Phosphate levels are a 2? Anyone has any ideas how to decrease it?

starfishguy869 · Mar 23, 2025

My phosphate levels have reached 2 ppm, and I don’t know how to get rid of it. Ideally, I don’t want to use Rowaphos or lanthanum chloride, as I don’t have any of them, and my reactor stuck sealed itself shut. Will carbon dosing work? I don’t even know how they got so high. If anyone has any ideas, please help.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 23, 2025

No, carbon dosing to reduce 2 ppm of phosphate is unlikely to be successful.

What size tank and what is in it?

starfishguy869 · Mar 24, 2025

12 gallon, if I have to, I'll do massive water changes, but last time my phosphates were this high, water changes didn't help.

Gumbies R Us · Mar 24, 2025

What skimmer are you using on your tank?

If you wanted to go the chemical dosing route, you could try Phosphat-E by Brightwell or Phosphate Rx (I have not personally used either of these)

Skywater · Mar 24, 2025

starfishguy869 said:
My phosphate levels have reached 2 ppm, and I don’t know how to get rid of it. Ideally, I don’t want to use Rowaphos or lanthanum chloride, as I don’t have any of them, and my reactor stuck sealed itself shut. Will carbon dosing work? I don’t even know how they got so high. If anyone has any ideas, please help.

Algae scrubber. Just started up a 'Surf 2x' from Santa Monica filtration. This model can go in the display tank in a back corner if you don't have a sump. I've read dozens of reviews from around the world, going back for some years. Will grow thick algae that you harvest...removing nitrates, ammonia, Phosphates and more. This model is air powered.