Losing Battle to PO4

double2mk · 03-15-2008, 08:36 AM

OK,
I am officially losing the battle to PO4.
I have set up the new tank and have no fish yet, just live sand.
All my other Params are perferct and ready for the transfer, but my PO4 is still at 1.0 according to my Red Sea PO4 test kit.

My source water comes out at 1.0, and even my RO water reads at 1.0, or maybe slightly lower.

On my existing tank i have used, every product known to man and have never seen below 1.0. I have a fair amount of algae so I believe the reading to be accurate. By fair i mean i can see green rock and some fuzzy stuff here and there.

On the new tank, I have added the Via Aqua Media reactor and filled it with the Kent Phosphate Sponge and added a bag of the seachem phosgaurd into the Aquaclear 110 media chamber. After 24 hours, I am still at 1.0.

Can someone please give me some ideas on how to get PO4 down to the 0 level? I will probably migrate the tanks this weekend anyway, but my quest for 0 PO4 continues.

aquaboy · 03-15-2008, 08:56 AM

that sucks.... maybe RO membrane needs to be replaced.. Do you have DI on your ro unit?

mandarin11 · 03-15-2008, 08:57 AM

Do you have a refugium on the tank? Also, I haven't heard great things about that PO4 reactor. I don't have one personally so couldn't tell you from there, but they tend to get bad reviews from what I've seen. Other people may have done fine with them so see if anyone who has one comments. Otherwise I'd try the two little fishies PO4 reactor with phosban (ROWA is better but it's also pricier).

By the way how old are the membranes in your RODI? Pretty sure it shouldn't be reading 1.0 PO4.

double2mk · 03-15-2008, 09:18 AM

No, Unfourtunately I am dealing with all HOB equipment.
I have tried Pads, media in bags and everything. I have heard good things on the RowaPhos, so I think I will try adding that to the Via Aqua and in a bag in the 110.

The Via Aqua is really just a tube that you put media into. The stock pump was no good so I upgraded to a Ehiem pubp that pulls a bunch more water.

how about test kits? Is it possible that the RedSea just isn't accurate enough ? What does everyone else use ?

As for the R/O water, it is a fairly new unit, no DI yet though. Also, I have not tested with TDS yet.

I just can't believe that with what I am running that my PO4 won't do down. This is with no fish and no adding food, this is a bare tank.

Shrug -

Thanks

double2mk · 03-18-2008, 04:26 PM

OK, so I know no one cares, but I am on to something.
I tested my water from the outside spiket that does not go through my house filtration system, and the P4 was in good range.

Hmmm, yes I will call my water guy. Maybe better off using the un filtered water...

Oh , by the way, bought some nutri sea water today and tested, what do you know, P4 reading was at my water level. So no gain with the salt water off the shelf.

\Shrug..

double2mk · 03-22-2008, 10:48 AM

OK,
Back to the LFS twice. Once for the API P4 test kit, yup useless. I will neve by APR for the saltware again. Then I got the Eios P4 test kit and it is reading .001 at the tap and .005 in the tank. The highest reading on the Eios is where I was at with the Red Sea test kit.

So I guess the ultimate test question. If they are all different, which is correct ?

You tell me, Is this excessive algae ?
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...e2mk/algae.jpg

Its not like I have fuzzy green plant everywhere, just green colored rock.

\Cheers

wastemanagement · 03-22-2008, 11:36 AM

I dont think your in trouble here.

What is your Mag, ALK and Cal readings. push em up and it will help alot

Tangster · 03-22-2008, 11:43 AM

If you are testing the House supply water and the PO4's are above .003 then its to high and not with in a good range.. If you can detect PO4's at all with a simple test kit then you have PO4 off the charts .. I think.. You using a R/O unit ? on a well or city water ? You may have an issue with PO4 being released from the rocks or sand even If you use a cheap sand ?? You using any Phosphate Binding media like Ferric Oxide or Aluminum oxide in a reactor or at least in a stream or tank water somewhere? And as mentioned Higher Carbonates and PH levels will help to supress and bind the Phosphates up . But never let the P.H or DKH fall off then it wll all get released .. A good binding media is a must The red sea is a good kit use it at 6 mi of water and 4 and 1 drops and look at it under natural sun light Salifert is also good a kit

double2mk · 03-22-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wastemanagement

I dont think your in trouble here.

What is your Mag, ALK and Cal readings. push em up and it will help alot

Mag is around 1500 (Red Sea), Cal around 470 (Red Sea) , Alk around 2.5 (Red Sea)

\Thanks

double2mk · 03-22-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tangster

If you are testing the House supply water and the PO4's are above .003 then its to high and not with in a good range.. If you can detect PO4's at all with a simple test kit then you have PO4 off the charts .. I think.. You using a R/O unit ? on a well or city water ? You may have an issue with PO4 being released from the rocks or sand even If you use a cheap sand ?? You using any Phosphate Binding media like Ferric Oxide or Aluminum oxide in a reactor or at least in a stream or tank water somewhere? And as mentioned Higher Carbonates and PH levels will help to supress and bind the Phosphates up . But never let the P.H or DKH fall off then it wll all get released .. A good binding media is a must The red sea is a good kit use it at 6 mi of water and 4 and 1 drops and look at it under natural sun light Salifert is also good a kit

I am going to call the water guy. I had a water filtration unit installed for the house (well) water, and I just read that that would increase Phosphates and silicates. I tested the spiggot water that bypasses the filter and it definatley reads lower.

I have cut back on the frozen meaty foods for awhile, specially now that the snowflake os gone and sticking with flakes.

I am running Phosban in the media reactor, phosguard in a bag in the filter and a Phosphate pad in the filter and even added drops of BlueVet Phosphate Control. My Red Sea test kit never budged.

I plan to call the water guy to see whats up.

I even tested bottled sea water by nature, my poland spring water and my RO unit. All test 1.0 with Red Sea. Definatley lower with the Elios.

How about the pic ? Does it look like too much algae ?