Phosphates after ro ?

[Jessie Nicoletti]

ok so just out of curiosity i tested my water out of the ro unit it was 0 phosphates, i mixed and added salt ect. and a few days later ( today) tested it it had very low phophates but they were still thier probarly .1, the tank is like .5 atm maybe a bit less. so how is it the water got phosphates in it if this is the water that was mixing in the bucket and had NO phospates when i first added the salt.

i am useing oceanic salt and added a little bit of buffer to raise ph and alkalinity. the water was mixed 3 days maybe with a rio pump/powerhead that i just bought. i am useing a 33 gal trashcan ( plastic). the lid has holes cut for wires. about 1/4th size hole for oxogen exchange. the end of the pump has a hose and the end of the hose has a small airline tube in it to help add air while mixing. this is suspended by a zip tie to the lid so the water is drawn from the bottom to the top.

ive made maybe 110 gal withy the ro system so far .

bucket water ph 8.2 alk blue range ( cant recall the # but its the red sea test) phosphates really low but still present.

tank has slighlty lower ph probarly 8.1 to 7.9 alkalinity the level of blue wasnt as intesnse and bordered the green level of the scale phos , a decent amount higher then the bucket.

any sugestions ? i am thinking it may be the salt but could it be the pump or trashcan

[Jessie Nicoletti]

went out today got kent marine phos sponge to replace the phos guard i put the whole thing in the filter bag it is rated for 120 galons i placed the bag under the drip plate ontop of the remaining bio balls above that spot of the drip plate it seems that most of the water from the tank gose there

[MyNameIsJoe]

Next time u mix new water, test for phosphates b4 you add the buffer solution. That way u can eliminate that.

[Jessie Nicoletti]

makeing new water so i have tested for phosphates before adding salt none added salt, going to wait 1 day to test so the salt has time to mix ect