Phosphate Problem!

[col748]

How can reduce phosphate in tank, i'm having problem with algae and think this is the cause?

I use filtered tap water but you have to run tap water through so slow and it seems i still have phosphate at high levels.

What you guys think?

 

[aaronnorth]

Phosphates dont cause algae - nor do any other nutrients.

Only an imbalance causes algae.

 

[col748]

Oh man an imbalance, how do i find the cause?

Nothing seems to have changed all water stats are the same as usual.

 

[aaronnorth]

It is quite hard unles you test, but firstly look at the algae guide in my sig, then see which you have, we can then go further.

 

[col748]

Just seen your algae guide its helpfull, would still like to know about the imbalance though.

 

[aaronnorth]

I am not sure it will apply to your tank as much as it would to a planted tank but...

we have dose NPK, trace & CO2.
If we have a tank that has enough NPK and trace, but NO CO2 injection, then the plants cannot grow properly, they will die/ rot and produce ammonia - algae grows.
The same if we had another tank, but this time, we dont dose any NPK - again algae would grow.

So in your tank, you might have suitable levels of nutrients, but your phosphate is too high, sometimes having one element too high can stop a plant from uptaking another, i am not sure about phosphate but as an example too much potassium can stop the uptake of magnesium or calcium