How to raise phosphates

fishkeeprian · 07/11/2020, 01:07 PM

Hello I need to raise my phosphates.

They were undectable on my icp and on the hanna phosphorus checker it’s 0ppb. So with taking into account the Hanna error range it’s between 0.000 and 0.015.

I don’t want to feed more as I feed twice aday and I dont want lots of uneaten food rotting in my tank. I’m only running the skimmer through the night so it’s only in for 10.5 hours aday.

What’s is the go to chemical?

Thanks

bertoni · 07/11/2020, 08:29 PM

I think Amazon still might be selling food-grade trisodium phosphate. That's where I'd look first.

Potoooooooo · 07/11/2020, 08:41 PM

https://www.loudwolf.com/storefront/...119&search=Tsp

Zionas · 07/12/2020, 02:52 AM

If your tank is not too highly stocked, maybe add a couple more fish?

fishkeeprian · 07/12/2020, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

I think Amazon still might be selling food-grade trisodium phosphate. That's where I'd look first.

I’m in the U.K. and struggling to find your suggestion. I can find it on amazon U.K. but it’s industrial grade.

I can get Seachem phosphorus which is for fresh water planted tanks, little more pricey but would it work?

My tank is 200 litre water volume how much would I need to dose to raise phosphates to 0.03? I want to do it gradually, so what would you recommend?

Here’s the instructions for the Seachem product.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ab88yj2u0..._0720.PNG?dl=0

bertoni · 07/12/2020, 03:55 AM

The SeaChem product should be fine. I would try ⅕ of the "beginner" dose as a starting point. So that's 0.5 ml per 20 gallons (or 80 liters) of actual water volume. Do you have a good estimate of the amount of water in the system?

fishkeeprian · 07/12/2020, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

The SeaChem product should be fine. I would try ⅕ of the "beginner" dose as a starting point. So that's 0.5 ml per 20 gallons (or 80 liters) of actual water volume. Do you have a good estimate of the amount of water in the system?

Hi yes my actual water volume is 200 litres.

dubmaneh · 07/12/2020, 08:02 AM

Use the seachem stuff but just go slow. Very slow, as in for a few weeks. IME P04 will stay stubbornly low for a while and then jump.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Uncle99 · 07/12/2020, 12:57 PM

I use Seachem Phosporus to show trace phosphates.
In my 65g, with 50g water, I use 1ml per day, which maintains my phosphates at 0.03.

Three weeks in now, and testing with Salifert and Hanna daily.

bertoni · 07/12/2020, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishkeeprian

Hi yes my actual water volume is 200 litres.

I'd probably try 1.5 ml.

07/11/2020, 01:07 PM	#1
fishkeeprian Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: England, Earl Shilton Posts: 1,452	How to raise phosphates Hello I need to raise my phosphates. They were undectable on my icp and on the hanna phosphorus checker it’s 0ppb. So with taking into account the Hanna error range it’s between 0.000 and 0.015. I don’t want to feed more as I feed twice aday and I dont want lots of uneaten food rotting in my tank. I’m only running the skimmer through the night so it’s only in for 10.5 hours aday. What’s is the go to chemical? Thanks __________________ If in doubt ask!

07/11/2020, 08:29 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I think Amazon still might be selling food-grade trisodium phosphate. That's where I'd look first. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/12/2020, 03:55 AM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The SeaChem product should be fine. I would try ⅕ of the "beginner" dose as a starting point. So that's 0.5 ml per 20 gallons (or 80 liters) of actual water volume. Do you have a good estimate of the amount of water in the system? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/11/2020, 08:41 PM	#3
Potoooooooo Registered Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 23	https://www.loudwolf.com/storefront/...119&search=Tsp

07/12/2020, 02:52 AM	#4
Zionas Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 474	If your tank is not too highly stocked, maybe add a couple more fish?

07/12/2020, 08:02 AM	#8
dubmaneh Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 271	Use the seachem stuff but just go slow. Very slow, as in for a few weeks. IME P04 will stay stubbornly low for a while and then jump. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

07/12/2020, 12:57 PM	#9
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I use Seachem Phosporus to show trace phosphates. In my 65g, with 50g water, I use 1ml per day, which maintains my phosphates at 0.03. Three weeks in now, and testing with Salifert and Hanna daily.