Phosphate problems??

[Mick Crawford]

Here I go again,

Can anyone tel me how high and dangerous a 0.5 phosphate reading is and the best method to get rid of it. Rowaphos, Phosguard or Elimifos have all been recommended.

All other readings in my tank are fine but I have a terrible algae problem. Algae on the coral substrate is orange slime type algae and on everything else like a short brown hair algae which brushes off quite easily but over a few days becomes quite dense again.
The only corals I have left are a leather and a bush, everything else has died including mushrooms polyps and xenia.
Tank is an Aqua Medic percula 90 with 30 lbs of Live rock, 2 yellow tangs, 5 yellow tailed chromis, 2 cardinals, 1 damsel, 1 clown. 2 dancing shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 dancing shrimps and several snails.

 

[Anonymous]

The best and most effective way to rid oneself of phosphate is to feed less and do large frequent water changes and syphon out what you can at those water changes. If that doesnt' help, then test your source water. Getting rid of hair algea is a long and laborous process that can't be fixed over night, but with diligence and good maintenance practices it will go away.

 

[zear0]

make sure to use rodi water during your water changes. There's a good chance your tap water has phosphate in it.

 

[jlneng]

Try using Kent Phosphate Sponge. Put about 2 cups in a bag or a cannister type filter. Run 24hours, replace with new media, run another 24 hours, and then replace media again and change about 1 time per week. Stop overfeeding! Make sure that the water that you use for make up, and water changes is phosphate free.

 

[alti1]

11 fish in a 75 gal seems liuke alot to me. thats alot of waste for your tank. also if u r using the stock pump that comes with the tank u r definately gonna be very low on circulation and probably have a large detrius buildup somewhere in the tank. try to increase circulation in the tank so you dont get detrius piling up in the rocks.

what r your nitrate levels?you will probably get a very low nitrate reading, but that does not mean you dont have nitrates. it juist means that the alga are consuming it. same goes with the phosphate. water changes are the way to go. dont bother with phosphate sponges. try to vacuum out all the algea you can. use a piece of rigid tubing attatched to some airline tubing. that will allow u to get alot of the algea without sucking out too much water.