Phosphate Control - I'm Off The Colour Chart!

[bitfishy]

Can anyone shed any light on my problem?

I've had ridiculously high phosphates for a long time now. I've been running Rowaphos in the skimmer for three weeks, and I've changed the media three times, but I'm still off the chart I don't know when it all started because TBH I put the reading down to a crap testing kit, coz everything else including the corals seemed fine. However the algae continued so I bought a decent kit and had a shock!!

I'm obviously doing/not doing something - however its causing clacification problems and I've lost a head of my torch coral. I'm adding Kalkwasser too now, but its a losing battle unless I get these phosphates down. Ammonia & nitrite readings are fine. Ph is a bit low at 8.0 & nitrates are still 10. KH 8dKH and alkalinity 2.86, but as I understand it they are hand in hand with phospahates and calcium.

I've eradicated any possible dead spots, done water changes etc. I'll obviously continue with the water changes and the Rowaphos but I'm getting desperate because it doesn't seem to be working and everthing I've read put these two down as the cure.

I could be overfeeding I suppose. I have 4 3" fish (clarks & wrasse) and give them a cube of brine shrimp a day. Its all gone within three minutes. There's also 4 hermits and 2 fire shrimp to scavenge any leftovers. Is this too much food?

I also have a piece of tufta rock (been in there since I started this). I read they can leak phospahtes - but surely that runs its course after a few weeks?.....

Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks everyone

 

[SkiFletch]

Wow, off the chart would make sense if your torch is dying. Phosphates inhibit the abilities of corals to calcify and most affects LPS and SPS corals. You don't mention it, but I'll assume you use RO water...

As an immediate measure, I'd do a 100% waterchange with water of equal salinity and equal temperature. Before doing so, double check your kit by testing on the newly mixed water. If it reads 0 (which it should) proceed with the water change, if not, something's wrong with your input water source or the test kit...

Then going forward, change your food. Try feeding flake, or mysis, or something else. If you do feed frozen foods, strain them before feeding, the frozen liquids are usually full of phosphates.

Lastly, do you vaccum your substrate? If not, you'll probably have to start.

 

[bitfishy]

Hi Ski

You may have hit on something with the RO - somehow when starting this I missed the bit where you're supposed to top up evaporation with RO water I only realised this part a week ago or so, my fave lfs was explaining how to use kalkwasser, and it got mentioned in passing then - obviously, out of pure embarrasment I didn't let on I checked my book - it doesn't mention that part I use natural seawater for my tank, so used to top up with that. I've measured the seawater and there is a trace of phosphates in it, but its at the lowest level on the chart. From what you say, might this have contributed to the buildup over time? (I know now that I must check my salinity in case that has built up too.)

I've just spent £30 on a big batch of frozen brine an lfs was doing an unbelievable deal - £2 a pack!! So in the interests of economics I might try your suggestion of rinsing and see if that makes a difference before moving to a different food - thanks for that.

After reading your post I did a 50% water change - I know you said a 100% but the thought of dismantling the tank to get at everything was too much to bear! It has made a difference though - I'm now on the chart....... just!! I'll do another one tomorrow. I have new hope

I don't vacuum either I will now start.

I'm assuming because you didn't respond with 'HOW MUCH!' that the feeding level is OK. One question though - I tend to defrost the cube in a small glass of tankwater and give them half in the eve and half the following morning. Is it OK to leave the shrimp overnight in water like this?

Thanks again

 

[SkiFletch]

Very bad idea to leave the shrimp in the tankwater overnight. That's probably contributing. I like to take my food out of the freezer, dissolve it in a shot glass, strain the liquid with my fingers, and then drop it in the tank. As for how much to feed, if they eat it all in 2 mins, it was a good amount

I'd check your salinity NOW. If you've been topping up with saltwater, you could be slowly poisoning things in your tank with too much salt.

 

[bitfishy]

Very bad idea to leave the shrimp in the tankwater overnight. That's probably contributing. I like to take my food out of the freezer, dissolve it in a shot glass, strain the liquid with my fingers, and then drop it in the tank. As for how much to feed, if they eat it all in 2 mins, it was a good amount

I'd check your salinity NOW. If you've been topping up with saltwater, you could be slowly poisoning things in your tank with too much salt.

Ok Ski, thanks for the advice anf the kick up the a**e - I'll buy a salinity tester today, and a vacuum