High Phosphates
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- Hi Tankmates, today I want to talk about “High Phosphates” in a freshwater aquarium. More specifically what are high phosphates? What causes high phosphates and how to control phosphates in your aquarium?
As you can see I have a “hair algae” outbreak. The cause of this outbreak… High Phosphates!
What is Phosphates? Phosphates is the chemical compound Phosphorus which is a non-metallic element necessary for life and is found in rocks 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, high concentrations of this nutrient can accelerate plant growth.
What does that mean? Phosphates don’t directly hurt your fish at high levels. But the high levels can cause problems. Like green water which can deplete the oxygen.
Where does Phosphates come from in an Aquarium? It a natural process as waste breaks down. Waste like uneaten food, plant decay, feces, dead fish, carbon, aquarium salts, ph and kh buffers and the water itself. That’s the reason for the two different explanations on where it comes from. But the biggest reason for high phosphate levels. Inconsistence parameters and/or dosing. Generally once you get your levels consistent. (CO2, Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potassium, and iron) The algae goes away and your tank begins to flourish again!
What’s the target level There are two forms of Phosphates organic and inorganic. Unfortunately, test kits can only test for the “Inorganic” form. So remember when you test for phosphates, you’re only test one aspect of phosphates.
In your freshwater aquarium around .05 parts per million. Around 1.0 ppm is ideal for algae growth and 2.0 and higher means OUTBREAKS!
How to reduce Phosphates? It goes without saying. Try not to let it get too high. Stay on schedule with your maintenance, water changes, cleaning.
Large water changes can help bring the levels down quickly. But that is a temporary fix. Its best to add a Phosphate absorber when you do perform a large water change.
Tank Cleaning: scrub the algae on the glass. Remove wood and rocks and place in a bucket with warm to hot tap water to kill the hair algae. DO NOT DECHORINATE THE TAP WATER. You want the chlorine to kill the hair algae. This is the best way that I’ve found to kill hair algae. With your decorations out do a thorough vacuum cleaning.
Keeping your Phosphates low! Feed sparingly. Try changing your food to a high quality brand if your using cheap brands.
Test your water source and or age your water. (Stay tuned for that upcoming video). It not uncommon for your tap water to have phosphate levels to at 1.0 ppm. If your phosphates in your tap water are the issue. Than change your schedule to weekly 10-15% water changes.
Stay on schedule with changing your carbon. Some carbon media can leech what it absorbed back into the tank. Most quality brands are formulated not to leech back in the tank though. Clean your filter regularly. This can help reduce the source.
And finally if you don’t need to. Stop using buffers.
How often should I clean the hang on the back filter.?
What kind are you using? In the past I would look at the clarity of the water. With that being said, it depends on the brand thee AquaClear, and Marineland I cleaned once every 1-2 months. That is just rinsing the bio media and sponges in tank water.
You're so pretty 😍
My plants have a lot of black on them, I was told I have high phosphates, they sell pads I can put in my filter to help lower it, I do 40% every 1-2 weeks, never go any longer then 2 weeks, I do check my water every water change with the master api kit and my nitrates are no higher then 40 ppm, what are your thoughts on saving my plants before it get to bad?
The easiest way I found is 1. 40% water change is to spray the algae with hydrogen peroxide. (its all natural and completely safe)
2. Add Seachem's Phosguard
3.do another 40% water change 4 days later. then test for phosphates
4. Get Back on schedule with you plant ferts
Heather Lovejoy MY FISH ADDICTION
Ha, in same boat.
A) try 50% tap water / 50% distilled water.
B) 50/50 but with RODI water.
C) 100% RODI water & ask for. Happy ending with every purchase! Lol
How often should I clean the hang on the back filter .
Thanks 4 posting!
Yeah, I almost gave up on planted tanks. Always got brown algae & green spot algae continually. I believe my local Tap water is high in phosphates & silicates.
Haven’t tested my water for those two but that’s my opinion.
Trying a bag of Phosguard to see in a few weeks it that helped at all or not.
Next would be to try 50% tap water & 50% distilled water.
After that I’m trying 100% RODI water. LMAO
“They said Planted Tanks would be easy, it’ll be fun, very Relaxing” relaxing my ass! Lmao
Michael Piccirillo that is a good possibility. I bought a Rubbermaid trash can fill that with water on Thursdays (from an aquatic life two stage filter) with a heater an air pump. And do my water changes on Sunday. The water where I live taste horrible. So I find this way gasses off a lot and the sediment and carbon filter helps out a lot. My fish seems very happy. Also try ChemiPure Elite. It’s supposed to help with phosphates.
Divine Aquariums
I did just purchase PhosGuard bag tossed into filter.
Bag is only good for 4-5 days so weekly or no-weekly water changes will just get me back to where I was before phosguard. That’s a temporary solution.
I’ve read that I can buy a few jugs of distilled water at grocery stores & do a 50-50 with tap water. It should dilute it better.
We’ll see. I raised my pendant lights higher & timer for reduced 5-6 hours a day instead of 8.
Praying that works wonders. Because changing water is a pain.. lol
bold of you to recommend chlorine in this community lol
Evan Goers yeah I was thinking that. But I should have been extra clear on using chlorine. For example I have a designated container I specifically use for chlorine dips.