Phosphate problems.

[klongo]

I am so at a loss as to what to do with my phosphate problems. My tank has been up and running since October and everything was looking wonderful until about 6 weeks ago when I started getting a brownish yuch on my sand. I thought it was diatomes, but now I believe it's dinoflaggetlates, so I bought a phosphate kit - PO4 was 0.5 two weeks ago. I bought a phosphate filter pad and started water changes (20% every 3 days), heavy skimming and started feeding my fish 1/2 the normal amount. PO4 hasn't budged below 0.4.
So, I figured it must be my water (I use R0/DI) or my salt or a combination. My water has a PO4 of 0.1 as does my water change salt (good news for the salt).
What now?? I just did a total check of parameters but I don't know what to do to get the PO4 down:
ammonia 0
pH 8.2
nitrite 0
nitrate <10
PO4 0.5
sg 1.023
alk 3.5
calcium very high (I use Oceanic salt and with the frequent changes, the calcium isn't getting depleted)
I'm feeding my fish a fresh fish mush - no flake or prepared frozen.

 

[arkey.d]

There's a product out there called Phosphate Out, it's a powder that you mix in SW then add it to your tank, sometimes it takes a couple days of adding it, but eventually it clears up the phosphate entirely......

 

[snipe]

Well as long as your phosphates are 1.0 or lower then there fine.

 

[klongo]

really?! my coralline has stopped growing, my corals aren't soo happy looking, my sand looks terrible!!!!
My research says it needs to be below 0.03 to be good.

 

[salty cheese]

Originally posted by klongo
My research says it needs to be below 0.03 to be good.
:yes:

 

[pontius]

Salty Cheese is right, should be less than .03
1.0 would probably kill any corals instantly and cause big algae growths.

 

[arkey.d]

I concure with Salty Cheese and Pontius. Phosphates are chemical compounds containing phosphorus. Phosphorus is a non-metallic element which is necessary for life and is found in rock as inorganic phosphates. As water runs over and through rocks it carries off small amounts of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphates. Inorganic phosphates are a plant nutrient and are taken in by plants with water and incorporated into organic phosphate compounds. Animals obtain their essential phosphorus from phosphates in water and plant material. Natural waters have a phosphorus concentration of approximately 0.02 parts per million (ppm) which is a limiting factor for plant growth. On the other hand, large concentrations of this nutrient can accelerate plant growth.

 

[klongo]

soooo, how do I get rid of it!!!!! I've tried feeding less often, stopped feeding flake, changed water frequently, skimmed more heavily and added a phosphate sponge - all to no avail. It still hangs at 0.5
NOW WHAT?????

 

[pontius]

I had a phosphate probably when I first set up. I got some kind of moist pad (2 of them actually), the first one was to be left in for 24 hours and the second for 24 hours, or something like that. that was kind of expensive, but it worked.
after that, I got a foam pad to put on the drip plate of the wet/dry. that cost about $3. and I also use PhosGuard (I think that's the name.).
my phosphates have been at 0 for several months now (knock on wood), but I still have an ongoing struggle with hair algae. my corals are doing well though, and I hope to eventually have all the rock (and algae) covered with corals so the algae can't get light. but I guess that's another topic.

 

[snipe]

Thats good to know. Either I read my test kit wrong it was messed up and said 1.0 "im pretty sure I know how to read but I could be wrong "

 

[firedad720]

everyone i talked to, i have a phosphate problem also, suggested a product called marc weiss phosphate magnet. i used a half bottle, its a brown powder, witch is a oversized does for my 29 gal. my phosphate is coming down. starting to get a little groth out of my corals now.
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