Phosphates in Chicago Tap Water - The Beginning:
My discovery of relatively high tap water phosphate levels occurred while I was working at a large aquarium store in Chicago.
edu (Xuyong Liu) writes: >I was told that all the pH down contains some sort of phosphate. And >to alleviate the algae problem I have now, I'd rather stop using >phosphate to lower pH.
Phosphate Control: How to Keep Levels in Your Reef Aquarium Near Zero
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith
Q.
Phosphate molecule.
Submitted by: SeahorseWhisperer
Lots of flow, big skimmer and water changes using RO/DI water.
A white crystalline powder used to add calcium and phosphate to aquariums. In this form it is insoluble in water.
[edit] Links
Wikipedia ...
Phosphate (PO4) / Phosphorus (P)
KH2PO4
Monopotassium Phosphate ...
Phosphate
Get a Phosphate Test Kit. This might be considered one of the most important nutrients for many kinds of algae growth. Phosphate (PO4) can enter the aquarium from tap water, fish food and supplements.
Phosphate
Phosphates enter the aquarium mostly through water changes using tap water, but also through food and leaching carbon. Next to chlorine some communities also add phosphates to the tap water.
Phosphates - Phosphates come from two sources - decaying matter such as fish food, and from the water source itself. Testing your tap water for phosphates will let you know if you have a problem with your water source.
Phosphate
Phosphates are a nutrient source that contributes to aggressive algae blooms in your aquarium. Although phosphate has no direct effect on fish, it does feed algae, and this can starve the water of oxygen which in turn can kill your fish.
Phosphate: There are two chemistries by which phosphates may be removed from tank water. The preferred process uses aluminum oxide.
phosphate - An element introduced into the aquarium through organic or inorganic means that promotes excessive algae growth. Can be removed through water changes.
Phosphate: A nutrient that can case uncontrolled growth of algae in the aquarium. It can also be toxic in high concentrations and must be kept to a minimum in reef aquariums.
Phosphate (PO4)
Phosphate is relatively harmless to marine life in low concentrations, it is in fact one of the most important nutrients for the proliferation of a huge range of algal and plant life, it’ ...
Superphosphate
Powder herbicide used to control Filamentous algae (except Chara sp.) Applied at 600 kg / ha.
Supersaturation ...
Phosphates: Reducing and lowering PO4 is the one single most effective way of controlling most of the algae we do not want. Phosphate is found everywhere in nature.
Phosphates and nitrates are excellent sources of food for algae. Algae spores can even enter the aquarium through the air, or with new fish as they're added to the community.
Phosphate (PO4) - A nutrient which in excess fuels most aquarium algae.
Photoperiod - The length of time aquarium lights are on for.
Phytoplankton - Microscopic plants in seawater.
4) Phosphate (PO4-) control
- this is quite an important area to cover.
The phosphate in GAC stems from the fact that activated carbon is manufactured from coal, which was once living plant matter. All living matter is high in phosphates.
It is phosphate and nitrAte free, and is rich in iron and potassium. Plus, you only have to add it once a month.
I found Phosphates: > 5,0 ppm and Nitrates: > 150 ppm.
6. Although a friend who was a newcomer to the hobby asked me in January 2003 how he should set up his Malawi community tank, when I was invited to his place to see the result, ...
Nitrate and phosphate control is usually not needed in freshwater aquariums unless the levels become very high, or there is a continual problem with undesireable algae blooms.
They include; iron(Fe), Carbonate hardness ( K or dCH),CO2, and phosphate (PO4). Naturally, I bought them all. Unnaturally for me, I seldom use them, with one exception, and that's the pH test kit.
Algae - Plant like organisms that grow underwater usually produced by too much light, too much phosphate, and/or overfeeding.
Alkalinity - Sometimes called Carbonate Hardness. The amount of your aquarium water's ability to resist changes in pH.
Fish food usually provides enough of the three macronutrients, nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium (N-P-K), to keep your plants healthy. However, the trace elements such as iron are not all supplied in a form that the plants can use.
Phosphate is a limiting factor for plants. If there is enough of it, algae and rooted plants can flourish, sometime out of control as in the case of green water.
Algae is a main reason for heartache in the tank, it can plague tanks for many years, usually if they keeper is using tap water with residual nitrates or there is phosphate present in the water then algae can last forever.
Getting rid of algae ...
A phosphate remover designed for reef aquariums may be necessary for particularly bad outbreaks.
This can remove free floating algae, but will also remove phosphates and Nitrates that contribute to algae growth.
Make sure that the tank receives no direct sunlight.
In aquaria, the pH of tap water can be manipulated though the use of phosphate, bicarbonate, and other buffers. However the pH may change despite these buffers.
Two common examples are calcium and phosphate reactors. In the first, a calcium carbonate medium and carbon dioxide gas are mixed. The water leaving the reactor is higher in calcium and alkalinity than the water flowing in.
If your tap water is not naturally high in nitrates or phosphates, then your tank may be overcrowded or you may be overfeeding. Your fish should generally be fed 2-3 times a day with each feeding lasting a couple of minutes.
Phosphate-free formula, safely settles minute particles. Works by causing small, suspended particles to quickly clump together.
(There is also some chemical absorption products that can be used to help maintain low levels of nitrate, phosphate, and other harmful elements in a reef tank.) An ultra violet sterilizer is highly recommended to prevent parasite problems in a reef ...
- Phosphates, nitrates and sulphate which is commonly found in tap water. If you have been using tap water for your water changes, you are adding to the problem! Use only reverse-osmosis water with your saltwater fish tank.
Solutions to hair algae: ...
Combined biological and mechanical filtration systems are now common; these are designed to remove potentially dangerous build up of nitrogenous wastes and phosphates dissolved in the water, as well as particulate matter.
One way to figure out how much to use is to start off slowly and measure the levels of nitrates and phosphates to see if your plants use up what you put in.
Nitrate (NO3) and phosphates (PO4) should be kept at undetectable levels at all times in tanks where macro algae are preferred. Once the phosphate levels creep above 1 ppm, hair algae may start to dominate.
Mega Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover - DIY! (GlaringToast)
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What song are you listening to? (ram man) ...
Highly effective for phosphate control in aquariums. Attracts phosphate, nitrate, and nitrite ions to its surface and effectively eliminates them.
Phosphorous is an essential element in the formation of new DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and it forms the high-energy bonds of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the "energy-currency" of all life.
too much phosphate, and/or overfeeding.
Alkalinity - Sometimes called Carbonate Hardness. The amount of your aquarium water's
ability to resist changes in pH. The alkalinity can be raised by using a buffer such as
baking soda.
These are very effective in targeting certain chemical components (ie, phosphate, nitrate, copper) that are harmful to the reef. These have limited time use as well, and should be replaced at the recommendation of the manufacturer.
Nitrogen, contained in nitrates.
Phosphorus, contained in phosphates.
Potassium, which is a component of other salts.
A few other substances are also needed, sometimes in very small quantities: ...
Tap water likely will include chloramines, copper, chlorine, metal, phosphates, and sometimes will include TCE. (Trichloroethylene) ...
They will not treat the root cause of algae problems - too much sunlight or the wrong spectrum of lighting, too many nutrients from overfeeding, phosphates or silicates in water or high nitrates - and could cause more complications by overloading ...
Phosphorous: An important trace element in the marine tank. Phosphorous is an element that helps composed ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is a building block for genetic material, specifically DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
Algae - Microscopic plant like organisms that grow in water. The main causes are usually by too much light, too much phosphate, or overfeeding.
Most refugiums contain plants and macro algae such as mangroves, chaetomorpha, halimeda, ulva lettuce algae, kelp, shaving brush plant, etc. The plants and marco algae feed on the nitrates and phosphates produced in the main tank.
Ceratopteris thalictroides is an excellent choice for a new aquarium where it will help remove excess nitrates and phosphates. Like C. cornuta it also propagates very easily by separating plantlets that have formed on the edges of the leaves.
pH can be measured using a simple inexpensive test kit readily available at Walmart. The kits include drops that can be added to increase or decrease the pH level. The drops are usually phosphate based and will encourage algae growth.
I'm using Kalkwasser now, and letting the level slowly drop down to around 450ppm. I use the LaMotte calcium hardness test for this. Phosphate I don't have a test kit for this. Since I'm using R/O filtered water, I'm not too concerned.
 See also: Water, Fish, Aquarium, Nitrate, Algae
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