Tap Water PH Increased

Hello All,
Sorry if this is a dumb question, I have only had my reef tank for 6 months.

Setup:
46 Gallon, 2 Penguin 350, Heater, Coral Life lite
Tests:
Am 0, N2 0, N3 0, PhS 1, Alk 2.5, PH 8.6, dkh, 8, ca 380, SG 1.023, temp 78

Aside from fighting the phosphate which is one question, anyone know of a phosphate reducer that works ? I have tried several.

My real question is, all along my Tap water has tested at 7.0 and when I added the salt it was 8.4. perfect . All of a sudden, my well is producing 7.6 and my PH is now teasting at 8.6 pr higher, tough to tell how high.

Question is, will 8.6 kill the fish ? Any thoughts on lowering my filtered water back down to 7?

Alternativly, my 2 fresh water tanks are now having higher PH as a result.

Thanks in advance

 

What PO4 removal medias have you used ? reason I ask it may not be that what you used was insufficient but that it was applied or used incorrectly. The problem may well be that you are re-adding the Phosphates to the system unknowingly.
A PH of 8.6 is fine more would have less algae trouble if they ran a bit higher P.H and carbonate level..

 

Thanks,
I have used Blue Life Phosphate control, using the recommended drops once a day. Also used Seachem Phosguard and one other.

My tests always show 1 on the readsea test kit and the API test kit was useless.

I have your basic green colored Live rock and I am trying to lower the Phosphate to rid of that and try to get the purple coraline to grow.


A bunch of crabs and snails helped for awhile but the snowflake morray keeps eating them.


I have on order the Kent Phosphate Sponge media. I will try it in two of the 4 available Penguin media baskets.

My PH has only been at 8.6 for about 3 weeks now.

 

The Phouard is one of the best products out there But its aluminum oxide and at some point can under certain conditions release its absorbed PO4's back In the water. I used it for yrs with no issues at all then last yr I switched to Phos loc ?? same product as ROWA its a Ferric Iron oxide and will not release trapped PO4's

You mentioned dwell water is that what you use for top off ? could be other issues there silicates will sometimes give a false PO4 reading..
Is this a Fish only or reef tank we are talking about ?

 

Well for now its a fish only reef, I want to get into corals and others, but for now just fish and a mushroom or two.

When I test the Phosphates out of the tap I get 0, out of the tank I get 1.0.
Not sure how to determine if it is actually phosphates or a false reading, but my assumption is that with 0 from tap and 1 from the tank, with the addition of algea, I suspect phosphates.

My Kent just came in so I will try that for a day or two to see what results I get.


Thanks for you info.

 

With a f/o tank I bet you are dding the PO4's look at the nitrate levels and what type of fish do you keep ? Meat eaters ? feeding alot of frozen Brine and other meats ? They are loaded with Phosphates as a rule.. dissolve some in your tap water then test that water for the PO4's ..

 

No kidding??
Yes, Brine Shrimp, Mysis, Krill, and Clams, at different times of course.
Krill and clams are for the Morray and the Brine and Mysis are for the others.

I put in 1 Cube of Brine and about 4 pieces of Krill or a quarter size piece of clam for the eel. Some pellets and flakes for the others.


I had no idea the food could be the culprit.

I will try what you suggest.


Thanks again...

 

BINGO ! man every thing you posted is loaded with PO4's and nitrates might want to add a good PO4 reactor and fire up a de-nitrater coil.. F/O are notorious for these problems unlike a reef that is more balanced biologically corals up take what many fish excrete as waste .. And in a reef the fish are not huge eaters of the frozen meat stuff hell I always just fed my fish flakes.. Still feed 98% flakes

 

Almost all foods contain PO4 naturally, and most use PO4 as a preservative added to the packaging or directly to the food itself.
Flake foods included.
Soak flake food in water overnight and test for phosphates. If you don't find any it will be rare.
I have standard spirulina, Jehmco's 95% spirulina, and OSI marine flake, and all contain pretty high phosphate levels.

 

Si is Phosphate normal or do I need to use "PO4 reactor and fire up a de-nitrater coil" as Tangster recommends ?

I am focused on Phosphates as My LR has a cover of green and I am trying to get rid of it. I am losing the battle, but the PO4 stays at 1.0.


\Shrug