eco-complete and phosphate

[Nystina]

Hey everyone! I have just finished replacing my old substrate with eco complete ( i read great reviews on this forum). Anyhoo, i did a phosphate test the next day and to my surprise it was over 10 ppm!!! I checked my tap water and it is 0 ppm. The packaging says there are no phosphates in eco complete.... i was wondering if anyone else has had this occurence?
Thanks everyone!
Nystina

 

[TankGirl]

Hmm. I doubt that the Eco-Complete is responsible. In your old substrate had you been using root tabs, fertilizer sticks or anything like that? When you replaced the substrate something got stirred up - that's my guess.

Water changes are in order to get the phosphate level down, or use a phosphate-removing media in your filter if water changes don't handle it right away.

 

[Nystina]

Ya, i had been using plant tabs.. i didn't know that could be a cause. I have been changing the water and using a phosphate sponge and i'm almost back to "normal" Thanks for your help TankGirl!
Nystina