Phosphates >.9

[NotReefsafe]

My Hanna checker says my phosphates are greater than .9, and I have no idea why. I use RODI, did a water change a week ago, have a bunch of fresh phosphate remover in the tank, have just one fish in a 15g, and feed lightly. I have had a hair algae issue for a few months now. Any ideas?

 

[Pickle_soup]

What I your nitrates at? I always found it difficult to lower my phosphates when nitrates were high. But I don't think it's a water quality issue, perhaps calibration issue.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

sounds like a testing issue. Not sure what your experience with hanna is but theyare super finicky and test needs to be done exactly correctly or you get .9

 

[bushdoc]

I do not subscribe to an oppinion that Hanna checkers are finicky, they work good for me and give consistent, reliable results.
Phosphates tend to accumulate in reef tank if you actively do not remove them by either chemical methods( GFO, Lanthanum) or algae scrubber or refugium. They can also leach from some type of rock. Water changes are also subpar to remove nitrates.
Phosphate removers work better in reactor than just passively put in a media bag and left in tank or sump.
If phosphates is truly 0.9 with repeated testing, I would suggest Lanthanum to decrease it, but this method requires some preparation and diligence, like almost everything in reefing.