advice on phosphates

[kasha]

so i bought this 50G aquarium which was set up using nyc tap water for 2 years. 2 months ago I installed an RO/DI unit and have been using that since. At that point I also introduced macro algae to my sump. 2 weeks ago I installed a phosphate reactor. My phosphates are still running at 0.5ppm according to a reefmaster test kit by API. I'm wondering if its just a matter of time or if there is something else I need to do. I've been doing water changes once a week of 2 big buckets (the kind that you buy instant ocean salt in).

thanks in advance,
kasha

 

[kasha]

update:

i did some tests on the water quality. the results i get are nyc phosphates 5.0+, ro/do 0.5-1.0, and aquarium water 0.25-0.5. so it seems like the aquarium (with the macroalgae and phosphate reactor) actually lowers the phosphates from the ro/di product. so by doing weekly water changes i'm actually raising the phosphates?? is this possible?

thanks again

 

[mray]

The DI portion of your filter should remove every and anything in the water. It is possible to have less phosphate in your aquarium than in the water you add in especially if you have macroalgae and a phosphate reactor.

 

[Wes]

i'd change the media in your phosphate reactor every 2 weeks until you get them low enough. The media fills up fast if you have high phosphates.

 

[NYPDFrogman]

update:

i did some tests on the water quality. the results i get are nyc phosphates 5.0+, ro/do 0.5-1.0, and aquarium water 0.25-0.5. so it seems like the aquarium (with the macroalgae and phosphate reactor) actually lowers the phosphates from the ro/di product. so by doing weekly water changes i'm actually raising the phosphates?? is this possible?

thanks again

something is wrong your RO/DI water should be zero phosphates.
I had .05 PPM in my RO/DI water, my membrane was 1.5 years old.
production never dropped off so I thought there was no problem
change your membrane it's cheaper than constantly changing GFO
once I overhauled my RO/DI system my phosphates dropped to zero

 

[h20 freak]

^^^agreed, Idk what kind of system you have, but if the canisters are clear, look at the carbon cartridge and the sediment cartridge, if they're not white at all its time for a change.

 

[ming]

Just tested my tap water with a hanna meter at 2.00 phosphates and my RO water at .04 phosphates
My tank is at .13 phosphates last I checked

 

[NaClH2oTANK]

am I worng or will certain salt mixes add phosphates?