Phosphate spike?

[Johmanda]

New tank - 46 gal. bowfront set up Aug. 1. Paramaters have been not ideal but stable. Only have Astrea snails and blue leg hermit crabs. Did a 10% water change 2 weeks ago. Suddenly the Phosphate has shot up to 2.0 from a consistent .25. What would cause this? Planned to put fish in today - can I still do this?
Eheim pro II canister filter.
Hydor powerheads on a timer
pH - 8.1
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20 (stable for 3 weeks)
Calcium - 17 (340 ppm)
KH - 12
Salinity - 1.025

 

[zebe00]

Sounds like something happened at the water change, did you use RODI water? If so, it could be from the salt. How has your skimmer been performiing, any changes there? I wouldn't add fish until you can make sure it isn't still going up.

 

[Johmanda]

Thank you for the reply. I am using my well water for top off and wc. I have tested it today for phosphate and nitrate and both are 0. I am using the Instant Ocean skimmer and hate it. It doesn't seem to be skimming anything and it's adding millions of microbubbles to the tank. I had actually turned it off for a while. I have turned it back on but I'm seriously thinking about getting a different one and taking this one back. 7 days after the water change everything was stable as it had been.

 

[zebe00]

The skimmer not being on is a problem, without proper nutrient export, your PO4 will continue to rise. I would change skimmers if you can to something that will be more effective.

 

[Johmanda]

Thank you - I will plan on doing that ASAP!!

 

[Hunter1876]

Your skimmer is fine--it needs to go threw a cycle and all those micro bubbles
flowing into your tank will stop.
It took mine about 8 hours to cycle.I have a Reef octopus-6"

 

[Downbeach]

Not all skimmers are equal. If it's a sea clone, I'd get something different.