Phosphate Concern???

My 55 gallon is 6 weeks old.
with the exception of phosphates, all of my levels are where they should be. all of my levels are at 0, and my high range ph is at 8.3, my calcium is around 460
however, my phosphates are around .25 (the lowest spot on my API card except zero). I have tried feeding less, vacuuming gravel, i did a 6 gallon water change last night (using ro/di water). I am miffed on how to get it down to zero. i get a small amount of algea growing, but nothing crazy (and my tank is still new)
should i be concerned about this .25 phosphate? how can i bring it down further? any advice or recommendations would be helpful
thanks,
JP

 

GFO - granular ferric oxide
in a reactor is best option IMO

I like Rowaphos but there are plenty of options

Steve

 

+1 to GFO.

If this is ro/di water from a LFS you should test that water for phosphates as well. Ideally you should be around 0.05 ppm, so phosphates are coming from somewhere, weather from the intial water used to cycle, or feedings. As long as you are not seeing a ton of algae the number will probably start coming down as the tank ages and you use quaility ro/di, for wc and top off.

 

If you are feeding frozen, thaw and rinse in RO to eliminate the phosphates from processing.

 

2in1,
i usually just thaw using water from my tank with a turkey baster, add both tank water and frozen food to a dixie cup, and then i put both food and water back into my tank using turkey baster? is this improper?

 

do you have a fudge and .25 isnt bad its just not zero i would do a fudge with micro algae it will eatup the phosphates imo i dont bother with it to much i thin it out once and a while other then that it does its job grows and when i thin it out i take it to the lfs and get credit i actually just got a nice frag from my micro =) good luck and it could be just in cycle still best to let it wait a bit longer have you added anything

 

Many frozen foods used binders that are loaded in phosphates. If you're doing it this way, you're adding all those phophates to the tank. If you thaw in RODI, then rinse in RODI, you get all those gone before you feed.

 

thank you guys

 

I figured out the problem,it was the binders in the frozen foods i was using. i tested a bit of the rinse water that i thawed with and it immediately went past the 10.0 mark. they were packed full of phosphates. i ordered some of the "meaty mix" from reefcleaners. they are phosphate free

 

Look into Rod's food also, have heard great things about it & it doesn't need to be rinsed: ROD'S FOOD -Providing your salt water aquarium with the finest food.