How to lower high phosphate

[Nano_Man]

Have very high phosphate in a nano tank. Which method of reducing that works . Phosphate is 1 and nitrate 10 . I have been doing weekly water changes. Not using any phos removers at the moment. Nano tank has live rock and bare bottom floor. Any advice welcome . Been testing and phosphate not lowering I know it will be in the rock .

 

[Pistondog]

If no skimmer, gfo is best choice.

 

[Nano_Man]

If no skimmer, gfo is best choice.

Yes no skimmer any gfo that do the best job

 

[doubleshot00]

I would use a very small a mount of GFO in your back chamber. Change it out every 7-14 days but keep testing your phosphates every 3-5 days so you don't bottom it out.

But how does the tank look now?

 

[Nano_Man]

I would use a very small a mount of GFO in your back chamber. Change it out every 7-14 days but keep testing your phosphates every 3-5 days so you don't bottom it out.

But how does the tank look now?

Rock work looking green but everything in it looking good. Always tested nitrate but never tested phosphate. My own mistake . Just need to get it down to a lower numbers then control it

 

[doubleshot00]

Rock work looking green but everything in it looking good. Always tested nitrate but never tested phosphate. My own mistake . Just need to get it down to a lower numbers then control it

Is this the tank in your Build thread you just started?

 

[Nano_Man]

Is this the tank in your Build thread you just started?

Yep

 

[doubleshot00]

Yep

Then i would double check your test results with a different test kit before doing anything like GFO.

 

[Nano_Man]

Then i would double check your test results with a different test kit before doing anything like GFO.

Salfert phosphate test I test everything with salfert

 

[doubleshot00]

Salfert phosphate test I test everything with salfert

And your sure its 1 not .1?

 

[Rmckoy]

I use rowa-phos
To lower or maintain my phosphate levels .
if left nitrates stay very low 2-5 ppm but phosphates will continue increasing

currently at 0.4ppm using Hanna ulr

 

[Nano_Man]

And your sure its 1 not .1?

Yes bright blue . Here is a photo of the tank right now

 

[Nano_Man]

On the test card it says 0.0 what ever and the last two say 1 the end one 3 my colour is 1

 

[doubleshot00]

I would try a 40% Wc which would be like 2-3 gallons and test again. Maybe get some neo-nitro just incase you need to dose nitrate to compensate for the big WCs. You may need to do another WC 3-4 days later to see if it puts a dent in your phos.

 

[Nano_Man]

I would try a 40% Wc which would be like 2-3 gallons and test again. Maybe get some neo-nitro just incase you need to dose nitrate to compensate for the big WCs. You may need to do another WC 3-4 days later to see if it puts a dent in your phos.

doubleshot00 and all above thank you for info . Phosphate is silly high lol

 

[doubleshot00]

doubleshot00 and all above thank you for info . Phosphate is silly high lol

I wouldn't sweat as much as some. Try WC's then got the GFO route after that.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Have very high phosphate in a nano tank. Which method of reducing that works . Phosphate is 1 and nitrate 10 . I have been doing weekly water changes. Not using any phos removers at the moment. Nano tank has live rock and bare bottom floor. Any advice welcome . Been testing and phosphate not lowering I know it will be in the rock .

The issue with high phosphate is that it binds to carbonate surfaces such as reef rock.

What that means is that when you remove it from the water it leaches back out of the rock giving the impression that it is bouncing back up again. That is why although nitrates are easily removed with water changes, the same is not true for phosphate.

To bring them down in a nano, I'd suggest an aluminium oxide based phosphate remover such as Phosguard.
It has the advantage that it does not need to be tumbled like GFO, and can just be placed into a bag in the water flow. Rinse well before placing into the tank.

You will find it will take quite a while to come down from 0.4ppm, however you do not want to go fast as rapid reduction can result in poor reactions from organisms in the tank.

 

[Nano_Man]

The issue with high phosphate is that it binds to carbonate surfaces such as reef rock.

What that means is that when you remove it from the water it leaches back out of the rock giving the impression that it is bouncing back up again. That is why although nitrates are easily removed with water changes, the same is not true for phosphate.

To bring them down in a nano, I'd suggest an aluminium oxide based phosphate remover such as Phosguard.
It has the advantage that it does not need to be tumbled like GFO, and can just be placed into a bag in the water flow. Rinse well before placing into the tank.

You will find it will take quite a while to come down from 0.4ppm, however you do not want to go fast as rapid reduction can result in poor reactions from organisms in the tank.

Thank you yep I have a spare chamber that I could put it in thanks again

 

[GarrettT]

I prefer aluminum oxide to gfo as well. I use an inverted coke bottle that I cut in half and just have water run through it - no tumble. Same with carbon (seachem matrix).

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I prefer aluminum oxide to gfo as well. I use an inverted coke bottle that I cut in half and just have water run through it - no tumble. Same with carbon (seachem matrix).

can you show us your come bottle trick?