Phosphates crazy high help

[SMinNC]

sminnc - that sounds like a great temporary solution but i do think that it is best to find out where all of this phosphate is coming from in this tank. In my opinion, it is better to find the source and eliminate it, rather than put a bandaid on it right away. After all possibilities have been worked through than i think that stuff might be a good idea to resort to.

I agree, its best to find the source of any problem.

But this could work for the OP like it has for me so far.

My set-up is fairly new still. Couple of months or so? Lost track.

After it had run for a couple of weeks I tested for Iron and Phosphate. The only two tests I could come up with, more plant specific. Without looking into high dollar test equipment.

I found my Phosphate was high. And used the crystal clear. Which done what it was supposed to do.
So far, after a few weeks now. It has stayed around 1- 2ppm.

Actually I just added some Seachem Nitrogen for the first time, Sunday. Because my nitrate was soo low.

I did figure I'd be looking around more for a source problem. But so far, its turnt out to be a fix.
I'm assuming I brought it down, and now, along with everything else. The plants are keeping it low?

 

[abcdefghi]

What if your phosphates are a source problem? I have high phosphates (I have a thread further down the page, but there appears to be more discussion here) of 5.0ppm. I have not yet tested the water right out of the tap, but I have well water and have read that can cause high phosphates.

I feed my fish once a day, they get at least 1 fast day per week. I don't believe a lot of food falls to the bottom, and what does I usually see my pleco eating within a minute or two. No Co2, and no ferts go into this tank, yet I suffer from GSA.

 

[SMinNC]

What if your phosphates are a source problem?

firstly, i would test your water source to see if there were phosphates in the water.

I tested the water and no phosphates came from it

Nope

...I have not yet tested the water right out of the tap, but I have well water and have read that can cause high phosphates.

I suspected my well water might have some.
Nope

I feed my fish once a day, they get at least 1 fast day per week.

Mine are fed every 4 hrs, 24/7.

I find it hard to believe a lil tetra swims around the amazon all day, and doesn't eat.
But thats just me, thinking. :nilly:

 

[jpappy789]

I don't use any aquarium salt because I have a Pleco. So it is just at the highest range to help prevent Ich. I guess I can always lower it though. Now that I know what it looks like I can be more prepared to treat it at first sign.

I might just trim because most of my plants are stem type or small leaves so it can handle a little snipping. Will probably be easier to snip and regrow then pull and replant.

A higher temp just quickens the ich's life cycle, but will not kill it outright...that is what the salt does.

The doses during treatment will be perfectly safe for all the fish you have. Plenty of people have used the heat+salt combo with plecos, corys, loaches, etc.

However, I do not recommend having a high temp solely to prevent ich. Not only does it not work on its own but good QT practices coupled with good water quality should do most of that by itself

 

[bradlgt21]

Yeah I treated it with some salt and some meds. This was also before I used a QT tank. I will be using one from now on as I grabbed a 10 gallon a old heater and old unused filter.