phosphate levels high

[GoDSpeeD]

I have a 55 gal fish/live rock tank. I noticed red slime all on the rocks. I slowed down the feeding, cut back on lighting and Im doing water changes like 10 gal every few days. I just purchased a phosphate pad to put in the wet/dry filter system. My question is can i reuse the phosphate pad if i rinse it out?

[leebca]

The answer to your specific question is, "I don't think so." Most such pads react with the phosphate and 'hold on to it.' Rinsing doesn't reactivate the chemicals. However, there may still be a way to reactivate the chemical to get more use out of the pad. Read all pad instructions to see if your question is addressed. If not (like it might say you have to throw the pad out at a certain time), then as a second thing you can do is send an e-mail to the maker of the pad and ask your question of them.

However, from the other information you've provided, your problem is redslime more than phosphate. The red slime is happy when it has the proper nutrients and fighting it by controlling phosphate is really hard to do. What red slime really needs to thrive is a quiet area -- a place in the tank where water movement is slow or extremely little. Thus if you want to get rid of, you have to 'annoy it' by increasing the circulaltion in your tank. Put in power heads and aim the flow at the dead spots in the aquarium. You can also re-direct the water coming into the aquarium from outside places (like sump, filters, skimmer, etc.) to aim that at dead spots in the aquarium.

You'll find that water movement will do you much better than fighting with phosphate. Also, lighting control doesn't upset this microbe very much, so reducing light doesn't really control it, either.

The title of the post says your phosphate levels are high. What do they measure now?

[GoDSpeeD]

wow, I want to first say thank you for the info. very educating. Well my phosphate levels are 10.0. I do have a RO system and I checked the water there and its 0 ppm. I have 1 powerhead in the system already so i will add another one and aim it to the dead spots. I do notice more red slime twards the side opposite of the powerhead. 55 gal tank. again thanks for the info.

[leebca]

Check other sources of the phosphates. After you make up a new batch of salt water, check that for phosphates. Then, consider the things you put into the aquarium. The largest source of phosphates are the foods you put into the aquarium. This phosphate can't be avoided BUT it can be reduced. Rinse all juicy foods (remove the juices). Juice only adds to the phosphates but the fish don't eat it/benefit from it. See if switching to gelled foods (foods encapsulated into a gelatin -- but still sold as frozen) for a few weeks makes a difference.

This red 'algae' or 'slime' is a microbial form that likes stagnant places. So increase the circulation, like you've indicated AND reduce dead spots. You should also add snails and other critters that eat this -- it won't prevent the outbreak if conditions are right, but it will control small amounts of it.

[GoDSpeeD]

ok great, the food that I am feeding is new life spectrum marine formula pellets. I will check my salt to see if that is the cause, I didnt think about that. I will add the snails as well. I am using instant ocean salt as well. If you have any recommendations Im all ears. Of my stock is 3 damsels, 2 clown fish and a mini eel. Just for information. thanks all. Im thinking its the salt cause the tank im tlaking about is a 55 gal. and I just checked my tank downstairs and its also 10 ppm 125 gal. fowlr tank. I feed frozen shrimps to those in the 125. puffer, trigger and wrasp.

[leebca]

Part of the phosphate problem AND other problems are caused by pellet and flake foods. You don't want to use them. The reasons are given here:
For information regarding pellet, flake, and disc foods, check under the heading of Flake, Pellet, Stick, and Disk Foods in the post: Fish Health through Proper Nutrition

Pellet food contains wheat and land products. Just read the label closely. Marine fish don't digest wheat products, so they just pollute the water. In addition, feeding long enough may cause intestinal problems for the fish.

[GoDSpeeD]

So what food do you suggest for my clowns?

[GoDSpeeD]

Just got done reading that sticky. Very good. I have learned so much on here. Thanks guys and gals.

[leebca]

I assume you got your answer from the sticky. I don't recommend any specific food, just that all hobbyists read the ingredients label and be knowledgeable enough to make their own decision based upon industry and technical information.

[GoDSpeeD]

I have stop feeding the pellets, started water changes and I feed gel seaweed which I will be switching up. I aimed the powerhead at the rocks and the return nozzle as well. It stop growing so thats a good thing. I did read on the internet that I should take the rocks out and give them a good scrub. is that true? thanks again. Im also testing my salt in a bucket to see if that is the cause of the high phosphate levels as well.

[leebca]

I've never been a big follower of scrubbing rocks. The down side is that if you have living rock the life that belongs there isn't going to be happy about the cleaning. Second downer is that the red algae is composed of microbes. Scrubbing won't get rid of them. There will still be millions of them on the rock.

However, from your original post you said it was all over the live rocks. If it's chocking the live rock, then removing it -- getting it off the rock -- is the thing to do. I don't know that 'scrubbing' is the right thing to do, but getting off is the thing to do. Take all the other actions first (to starve it and upset it) and then do the rocks last.

Gloves, equipment, containers, etc. all must be totally cleaned and free of chemicals and rinsed with source water, then rinsed out/off with used tank water before its first use. I would move the rocks into a shallow tub of old tank water (something to use that water for, you've been throwing down the drain, from a water exchange) and wipe off as much as will easily come off. Don't be agressive with this wiping, just be thorough. Use only gloved hands to touch it and don't let it be out of water for more than a few seconds. You can finalize the event by rinsing it off with clean, used tank water before putting back into the tank.