Phosphates in fishtank

[Carla G]

Recently someone gave me their fish stuff, including a phosphate testing kit. When I tested my tankwater the phosphates were very high, around 10 ppm. The little blurb on the package says this is too high, they tend to build up in established aquariums, and recommends phoszorb to get them down.

Water changes are also supposed to get them down. The incoming water is 0.5 ppm. But it doesn't seem to make much difference when a water change is done.

Also, I tested the little 8g isolation tank. It has recently been broken down and scrubbed and put back together with washed gravel, fresh water and one piece of driftwood. It was just as high in phosphates as the big tank. It only has one betta in it for a couple of weeks now.

All other tests are good on all my tanks, no ammonia or nitrites. The tank is 50g planted community tank. Filter is an Eheim 2215.

The only thing I add to my tanks is water ager, discus buffer to lower PH because my tapwater can get very alkaline, and Freshtrace. We recently installed an undersink water filter so that is now going into the tank.

My questions are why is there so much phosphate, is it really a bad thing, and do I need the Phos-Zorb?

 

[jpappy789]

If you are not having algae issues I personally don't see a reason to change anything. Adding some live plants will naturally lower phosphates without having to deal with chemicals.

 

[Canuck]

Best advice in this hobby, if its not broke don't fix it. BTW, I expect your phosphate is coming from your pH buffer most of them tend to use phosphate to reduce pH. Great business isn't it, sell you buffer to "fix" your pH, which puts phosphate in the water, sell you a test kit to test your phosphate level, then sell you another chemical to fix your phosphate level. Now that is a business model!

 

[mrbigmuscles]

Also consider that the test kit might be bad/expired.

 

[Riiz]

Or instead of discus buffer, use Acidbuffer, its phosphate free and from Seachem too.

 

[jpappy789]

Or don't buffer the water at all...

 

[ToeJam]

Phosphate can come from frozen foods to. Rinse the cubes outer layer off...that will wash out a lot of the frozen juice layer that is riddled with phosphate. As you can see the Tap itself puts out phosphates to.

Phosphate isn't harmful to livestock ...its just miracle grow for algae. Like above said. Unless you have severe algae problems I wouldn't stress it.

The use of live plants is a great idea...reading over the planted section though you will realize the light needed to support the plants will also encourage algae growth. So its a balancing act I wouldn't wish to perform. Something to keep in consideration and visit those planted aquarium users in the forums if you choose to try this.

 

[jm1212]

try some large water changes; they can't hurt. also try adding some live plants like cabomba, wisteria, or ludwigia.

 

[jpappy789]

IME cabomba needs higher lighting than most people have otherwise it will not grow all thick and bushy like it should...