LET'S TALK PHOSPHATES

What exactly are phosphates?

Phosphates are something that is in every aquarium. Many of us aren't even aware they are there. Phosphates themselves are not harmful but raised levels can produce situations that can become harmful.

This is one of the reason we diligently do weekly water changes keeping the phosphates at a non problematic level. Without doing proper water changes the phosphate levels will rise. As I said they do not directly harm your fish. High levels of phosphates will encourage algae growth and can result in an algae bloom. Once your water had turned a lovely shade of green then you may have some problems. The green water containing the microscopic algae will deplete the oxygen robbing your fish of the oxygen they need eventually causing them harm.

It's important to learn as much as we can about the elements that come together in providing a safe and healthy environment for our fish. Learning about phosphates, and testing your water, will equip you with knowledge so you are able to decelerate their effects.

Where do phosphates come from?

Phosphates are a natural product produced by the breaking down of waste in your aquarium. Not only fish waste, or leftover foods but everything from chemical buffers to the water itself can contain significant levels of phosphates.

Phosphate sources include..

Leftover food Plant decay Fish waste

Dead fish PH buffers KH buffers Aquarium salts Dying algae And even the water itself

Some carbon filters contain phosphates. Check that the carbon you use is phosphate free. It's believed that once the carbon has absorbed it's capacity it can leach what has been absorbed back into your aquarium. Therefore, it's important, that if you do use carbon it's changed regularly. Using carbon is a personal preference. I personally feel carbon has it's uses but, I don't feel it's something that needs to be part of your regular maintenance routine.

Phosphates come in two forms. Organic and in-organic. API phosphate test kits are very helpful but they are only able to test for inorganic phosphates so in truth you are not getting a complete reading as only part of the phosphates are being examined. You want your phosphate levels to be ideally 0.05 ppms or parts per million. Once levels reach 1 ppm the conditions beneficial for algae growth. At 2-3 ppms algae over-growth will occur.

How do we reduce phosphates? The best way to prevent phosphate elevations is to watch the levels and nip them in the bud before they become problematic.

However, there are ways to reduce your phosphates using the following steps.

A large water change is always your best bet. Although this is just a temporary fix until you find the underlying cause. Until you do you must do frequent water changes to keep your phosphates in check. Remove everything from your aquarium. The rocks and decorations so you can give them a good scrub. Allow things to settle and then vacuum the substrate. After a couple water changes you can change your filter media. Using a phosphate absorber is very effective. You can use it in virtually any type filter. I avoid chemical removers and consider them my last resort.

How do we keep our phosphates low?

Once you have your phosphates where you want them we want to make sure we keep then there. Simple tips include Feed sparingly - uneaten flaked food is the #1 source of phosphates in your water. Just a pinch of food is all they need. Allow them time to eat anything that makes it to the substrate and remove any that they leave.

Consider changing your food. Not all foods are created equal. Phosphates are used as a preservative in flaked food. Make sure and read your labels. Choose the ones lowest in phosphates.

Test your tap water for phosphates. Tap water can contain up to 1ppm of phosphates. If the level is higher than that you should seek an alternate water source.

Regular maintenance is crucial. Weekly water changes are a must. 50% or more I would recommend. Vacuum regularly even if you only vacuum the visually dirty areas collecting any waster particles or debris you can see. This will help avoid phosphates building up. Having a schedule in place for cleaning your filters will also help control excessive phosphates.

Choosing a phosphate absorber to add to your filtration system is recommended. Be careful in choosing carbon as some will leach phosphates. Carbon media made specifically for saltwater tanks will not leach.

Water treatments such as buffers that stabilize PH levels or change the hardness often contain phosphates. They are not recommended unless absolutely necessary. If you feel you must have them, then do a little research and choose the one that has the least amount of phosphates.

In this amazing hobby you will never stop learning.