[avifoox]

i have a 75g tank for about 7m. it as about 120lb of live rock
and 30lb of live sand wet dry 2skimmers and 5 fish 3 demsels
2 yellow tangs i do a weekly water change of about 10g
all the levels chec,k out except phosphate i feed very minimally
how do i take care of this problem since i want to get some corals

[stang69]

Do you use RO water for top off and water changes? If not this may be where it is coming from or possiably the food. I have read and also found out that dripping Kalk can precipitate phos. to a piont. There are chem ways to get it out but Im not a big fan of using this method. Maybe some else will chim in with some more suggestions for you.


Good luck

Jeff

[Skunk Clown]

yeah, drip calk. it will precipitate phosphate out of solution.
Also your stocking levels are high.
Phosphate is in some/ most foods, if you are feeding heavily, which you must, that could be another source of intoduction.

[scubadude]

The first thing that I would check is your water level before you mix the salt and see if there is any phosphates if that is the source then You need to find better water. If it is not the source then I would look at other things you are adding to the mix and try and do a process of elimination (or atleast cutback) and periodic test to see what is affecting your phosphate levels. As mentioned by skunk some foods have phosphates (I think its mainly some of the older flake foods if memory serves me correctly) You are running a refugium now arent you? Are you seeing an growth spurt in any types of algae since the phosphate increase? if so then trim all algaes except that one more, thus giving the algaes that thrive on the phosphates a chance to soak them up. Good Luck buddy and try and post some pics of your tank for all of us to see

[bongobrian]

What is level of phosphate you're getting from your test kit and why do you think it's a problem? are you seeing any negative effects in the tank? algea blooms? If so then all of the things mentioned above are great things to try. As scuba said, test your water. If you're using tap water, that is probably the source although some cheap salt mixes can contain levels of phosphate. Other sources can be dead/decaying orgainics such as food or dead animals, overfeeding, overstocking, additives, or not enough filtration. Some solutions: RO water, drip kalk, deeper sand bed (4-5"), refugium, and/or better skimming. Your tank sounds like it is a little overstocked... remember that phosphate comes from fish poop too!