How To Raise Phosphate In Reef Tank

Written past Adam Farrelly

In a previous blog, nosotros discussed the causes and furnishings of high Nitrate in a saltwater aquarium. Phosphate is something that goes hand in paw with the latter, consisting primarily of organic and chemical waste and, whilst found in a much smaller concentration in saltwater, can have a pregnant result on the aquarium.

In this blog we shall discuss the various types of phosphate establish in saltwater, how the levels of said phosphates build up overtime, and how to command high Phosphates.

What is Phosphate?

Phosphates consist of compounds of PO 4  groups (One cantlet of Phosphorus to 4 atoms of Oxygen) and are used by all life on earth (including in our own bodies) for protein synthesis. The ii master types of Phosphate plant in reef aquariums are Organic Phosphate (amino acids and proteins) and Inorganic Phosphates (Orthophosphates).

Common Sources of High Phosphate

These Include

• Overfeeding (particularly with pellets and coral foods)
• Overstocking
• Inadequate Filtration
• Poor Maintenance

Consequences Of High Phosphate

• Algae Blooms
• Bacterial Blooms
• Brown Corals
• Wearisome or nonexistent coral growth

Controlling Phosphate Levels and the Nitrate/Phosphate Ratio

The first thing you should call back when it comes to controlling Phosphate, you must control Nitrate likewise, every bit the 2 go hand in mitt. An imbalance of ane tin crusade undesirable organisms to bloom (Dinoflagellates, Cyanobacteria etc.) due to their preference for one beingness much higher than the other. The ideal ratio of Nitrate to Phosphate levels in a reef aquarium is generally 16/1 (Nitrate levels are unremarkably 16 times college than Phosphate levels). Thankfully, the control methods for Phosphate are like to those of Nitrate.

Phosphate Removal Methods

As discussed in a previous blog about controlling Nitrates, the most obvious style one can control Phosphate levels is with regular water changes. Irresolute 10 to 20% of the aquarium's h2o volume per week is platonic for preventing a buildup of Phosphate in the aquarium and comes with additional benefits such as the removal of toxins. But as is the case again, locating the source of the elevated Phosphate levels will ever be the best place to kickoff.

Phosphates can be removed in a number of ways, but a adept identify to start is with a good Protein Skimmer such as the Chimera Magus Curve Series . These machines make use of a pump driven venturi to agitate h2o as it is sucked into the skimmer sleeping room, resulting in floating solids and settling equally a fine foam at the top, perfect for removing any organic phosphates in the water.

As with Nitrates, Carbon Dosing with products such as Red Sea NOPOX will speed up the process and maintain a balanced ratio of Nitrate and Phosphate. Another Chemical method is with the use of Lanthanum Chloride (LaCl3) additives such as Breakthrough Phosphate Remover and ATM Agent Dark-green . These will chemically bind phosphate in the h2o column, where it can be removed by a poly peptide skimmer.

Possibly the almost constructive way to outright remove phosphate from the water is with a Granular Ferric Oxide media (GFO) such as ROWAPHOS, which tin be combined with a reactor to further speed upward the absorption process. This again chemically binds phosphate, this time to the media itself, and tin can quickly strip phosphates from the water column.

With a sumped aquarium, macroalgae tillage is likewise effective, every bit it is with Nitrates. Macroalgae such equally Chaetomorpha can grow rapidly, and are a slap-up way to prevent outbreaks of cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates as they substantially outcompete those species for nutrients. Exist sure to periodically harvest excess macroalgae in lodge to prevent overgrowth and to physically remove nitrates from the arrangement.

We at Aquariumkeeping.co.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland will always be happy to answer any questions regarding any matter discussed in this blog, every bit well as any questions regarding solutions to high nitrate. Feel gratuitous to contact us via the website or whatsoever of our social media links below.

Source: https://www.aquariumkeeping.co.uk/blogs/news/high-phosphate-in-saltwater-aquariums-causes-and-solutions

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