Could man-made structure cause high phosphate readings?

[Todd31]

My main rock structure in a 60 gallon cube is a west mariculture (no longer in business) piece.

have these sort of man made structures ever been known to cause high phosphate?

 

[KrisReef]

If it was used I would think if might have phosphate absorbed to the surface that could go back into solution, same as live rock will.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, most any material containing exposed calcium carbonate can be a source of phosphate if it had previous exposure to elevated phosphate.

 

[Todd31]

Yes, most any material containing exposed calcium carbonate can be a source of phosphate if it had previous exposure to elevated phosphate.

 

[Todd31]

I got it new… could it contribute to retaining high phosphate if I let it get high?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I got it new… could it contribute to retaining high phosphate if I let it get high?

yes

 

[KrisReef]

In a new tank without organisms I would try to remove high phosphate with lanthanum chloride precipitation in a 5 micron sock to collect the precipitation. The process is documented on this site somewhere, sorry I don’t have a link.