phosphate

I'm trying to rid my aquarium of excess phosphate. I have tested
everything I put into my aquarium, peat, carbon, tap water, food, ect.
The phosphates must be from the gravel/substrate. I'd always thought I
had excellent cleaning practices. However, in an attempt to rid my tank
of everything decaying, waste ect I have started a very vigorous
cleaning schedule with lots of water changes and deep vacuuming (among
other things). Algae growth has since increased and my phosphate levels
are still off the scale of my test kit.
I just read something very interesting on the net. One person's
phosphate was being introduced into the water and causing BGA because
he disturbed the gravel too much, exposing the substrate. Can it be
this easy!? This is exactly what I am doing. He said once he began
vacuuming only 1 cm deep his problems were over and the BGA subsided.
I know I can buy something to absorb the phosphate, but what good is
that if I don't fix the problem? I have started dosing KNO3 as
recommended by Tom Barr(?) raising my nitrates to 10ppm, but it ain't
helping, although it's a good thing to know.
Man, this algae is kicking my butt! I am going to start very light
vacuuming to see if that helps but only time will tell me.

my aquarium page, info and pics at:
www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html

Make sure your tap water is not the problem. My tap water has
phosphate but no nitrate.

spiral_72 wrote:
Algae growth has since increased and my phosphate levels
are still off the scale of my test kit.

How much of your tank is planted? The more plants, the faster the
phosphate reduction. I let a fast growing Water Sprite take over 1/3 of
my tank. Even though, it took weeks before the levels reduced to 0.50
ppm. Hang in there! And check your tap water for phosphate. My level is
2.5 ppm.

Nikki

Hi
I too had a phosphate problem and found out it was the gravel. Some foods
can be high phosphate too!
"spiral_72" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm trying to rid my aquarium of excess phosphate. I have tested
everything I put into my aquarium, peat, carbon, tap water, food, ect.
The phosphates must be from the gravel/substrate. I'd always thought I
had excellent cleaning practices. However, in an attempt to rid my tank
of everything decaying, waste ect I have started a very vigorous
cleaning schedule with lots of water changes and deep vacuuming (among
other things). Algae growth has since increased and my phosphate levels
are still off the scale of my test kit.
I just read something very interesting on the net. One person's
phosphate was being introduced into the water and causing BGA because
he disturbed the gravel too much, exposing the substrate. Can it be
this easy!? This is exactly what I am doing. He said once he began
vacuuming only 1 cm deep his problems were over and the BGA subsided.
I know I can buy something to absorb the phosphate, but what good is
that if I don't fix the problem? I have started dosing KNO3 as
recommended by Tom Barr(?) raising my nitrates to 10ppm, but it ain't
helping, although it's a good thing to know.
Man, this algae is kicking my butt! I am going to start very light
vacuuming to see if that helps but only time will tell me.

my aquarium page, info and pics at:
www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html