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Posted by Scott on July 8, 2005, 1:53 pm
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A few months ago I started to change how often I clean the gravel in my
aquarium. I originally cleaned it once a week, I then changed to once a
month. which caused the phosphate level to rise from 1ppm to 2.5ppm. the
nitrate level remained the same at 2ppm. I also do a 25% water change every
two weeks.
Two months ago I changed it again and have not cleaned the gravel in that
time. partly to find out if it has got anything top do with the algae
problems that there have been since I have had they aquarium. As it is the
only thing left that I can think of that makes my aquarium different from
ones that do suffer from problems with algae. So today I tested for nitrate
which I was hoping to raise the levels of for my plants, and it is still at
2ppm. But the phosphate level has increased again to 5ppm, or maybe higher
as that's as high as the test kit goes. Which I know is five times higher
than the levels that can cause problems with algae.
The gravel still does not appear to need to be cleaned, as there is only a
small amount of visible sediment. But I am consider because I have not heard
of levels that high before. And think it may be unusually high for a tank
which has not had the gravel cleaned in two months. I have started to do
weekly water changes to lower the levels using 2.5ppm tap water, but I'm
also wondering weather changes may start to take place which will naturally
lower the phosphate level, as it seems strange that it doesn't happen to
more people, and this is the first time the gravel has been left alone for
this long???
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Posted by Steph on July 10, 2005, 5:53 am
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says...
> A few months ago I started to change how often I clean the gravel in my
> aquarium. I originally cleaned it once a week, I then changed to once a
> month. which caused the phosphate level to rise from 1ppm to 2.5ppm. the
> nitrate level remained the same at 2ppm. I also do a 25% water change every
> two weeks.
>
> Two months ago I changed it again and have not cleaned the gravel in that
> time. partly to find out if it has got anything top do with the algae
> problems that there have been since I have had they aquarium. As it is the
> only thing left that I can think of that makes my aquarium different from
> ones that do suffer from problems with algae. So today I tested for nitrate
> which I was hoping to raise the levels of for my plants, and it is still at
> 2ppm. But the phosphate level has increased again to 5ppm, or maybe higher
> as that's as high as the test kit goes. Which I know is five times higher
> than the levels that can cause problems with algae.
>
> The gravel still does not appear to need to be cleaned, as there is only a
> small amount of visible sediment. But I am consider because I have not heard
> of levels that high before. And think it may be unusually high for a tank
> which has not had the gravel cleaned in two months. I have started to do
> weekly water changes to lower the levels using 2.5ppm tap water, but I'm
> also wondering weather changes may start to take place which will naturally
> lower the phosphate level, as it seems strange that it doesn't happen to
> more people, and this is the first time the gravel has been left alone for
> this long???
>
>
>
Higher phosphate levels can also be caused by carbon in the filter. This
depends on the quality of carbon used and the length of time it is left
in the tank. I don't know if you have carbon in the filter, but if you
do, it's worth removing it next water change, and then monitoring the
phosphate levels and comparing them with your current levels.
You can check the quality of carbon using RO water. A quick test is to
put some carbon in a bucket of RO, and check the PO4 levels daily for a
week. There are loads more articles on carbon and phosphates on the web,
but they do take a bit of googling to find them.
JMC catfish pellets are another cause of phosphates and algae - the fish
love them, but the tanks I use them in are prone to brown algae. I still
use them occasionally, but tend to use the nutrafin and tetra, pellets
and tablets more often.
--
Steph
GSX750F
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Posted by Mark Elliott on July 10, 2005, 6:18 am
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Use RowaPhos!
> says...
>> A few months ago I started to change how often I clean the gravel in my
>> aquarium. I originally cleaned it once a week, I then changed to once a
>> month. which caused the phosphate level to rise from 1ppm to 2.5ppm. the
>> nitrate level remained the same at 2ppm. I also do a 25% water change
>> every
>> two weeks.
>>
>> Two months ago I changed it again and have not cleaned the gravel in that
>> time. partly to find out if it has got anything top do with the algae
>> problems that there have been since I have had they aquarium. As it is
>> the
>> only thing left that I can think of that makes my aquarium different from
>> ones that do suffer from problems with algae. So today I tested for
>> nitrate
>> which I was hoping to raise the levels of for my plants, and it is still
>> at
>> 2ppm. But the phosphate level has increased again to 5ppm, or maybe
>> higher
>> as that's as high as the test kit goes. Which I know is five times higher
>> than the levels that can cause problems with algae.
>>
>> The gravel still does not appear to need to be cleaned, as there is only
>> a
>> small amount of visible sediment. But I am consider because I have not
>> heard
>> of levels that high before. And think it may be unusually high for a tank
>> which has not had the gravel cleaned in two months. I have started to do
>> weekly water changes to lower the levels using 2.5ppm tap water, but I'm
>> also wondering weather changes may start to take place which will
>> naturally
>> lower the phosphate level, as it seems strange that it doesn't happen to
>> more people, and this is the first time the gravel has been left alone
>> for
>> this long???
>>
>>
>>
> Higher phosphate levels can also be caused by carbon in the filter. This
> depends on the quality of carbon used and the length of time it is left
> in the tank. I don't know if you have carbon in the filter, but if you
> do, it's worth removing it next water change, and then monitoring the
> phosphate levels and comparing them with your current levels.
>
> You can check the quality of carbon using RO water. A quick test is to
> put some carbon in a bucket of RO, and check the PO4 levels daily for a
> week. There are loads more articles on carbon and phosphates on the web,
> but they do take a bit of googling to find them.
>
> JMC catfish pellets are another cause of phosphates and algae - the fish
> love them, but the tanks I use them in are prone to brown algae. I still
> use them occasionally, but tend to use the nutrafin and tetra, pellets
> and tablets more often.
>
> --
> Steph
> GSX750F
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Posted by Edward Cowling London UK on July 10, 2005, 9:39 am
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>
>The gravel still does not appear to need to be cleaned, as there is only a
>small amount of visible sediment. But I am consider because I have not heard
>of levels that high before. And think it may be unusually high for a tank
>which has not had the gravel cleaned in two months. I have started to do
>weekly water changes to lower the levels using 2.5ppm tap water, but I'm
>also wondering weather changes may start to take place which will naturally
>lower the phosphate level, as it seems strange that it doesn't happen to
>more people, and this is the first time the gravel has been left alone for
>this long???
My own view is that we're trying to mimic real life ponds and
rivers. We'll never get a perfect mini Eden project in a 3ft tank,
but with help we can do pretty well.
Firstly nature doesn't hoover gravel & rocks, so I don't. Apart from
a bit of raking and siphoning my gravel hasn't been cleaned in two
years. Plus I leave "wild areas" in the tank for leaves to accumulate
and the bottom feeders love to get in there.
Nature does change the water, so I change a third of the water in
the tank every week. This very efficiently controls the water chemistry.
Does it work ? I have breeding Silver Sharks that have grown from
tiny specks. My Platy population has grown so large it now has
an annexe tank for the overspill.
You need the bugs...... don't over sanitise the tank.
--
Edward Cowling London UK
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> aquarium. I originally cleaned it once a week, I then changed to once a
> month. which caused the phosphate level to rise from 1ppm to 2.5ppm. the
> nitrate level remained the same at 2ppm. I also do a 25% water change every
> two weeks.
>
> Two months ago I changed it again and have not cleaned the gravel in that
> time. partly to find out if it has got anything top do with the algae
> problems that there have been since I have had they aquarium. As it is the
> only thing left that I can think of that makes my aquarium different from
> ones that do suffer from problems with algae. So today I tested for nitrate
> which I was hoping to raise the levels of for my plants, and it is still at
> 2ppm. But the phosphate level has increased again to 5ppm, or maybe higher
> as that's as high as the test kit goes. Which I know is five times higher
> than the levels that can cause problems with algae.
>
> The gravel still does not appear to need to be cleaned, as there is only a
> small amount of visible sediment. But I am consider because I have not heard
> of levels that high before. And think it may be unusually high for a tank
> which has not had the gravel cleaned in two months. I have started to do
> weekly water changes to lower the levels using 2.5ppm tap water, but I'm
> also wondering weather changes may start to take place which will naturally
> lower the phosphate level, as it seems strange that it doesn't happen to
> more people, and this is the first time the gravel has been left alone for
> this long???
>
>
>