matmet

i had a similar problem with an algae bloom 2 weeks ago. I didnt go with the total black out, i just turned the light off, but it too about 10 days b4 the water cleared. I have a few java ferns(slow growing, low light plants) and they were fine . If you are not concerned about financial cost i was told that a UV sterilizer was the answer, but the cost is 80.00+++ for that. If you have no real plants then you only need the light on when you are looking /enjoying your tank. I dont know how long/ if you have your lights on, but the fish dont really need light. If anyone else knows differently, i will watching this post with interest. Good luck.

Loman

If you suspect the phosphate is in the tap water then why not get the tap water tested to be sure? Seems like that would help take the guess work out.

__________________
Loman

24 Gallon Salt Aquapod
20 Gallon Freshwater
Various QT tanks
2 x 75 Gallon Reefs in planning stage

dbrowning

Well I got a po4 test kit(they were out of them yesterday). this kit tests up to 5. I tested my aquarium water and the po4 is >5. Just to be sure I checked my tap water at the po4 did not even register. So I did about a 30% water change and took all the fake plants out. The gravel was Nasty under the plants and rocks. I did a good gavel clean and only replaced a couple of the plants. I picked up 3 real plants when I was out and placed them in the tank. Hopefully this will help.

Thanks to all!

__________________
36 Gallon Bow with Penquin Bio-wheel and mod planted
4 Angels
10 Tetras: 3 pristella tetras, 3 Roberti Tetra, 4 Serpea tetras
1 Cory and 1 Pleco
1 Redtail Shark
3 Algea Eaters

Loman

dbrowning,
Let me state teh obvoious that the tap water is not the source of the po4. The steps you have taken may help sime by consuming at least partial po4 levels. Howeer since the tap water is good I would suggest agressive water changes (either a lot at one time - what I would do becuase I am lazy and only want to do it once) or many frequent ones. This will have to bring the po4 levels down. You also need to figure out where the po4 levels are coming from. I would examine decorations, stones, anything that is in the tank. It has to be coming from someplace.

__________________
Loman

24 Gallon Salt Aquapod
20 Gallon Freshwater
Various QT tanks
2 x 75 Gallon Reefs in planning stage

rand98989

is your water well water or treated water from a water purification plant?

dbrowning

Finally,
Since my original post and the 4-5 water changes a week, I awoke to find crystal clean water. Cloudy one day and clear the next. Who knew? I have added several live plants and driftwood. I found the reason for the po4 levels. I finally got the down last week and decided to experiment. With one of my water changes I added neutral regulator. The next day the po4 was >5, so it went in the trash. So now I am living with a Ph of around 7.6. The only stuff I am now using are: Aqualife Declor(I switched back from amquel), carbon media, and of course, now po4 guard to bring the levels back down. I have recently bought a master kit and with 3 days now of perfectly clear water my params are:

kh 5
gh 7
po4 5
ph 7.6
nh3 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 5

Are the hardness levels within a good range in correlation with my Ph?

__________________
36 Gallon Bow with Penquin Bio-wheel and mod planted
4 Angels
10 Tetras: 3 pristella tetras, 3 Roberti Tetra, 4 Serpea tetras
1 Cory and 1 Pleco
1 Redtail Shark
3 Algea Eaters

gm333

All params look good, just need to finish getting the phos down.