Phosphates

I just measured my phosphate and they came out to be .25, and i know they should be at zero, I have a phosban reactor filled with phosban pellets from seachem, today i am doing a water change, what do you guys think I should do to get them lowered. I wash the fronzen food with tap or rodi water, i feed once a day. Any help will be appreciated.

 

are you topping off with ro or tap water?

 

What test kit are you using for phosphate? I'm not all that picky about brands usually. However, for phosphates one really needs one of the high-end brands. For instance, it has been my experience that API phosphate test kits always read .25 but if you test the same sample of water with high-end test kits, you'll get a zero.

 

+1 on a good test. It seems like you are feeeding ALOT too. What all are you feeding?

 

I am not quite sure what you mean by "pellets", I just did some searching but only found Phosband GFO. With GFO you never want the reactor "filled". You should only use like a couple of tablespoons for a 50 gal. tank.

 

Sorry about the delay but i finally got home, my tank is 180 to start off.
I am using the api test kits, but i but them against seachem test kit which shows .5, i know there are phosphates in there because my tank has a lot of algae in it.
I am feeding mysis shrimp every other day, then seaweed delight from sally.
I also top off with rodi water, instead of tap water.
I think I ansewered everybodies question if I didnt just tell me.

 

The seachem phosguard is aluminum based (white pellets?) It has the potential to release some phosphates back into the water. You should be using an Iron Based, such as Phosban, Rowaphos, or what I use is Pura Phosguard. I believe Bulk Reef Supply sells their own loose media also. It will be brown in color. Try it for a couple of months and see if you get better readings. I have a 150g, and change it monthly along with my carbon.

 

alright cool ill replace it soon, it just hard to find phosban at all were im located at,seachem pretty much has an monopoly here.

 

Order online...with shipping it comes out about the same as buying in stores