phosphate woes

Xinxin Shao wrote:

I am trying to remove phosphate too. Currently, I am using phos-x. After
1 week, I still got 1ppm phosphate. Are there anyone that can
recommend a good phosphate remover without damage the plant and fish?

Plants themselves need phosphate. In this same thread Tom Barr
recommends 1-2 ppm phosphate. The trick is to have balance in the
nutrient levels. Read Tom's stuff or also read about the Redfield ratio:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~buddendo/aquar...dfield_eng.htm

Fast growing floating plants should suck up phophate and help keep the
level low.

Scott Far Thunder wrote:
Hau kolas..

I've been battling black beard and hair algae in a 29 gallon planted
tank for some time now..and basically losing. I've tried to find fish to
control it.. a. splendens, pl*co, CAE all basically ignored it; I've
recently added some SAE that at least nibble on it. I've removed
affected leaves and plants. I've been unable to find a phosphate test
locally, got one through mail-order the other day and the readings from
it are off the chart. the test goes from 0 -10 ppm. so, I'm thinking the
aquarium must be out of balance to have accumulated such a high level of
phosphate and thus the algae. A couple questions..what is the best way
to minimize/eliminate/manage the high level of phosphates now; i.e. add
more plants (are there certain types which utilize phosphate more
readily than others?), chemical media (I'm looking at phosban, any
feedback?), something else, or a combination? And hand-in-hand with
that, the "best" way to manage for phosphate over the long run? Is there
some other nutrient that should be added to enhance phosphate uptake? No
CO2, seachem flourish excel instead; trace elements once a week. kH 6 gh
9 pH 7.0 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 5-10ppm nitrates (tap water reads 5 ppm)
65-watt CF lighting 10 hours/day. Tank currently has approx. 20" of
fish-load, and an infestation of MTS (I've pulled about 500 out of there
over the last 8-9 weeks). Live plants are mixture of root and stem
plants medium density. tap water reads approx 0.5ppm phosphate; feeding
tetramin pro tropical crisps (analysis chart says 1.1% minimum
phosphorous - is this high?) twice daily, fish consume immediately. any
suggestions as to what I can do/should do and/or where I've gone wrong
greatly appreciated. TIA

lila pilamaya
--
**FREE LEONARD PELTIER NOW**
you do have a reply from Mr Barr there, so not much I can add but a
great phosphate remover is Rowaphos. Just keep it in the filter.

I would check the level of phosphate in your tapwater too. You can bring
it down using RO'd water, I tend to use a phosphate remover but because
the PO4 in my tapwater is so high it seems to keep a adequate level of
PO4 in the tank so again its about balance.