Phosphate reactor

[Melissajk]

Help, I have a 55 gallon tank with a sump, protein skimmer, I bought off of CL the live rock was included. I scrubbed the rock but I didn't get all the alge off. My tank is beautiful everything is looking good except I had my phosphates tested at the fish store. The phosphates tested at 1.70. I was told I should get a reactor. I took the sock out of the sump and did a 15 gallon water change. I starred up the water with a turkey baster while siphoning out the water. Today (next day) I tested phosphates and it is still high. I don't have a lot of fish, don't over feed, one time a day and I only give a little bit of food at a time to make sure all food gets eaten. What should I do???


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[Saltwaterfish56]

10% water change every few days until they are low , then add a reactor , I had the same problem and since I added it , I've been getting really nice polyp extension

 

[Affordable Aquatic]

Run some GFO in a reactor and your phosphates will come down. Definitely keep up the water changes, and make sure you are using RODI water. If you are using tap or well water you might be adding the phosphates with your makeup water.

 

[Melissajk]

Thank you, last night we bought a reactor, I will do a few 10% water changes to. Also I figured out that my skimmer wasn't set up properly. Thanks to u tube. The people I bought the tank from told me to set it up wrong. Maybe that is partially why their tank was such a mess. I'm glad to hear a reactor is a good investment for my tank.

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[Sniperhank]

If everything is sparse, from feeding to stocking, there is a good chance you are bringing the phosphates in through your water source. What kind of water are you using to do you water changes and top off?

 

[Melissajk]

I use water from the L.F.S. for saltwater and top off.

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[Sniperhank]

Have you tested it?

 

[Melissajk]

Yes I have it was at 0. I was told because the way the original owners took such bad care of the tank. (I'm using their live rock) the rock can leach out phosphates. What do you think? Could that be true? I go to 3 different fish stores and all 3 have different answers.

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[Sniperhank]

If you didn't scrub it as well as you could have...there is a chance.

 

[Melissajk]

Yea, scrubbing those rocks are hard on your back. I know I missed a lot. Now paying for it

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