Phosphates in new tank

[DawghuntR]

Hi all I have a new 100g tank that I cycled with bottle bac. Been running for around 3 weeks! Tank has 2 clowns 2snails and a peppermint shrimp.

Just got some fresh test kits today including a phosphate one. Test came back with 1mg/L! After research I've found this is very high!

Any ideas what could cause this number in 3weeks?

I had filter floss in there to clean up the cloudyness from when it started.

It was started with dry rock. And an old tanks sand (dead)

Do phosphates build up that quick? Nothing has died, could it just be from food? Haven't been feeding much.

Could my skimmer not be good enough?

 

[Hemmdog]

It sounds like it’s coming from the sand, or the rock.

 

[DawghuntR]

Yeah so that can happen? Just do some water changes and see how it goes?

 

[Hemmdog]

Yeah so that can happen? Just do some water changes and see how it goes?

Water changes are very inefficient at removing nutrients. You don’t have coral yet, I would use GFo and get PO4 down to 0.02ppm, then pull it. What test are you checking PO4 with by the way?

 

[SPR1968]

I’ve been running Rowaphos from day one in my new 530g system (1kg) to keep phosphate locked down very low. If you can you will avoid many unwanted problems

It could be coming from many sources, but the bottom line is you want it below around 0.03ppm

 

[DawghuntR]

Using Sera PO4 test, checked tap water and it doesn't even show up so def lots in my tank! I have a reactor so will run some gfo and hopefully it stays down,

 

[DawghuntR]

Would just be great to know where it all came from. There is lots of debris in the sump I have added some sponge and filter sock to try and capture these.

 

[DawghuntR]

Does anyone think seed (nitrifying bacteria) would raise phosphate levels? I've been adding it as I add new fish and randomly here and there also? Thinking it might have phosphates to help the bacteria grow.