Phospate - The Never Ending Battle

[r0cksteady]

Hi Guys,

Ive got a 2 ft (Volume - 51cm x 31cm x 38cm = 60 litres = 15ish gallons) fresh water tank with a community based themed enviroment. eg. Neons, Gouramis, Catfish etc

Since probably the first 2 weeks of going live with fish after a month of allowing the tank to cycle through the nitrate process my Phostphate levels have been through the roof.

I have tried water changes, vacuuming gravel, Phos-Zorb and Aqua Pure Phosphate Filter Pads with no luck even getting it to budge at all. I have tried only feeding once a day and only a tiny ammount alternating between flakes one day and blood worms the other. I have tried introducing a large ammount of plants and yet everything I seem to try is to no avail.

Im running 3 hang on filters and have just upgraded to a eheim canister filter as well to help bring down the Phosphate levels all with Phos-Zorb & Aqua Pure Filter Pads. I know it sounds extreme but I really dont want to have to clean the tank out and start again.

Also I did check the tap water at it only contains .05 ppm (mg/l) which my understanding is fairly normal.

Any ideas? Im getting desperate. Thanking you in advance

[GoGuppy]

Hi Guys,

Ive got a 2 ft (Volume - 51cm x 31cm x 38cm = 60 litres = 15ish gallons) fresh water tank with a community based themed enviroment. eg. Neons, Gouramis, Catfish etc

Since probably the first 2 weeks of going live with fish after a month of allowing the tank to cycle through the nitrate process my Phostphate levels have been through the roof.

I have tried water changes, vacuuming gravel, Phos-Zorb and Aqua Pure Phosphate Filter Pads with no luck even getting it to budge at all. I have tried only feeding once a day and only a tiny ammount alternating between flakes one day and blood worms the other. I have tried introducing a large ammount of plants and yet everything I seem to try is to no avail.

Im running 3 hang on filters and have just upgraded to a eheim canister filter as well to help bring down the Phosphate levels all with Phos-Zorb & Aqua Pure Filter Pads. I know it sounds extreme but I really dont want to have to clean the tank out and start again.

Also I did check the tap water at it only contains .05 ppm (mg/l) which my understanding is fairly normal.

Any ideas? Im getting desperate. Thanking you in advance[/b]

Hi Rocksteady

Have a look at http://www.algone.com/phosphates.php for some idea of where the phosphate is coming from and what may help to reduce levels.

Cheers

[r0cksteady]

lol go guppy that is one of the sites I frequent. Thankyou for your quick reply and taking the time in reading my post.

Unfortunately sending me to links isnt the help I need as I have been researching this for over two weeks and spoken to many LFS people to no avail. Hence me hitting the forums. I need some first hand advice rather than directed back and forward. Thanks again and if you have any ideas at all outside of what ive already tried please let me know. Thanks again.

[33elanora]

lol go guppy that is one of the sites I frequent. Thankyou for your quick reply and taking the time in reading my post.

Unfortunately sending me to links isnt the help I need as I have been researching this for over two weeks and spoken to many LFS people to no avail. Hence me hitting the forums. I need some first hand advice rather than directed back and forward. Thanks again and if you have any ideas at all outside of what ive already tried please let me know. Thanks again.[/b]

When you say you have tried water changes what does that mean - I have a 200 litre tank which I change 1 x 10litre bucket a day of water - I don't use water ager because the amount is so small - its not a big chore like a large water change is & after years of fishkeeping the tank, fish and plants (with appropraite fertislization) has never been. Give that a go better.

[CichlidFreak]

I don't use water ager because the amount is so small[/b]

The water you are adding, whether its a small amount or not, still contains harmful chemicals like chlorine and chloramine and other heavy metals. Therefore, water ager is still needed. Adding water straight from the tap is harmful to the fish and can kill off the good bacteria in the tank.

[33elanora]

The water you are adding, whether its a small amount or not, still contains harmful chemicals like chlorine and chloramine and other heavy metals. Therefore, water ager is still needed. Adding water straight from the tap is harmful to the fish and can kill off the good bacteria in the tank.[/b]


I did read that under 5% it is not needed. I have been doing this for 6 month with no effect except what appears healthy plants and tank.
If I use water ager does it not dissipate any plant fertilizer out of the water to the plants detriment?
Alternatively if I stand the water in a bucket for 24 hours before changing would this clean the water?