Urgent help High phosphates

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

But by adding GFO it was a noticeable drop in levels and it it continues to drop would that not mean it's not binded to the e rock and sand. ?

Any ongoing method can work to remove both bound and unbound phosphate. It keeps pulling out phosphate until it reaches a new equilibrium.

Water changes would too, if you did them repeatedly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah ok. It was originally at .59 though. And now at 0.2ish is be happy to keep around that or slowly lower. Just think removing rocks and cooking them for a few months is just not an option for me. So can rule out out. Understand it's definitely a way to fix the underlying issue if in fact it is that but I'll try alternatives for now as the tank is only 4 weeks only. Believe the mass bioload in one bit is a huge factor

That's not what I was suggesting.

I meant that an ongoing phosphate removal method (GFO, macroalgae, lanthanum, aluminum oxide, etc.) might be needed, while a single shot method like a water change isn't always successful.