Phosphate issues

[Mark6rules]

Like 99RedSi, my tap water is loaded with phosphate. It's greater than 3.0ppm, and I've had no end of problems with greenhair algae. I've posted related threads, and I do appreciate your kind help...but it appears that I'm going to have to install a RO unit. I've tried just about everything to stem the tide of algae. When I recently visited my mother -- who has 4 FW tanks and has no problem with algae -- she suggested I absolutely load my tank with plants to combat the algae problem -- kind of like having them outcompete the algae for food. My 150 gal. tank is partially planted, with a laterite substrate...but I've had had no luck with anything, really. I've searched the Krib for specific articles on RO, phosphate, and algae topics, but I either found nothing or the articles were too technical for me.

Does anyone agree that a very heavily-planted tank should pretty much end the algae problem?

What are your thoughts on just going with a RO unit? Will it really remove the phosphate? If it removes most all minerals, will I have to compensate with some mineral additive to the water, or are fish not affected by mineral loss? Any suggestions on a make/model? Thanks.

Doug

[Tempest]

The heavily planting will do the trick if you also take care of the other nutrient needs of the plants. It would be helpful to you to post over in the plant forum about this. The user called Plantbrain used to have water with high phosphate and his posts on plant growing are the best you can find.

[wetmanNY]

When you discover the element that limits growth in your systems, the plants will take off, at the expense of the algae (well, pretty much).

Are plants in control of the environment in the tank? Or are they just a few for decor? That's important.

Could potassium be limiting the amount of PO4 your plants can use? Try lightly dosing with potassium chloride (Nu-Salt in the diet aisle).

More intense light, for a shorter (<10 hours) photoperiod may work.

And CO2 may be the limiting factor, if most of your carbon is locked up in carbonates.

But algae lurks forever.

[RTR]

My home water is lacking phosphate, but the office tank had the same level you have. Even heavily planted and several dozen Amanos plus otos and SAEs, I still had algae. I boosted the light and added CO2 and the algae faded. The Anubias nana has a bit of hard green spot on the oldest leaves, but I can live with that. BTW, the tank is very heavily planted.