High phosphate during cycle?

Hi, im 2 weeks in and the stats are as follows.

Tank: 10G
LR: 10lb
Lights: 12000K 36W PC, 6500K 36W PC

Ammonia: 0
Nitrates: 0
Nitrites: 0
PH: 8.2
Temp: 26C
Phosphate: 5 ppm!!!!!!!

OMG! So I must confess I did use tap water *hides* with some de-chlorinator treatment. When I tested the tap water it came up with 0 phosphate?
I've got some RO/DI water in the closet now, and was thinkning of doing a partial water change?

The tank like i said is 2 weeks old, seems to have done its cycle (cured LR was used). Just a couple of days ago I got a mass of diatoms on the rock tops and the sand bed. This was the first time I tested for phosphate, but have been monitoring the others closely.

So is it time for a water change? try and get it down? or would the phosphate be building up from all the die off and diatoms that have just started?

Theres HEAPS of pods crusing around the rocks so it cant be too bad in there right?

 

Its not to bad in there at all Steve
but with that elevated phosphate level, any algae spores that came with your live rock are going to have a field day so you do need to get that level in check before adding any further livestock - hair algae for example in a tank with just rock in is a minor issue thats easy to deal with , hair algae in a tank with corals in, is a PITA that you dont want to go through

using RODI water for water changes will help by diluting the level
but in addition I would get and run some GFO (Phosban, Rhowphos, Aquaphos etc)

so get the level down and then keep it down

Steve

 

Thx for the speedy reply! I've got a bucket of RO/DI water mixing and heating with salt ATM, so will do a little water change. Mainly to get rid of some of the floaties and dead stuff on the sand bed.
I've seen phosban down at the shop, may go grab some aswell. I'm not planning to put any livestock in for at least 2 more weeks (when the pay comes in).

 

Steve

if you have no livestock in at present, while you have the phosphate issue , dont run your lights IMO

the lighting will encourage any nuisance algaes

Steve

 

Good idea, I always had this in the back of my mind from the freshwater tanks i've got.
So new water is in, lights are off, and will test again this afternoon.

Thanks for the advice!

 

chema-pure elite will knock it out in 2-3 days. i just went through that.

 

Have any of you tried Brightwell Aquatics Phosphate removal? I just put 2 capfuls in last night so I will test again tommorrow but mine was at 1ppm. Only thing I can tell is my tang looks freaked out but I will keep you guys updated. The 8.5 fl. oz. bottle cost $23 so it better work! lol