High Phosphate

[chemflex]

Hiya, I have 3 tanks. In two of my tanks I have had several fish die over the last two weeks - the other tank is fine.

All three tanks water parameters are absolutely fine, apart from phosphate. Using a Nutrafin (Hagen) phosphate kit all three tanks have phosphate levels above 5.0.

I have tested my tap water. The water that comes straight out of the tap has a phosphate level of 5.0. But, when I dechlorinate the tap water then test it it is trace.

All three tank are planted and the lights are not on for too long, any ideas?

 

[njparton]

Hiya, I have 3 tanks. In two of my tanks I have had several fish die over the last two weeks - the other tank is fine.

All three tanks water parameters are absolutely fine, apart from phosphate. Using a Nutrafin (Hagen) phosphate kit all three tanks have phosphate levels above 5.0.

I have tested my tap water. The water that comes straight out of the tap has a phosphate level of 5.0. But, when I dechlorinate the tap water then test it it is trace.

All three tank are planted and the lights are not on for too long, any ideas?

Not sure what's causing it, but Hagen make a product called Green-X which can be put in a filter or straight in the tank. It's an ion exchange resin that targets nitrate, phosphate and nitrite.

Give it a whirl - it helped me overcome a long algae bloom

 

[ste2k3]

I would say get a new test kit. there is something wrong with the readings that you are getting. when you dechlorinate tap water, the phosphate level shouldn't be affected. phosphate will not harm fish so i would test your water for nitrite nitrate and pH to see if any of these are out.

 

[chemflex]

I took some water to my LFS for them to test. They also got the same results as me. Everything was perfect apart from the phosphate.

I have put a hagen green-x sachet in one of the tanks - it was the first thing I did when I realised that the phosphate was high.