phosphate level kills fish?

[bradreef]

will a high phosphate level in general kill my FISH? i know that i can get some algae blooms...but kill fish? I am not talking about inverts or corals...

 

[Anonymous]

I haven't heard that it can, so my feeling is the PO4 level would have to be absurdly high to directly harm the fish.

 

[bradreef]

my fish m aint guy said that the reason my fish are dying is that my phosphate levels are too high in my water. therefore, his replacement guarantee is waived according to him. so i am out like 3 150 dollar fish because of this...and i do have a phosphate removing bag in the tank..removed monthly

 

[Anonymous]

I'm sure it can, but like Brian said it would have to be high. How long has your tank beed set up?

 

[Anonymous]

my fish m aint guy said that the reason my fish are dying is that my phosphate levels are too high in my water. therefore, his replacement guarantee is waived according to him. so i am out like 3 150 dollar fish because of this...and i do have a phosphate removing bag in the tank..removed monthly

I never heard that this can kill actual fish. It could I guess, but never directly heard this.
I did notice something in your post, however. If you ar eusing a phosphate sponge, you do not leave it in for a month at a time.
In my experience with using kents phosphate sponge, of which you may be using somethig similar, you only keep it in the flow of water for 24-72 hours then remove it. After that time, it can re-release the phos back into the tank!
Also, make sure the sponge you are using is ceramic based. The other ones do more harm than good.

 

[zonkers]

I know that many freshwater pH buffers are phosphate based, so I'm not inclined to think that they're toxic to fish, fresh or marine. Going back to basics on the nitrogen cycle, however, it may be worth remembering at least in regards to nitrates, that these are not harmless to fish, but only less harmful. In enough quantities, my understanding is that these can be harmful in the long run. Perhaps your LFS was confusing the two?

 

[ZooKeeper1]

You can leave GFO in for that long, but it needs to be run in a reactor, not in a bag in the sump. You can easily get the levels undetectable that way.
Just in case GFO = rowaphos or phosban

 

[RobertoVespucci]

Ok, then sue the dude for not keeping your phosphate levels down. He is your maintenance man, right?

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, then sue the dude for not keeping your phosphate levels down. He is your maintenance man, right?

Lmao...true roberto! If the guy is doing the maint, then its his fault.
Good call

 

[Anonymous]

You can leave GFO in for that long, but it needs to be run in a reactor, not in a bag in the sump. You can easily get the levels undetectable that way.
Just in case GFO = rowaphos or phosban

Definately, but i was assuming by the post that it was in the tank...either the sump or in some kind of flow. In which case more than 72 hrs (give r take) t would re-release.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, then sue the dude for not keeping your phosphate levels down. He is your maintenance man, right?

Lmao...true roberto! If the guy is doing the maint, then its his fault.
Good call

Ya know, that was my first thought as well.

 

[Anonymous]

my fish m aint guy said that the reason my fish are dying is that my phosphate levels are too high in my water. therefore, his replacement guarantee is waived according to him.

Next time your fish maintenance guy brings a fish test his water from the bag

From what I read PO4 can stunt the growth of fish. I suppose there is a lethal level but I can't imagine how impossibly high it would have to be.

 

[Anonymous]

will a high phosphate level in general kill my FISH? i know that i can get some algae blooms...but kill fish? I am not talking about inverts or corals...

don't know and have never heard of toxic phosphates levels to fish. But could be.

I am more worried about what else is not being filtered out if phosphates are still in the water. Those toxins could kill the fish IMO.

 

[ChrisRD]

my fish m aint guy said that the reason my fish are dying is that my phosphate levels are too high in my water. therefore, his replacement guarantee is waived according to him. so i am out like 3 150 dollar fish because of this...

If I were you, I would start looking for someone else to do business with...

 

[Anonymous]

Ummm, did he ever tell you what your readings were? I think I'd like to see some results for myself. Oh, how often is he coming, how often and how much water is he changing out, and is he using ro/di water?