High Phosphate

D_Hernandez · Jul 22, 2015

Hello Everyone,
I would like some advice on how to lower phosphate.I Have a friend whom I help with 130 Gal tank I have not been able to go to her house in a couple of weeks since I recently had a car accident. However she has contacted me today and said she had her water tested at LFS and was told her phosphate is " sky high" I have never experienced this before with my personal tank before my whole sale guy whom I get all my salt and chemicals from stated this might be wrong as it is impossible for phosphate to be high and adviced to retest water. Since I won't be able to head that way until Saturday I would like to see what kind of advice I would get on here.

Thank You in advance

twilliard · Jul 22, 2015

A good load of macros.

D_Hernandez · Jul 22, 2015

Thanks @twilliard

glweek · Jul 23, 2015

In order of importance Water changes, gfo, lanthium chloride (read up on LC as much as you can before you use it)

twilliard · Jul 23, 2015

Let her know to send in a test to triton.
no better way of knowing what the po4 and other elements are.

NicksMixedReef · Jul 23, 2015

I use Lanthanum Chloride, works great.

Reefing Madness · Jul 23, 2015

SeaKlear- Which I use.
GFO
Macro Algae in a Fuge

kendavjac · Jul 23, 2015

All great advise, but you need to find the source. Over feeding and top off water are the usual suspects. Even after you have slowed down (can't really stop it) you may have it leeching out of the rocks for weeks/months.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2015

There are lots of good ways to reduce phosphate, including skimming, GFO and other binders of various sorts, growing macroalgae or other fast growing organisms such as ATS, organic carbon dosing, and possibly limewater dosing.

This has more:

https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/phosphate-in-the-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley/

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2015

kendavjac said:
All great advise, but you need to find the source. Over feeding and top off water are the usual suspects. Even after you have slowed down (can't really stop it) you may have it leeching out of the rocks for weeks/months.

Feeding (doesn't matter if over or under feeding) is nearly always the main source unless you use tap water directly.

Nearly every molecule of phosphate in food (of which there is necessarily a lot) ends up in the water, even if eaten completely by fish.

D_Hernandez · Jul 24, 2015

twilliard said:
Let her know to send in a test to triton.
no better way of knowing what the po4 and other elements are.

Thanks

D_Hernandez · Jul 24, 2015

NicksMixedReef said:
I use Lanthanum Chloride, works great.

Thank you

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
There are lots of good ways to reduce phosphate, including skimming, GFO and other binders of various sorts, growing macroalgae or other fast growing organisms such as ATS, organic carbon dosing, and possibly limewater dosing.

This has more:

https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/phosphate-in-the-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley/

Thank You