Phosphate question

[jiminbing]

Is .5 p.p.m too high of a reading and is it high enough to cause green algae all over my tank. I'm using a Red Sea test kit. All my other water parameters are fine. Thanks

 

[michaeltx]

any phosphates are enough to cause algae in a tank. there is always going to be a thin algae layer that shows up on the tank though most of the time the clean up crew takes care of it quickly.
Mike

 

[reefkprz]

even below testable amounts of phosphates can help algae grow, often people have algaes and no testable phophates, yet after running phosban or adding a phosphate reator, they notice a decline in algae.... this is because often the algae will consume the phos to grow and leave none behind to test for.

 

[jiminbing]

So should I run phosban? I've seen these foam pads that remove phosphates in the LFS. Anyone ever use this product? Thanks