Phosphates WAY out of control!!!

I

infidsg35

AC Members
Nov 21, 2005
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Out of my TAP I tested my water and Phosphates = 0.5ppm After that I tested my water in the TANK and it was Phosphates = 10ppm

I have a 29 Gallon not totaly planted but a good amount. Some Cabumba, Java Fern, Brizilian Sword ect.

I have Flourite substraite and a 65w power compact. Also have a DIY CO2 unit.

I recently did a 60% water change on Sat. I was having a little problem with my tank being cloudy. I have a thread started here with LOTS of info on my tank and what iv been doing thanks!

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68026
 
Plants need to be growing well to use nutrients. They will not grow well if continually uprooted by some of the tank's inhabitants. You don't have an optimum selection of fish for a planted tank. That's part of the problem.
Another part is the chemical agents you are using to alleviate the phosphates and other issues.
There are so many mis-statements in the other thread I don't even want to address them.
There are also some good words of advice. The fish load is a problem that will only get worse.......quickly.
I would make suggestions for balancing your nutrient issues, but if the plants continue to be uprooted I don't think a balanced tank will help with your algae issues. They can't use the nutrients if they're not growing properly.
I suggest that you wait on attempting to keep a planted tank until you can establish one with a more plant-friendly fish load.
I hate to sound so negative, but I can't imagine being successful under the present circumstances.

Len
 
My plants don't get uprooted anymore. They did when I had large stone gravel. Since I replace the gravel with flourite the plants are VERY stable, and well rooted to the substraite.

As for the plants They are going pretty well. My Cabumba grow's like weeds and always needs to be trimmed. My other's are always making new leaves. I have a mild planted tank nothing crazy.

I know I have a large fish load but can you please tell me what the relation is of fish waste and phosphate's?

My tank is going realy well now. All my plants are happy and my fish are too!!! My tank water is clear and my test's show everything is on the up and up except Phosphates...

My question is what would cause so much phosphates in the tank water? Secondly how do you get them down? How to prevent from getting so high?
 
Roan, in my opinion your suggestions from steering him to the planted tank forum on were excellent. In fact, you corrected some of the mis-statements I was talking about when you replied. I was not referring to your feedback on the thread.

infidsg35 - Sounds like you are over feeding. This, along with some of the chemicals you are using to adjust water parameters, is often the culprit with high phosphate levels.
You mentioned getting a nitrate test kit. Have you gotten one and if so have you tested your water, both tank and tap for N?
I'd like you to do this. Set a bowl of tap water on your kitchen counter and let is sit for an hour or 2. Then test it for pH, N, P, kH (this is an especially important one)and gH and post your results here.
You are only running a tad over 2 wpg so you won't need to do a lot of nutrient dosing. Probably only enough to balance fairly high N levels, I suspect. Your fish load will give those to you.
Lose the water 'adjusters' and cut back on the feeding a bit and the tank should clear up and the P levels decline. You probably don't need to adjust your tap water at all.
You can always control what your fish are swimming in. Once we know what your water changes are giving you we can help more with the nutrient adjusting.

Len
 
djlen said:
Roan, in my opinion your suggestions from steering him to the planted tank forum on were excellent. In fact, you corrected some of the mis-statements I was talking about when you replied. I was not referring to your feedback on the thread.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Len.
I fear giving people bad info and causing more problems than they already have.

Would be nice if the mods could move any planted or CO2 q's here automatically, but it doesn't happen. Would save us all a huge headache and I wouldn't feel like I'm walking a tightrope trying to help :o

Roan
 
I feed my fish in small amounts. I feed them dry food once a day and frozen food every other day. I realy try NOT to put to much in as waste.

I got the NitrAte kit. My tank tested at 0ppm. So I added some Flourish Nitrogen and it is now up to 10ppm. I have not tested the TAP tho...

My out of TAP results:

PH= 7.6
Phosphates= 0.5
KH= 0/1

But thats all I tested for..

When I add water now all I add is AquaPLus and thats it. I dont use buffers anymore as I added a bag of Crushed Coral to my filter.

My substraite is only a week or so old. So I know I dont have much built up there yet. Not sure if you saw my Tank Test's from last night

PH = 8.0
GH = 4
KH = 5
Ammonia = 0
NitrItes = 0
NitrAtes = 10
Phosphates = 10

After these test's I did a 20% water change. I will do another tonight and retest the water.
 
OK I think I MIGHT now why my Phosphates are sooooo high! When I was using a buffer other then Crushed Coral I was using Seachem Neutral Regulator. I happen to read the bottle today and it says... " Contains phosphate buffers and conditioning agents" I think I was adding my oun phosphates :duh:

Right now I just did a 25% water change and put a HOB but realy the front filled with polywool (love the stuff) and the rest of the Phos-X (suppose to eliminate Phosphate) Ill keep that on and test tonight and tomorrow to see what happens. If the Phosphate goes down then ill take it off and ill be good to go!

Am I right or am I still missing something?
 
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