Cannot get phosphates down

100% agree

J

 

I tested my saltwater premix that I use for water changes and the phosphate was the same reading (.25) that I get from my DT. What is going on? I use Instant Ocean--are they know for high phosphates or something?

 

what water do you use test just the water, before you add salt

 

No, I measured the water with the salt mixed in the bucket (my freshly mixed that goes in the DT when I do water change).

 

UPDATE: I just tested my DT water with a Salifert kit from BRS. The reading is at most .03. The API kit was consistent in .25 no matter if I tested the DT water or the pre-mixed saltwater in the bucket for the water change. I am glad I ordered the other kit and feel much better about my water quality!

 

Check this out--I tested my premixed salt water for my water change sitting in my 5g bucket next to my tank for phosphates. The reading was an astounding .1! My DT is at .03. Is Instant Ocean really that high in phosphates? I was going to switch to Reef Crystals next time anyway. Is there a salt that has zero phosphates?

 

Are you using RO/DI water? If not, test the water before mixing with salt.

 

I do not use RO/DI at the moment. I tested my top-off water and that is the culprit (good call). Would just RO water help my phosphate problem?

 

just get yourself some phosban and a small reactor and ure good ;p

 

I do use a BRS reactor with GFO which obviously is working if my DT only tests at .03. Is phosban better than GFO?