock and coral. Micro-algae growths like that can and do grow on coral and smother them by keeping light from reaching them. That's the dangerous part...secondarily, obviously, algae growths can be awful to look at and so all necessary and appropriate measures should be taken to keep phosphates at controlled levels.

 

[McCrary]

Phosphates can also damage coral that are sensitive to it like SPS coral. If you are measuring phosphate in your aquarium a small fluidized reator filled with rowaphos can help to control the phosphate.

Here is a link to a good phosphate reactor: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TL4311

 

[Avi]

Tontra...have you tested for phosphates?