Phosphates in the aquarium: how to determine, adjust the level

Although phosphates are an essential part of any aquarium’s ecology, the health of your aquatic environment can be significantly impacted by their concentration. Maintaining a healthy tank requires knowing how to control these levels. Excessive phosphate levels can cause issues like an overabundance of algae, which can harm your fish and plants’ health as well as the water’s clarity.

The first step to having a balanced and healthy aquarium setup is to keep an eye on the phosphate levels in your tank. These levels can be tested using a variety of techniques, ranging from straightforward test kits to sophisticated equipment. It will be easier for you to handle any issues by knowing how to interpret these results and take appropriate action.

The use of phosphate-absorbing materials, frequent water changes, and modifications to feeding procedures are some of the tactics used to adjust phosphate levels. You can maintain a cleaner, healthier environment for your fish and plants by controlling phosphates, which will result in an aquarium that is more vibrant and long-lasting.

What do they affect?

This is a significant biogenic component that has an impact on every living process that takes place in the aquarium. Thus, an unchecked growth in algae can be caused by an excess of phosphates. Consequently, the aquarium may experience biogenic element saturation, or eutrophication as it is known in science. This can therefore result in an aquarium that was once tidy and well-kept naturally transforming into an ugly swamp.

Toxins that are detrimental to fish bodies can be secreted by certain algae. We are discussing cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which can cause fish to contract Haff disease. Fish with the infection lose a lot of weight, have trouble breathing, and eventually perish. As a result, maintaining the appropriate level of control over the chemical element’s concentration in the water is crucial.

It’s important to monitor and control the levels of phosphates in your aquarium because they can cause algae issues and negatively impact the health of your fish and plants. Measure the phosphate concentration in your water using a dependable test kit to find the levels. If the levels are too high, you can lower them by cutting back on extra feeding or organic waste, utilizing phosphate-removing media or filters, and doing routine water changes. Your aquatic life will thrive in a healthier environment if your phosphate levels are kept in check.

Recommended value

The amounts of phosphoric acid salts should be almost nonexistent in an aquarium containing only fish and no plants. However, in a fully functional aquarium with living plants and animals, the phosphate and nitrate contents should be equal. Furthermore, this value varies depending on a number of factors and may differ in each case.

Kindly take note! The ratio of phosphates to nitrates is typically acknowledged to be 1:10–15. You must begin at this value.

Where do they come from

Even though photosynthesis and the development of underwater plant cell membranes depend on this macroelement, too much phosphate can be harmful to aquarium occupants. However, when it comes to artificial aquariums, the presence of phosphates in the water is not always correlated with its chemical makeup.

Phosphates can be obtained from the following sources in man-made reservoirs:

• waste products of hydrobionts ;
• small particles of food;
• dead parts of aquarium plants;
• rainwater (it may contain salts);
• tap water, to which phosphates are often added to protect pipes.

Crucial! Phosphates can originate from the ecosystem itself if the aquarium’s nitrogen content is low enough. The concentration of the chemical element can also rise as a result of other causes, such as the aquarium’s extended lighting.

Video – Where do phosphates come from in an aquarium

Determining the level

A lot of aquarium owners use the "NILPA PO4 Test Phosphate" to find out how much phosphate is in their aquarium water. This unique indicator comes with a measuring cup, tiny bottles containing reagents, a color scale to show the substance’s concentration, and manufacturer instructions. Only after reading the instructions should you take action.

The following is the procedure for determining the concentration of phosphate:

• reagents in bottles must be shaken thoroughly;
• rinse the cup with aquarium water, preferably twice;
• pour a few drops of water from the aquarium into a measuring container;
• from container No. 1, you need to add a few drops to the cup and mix;
• add two drops from the second bottle to the cup with aquarium water, mixing the components again;
• place the container next to the color scale after the reaction is complete and, after waiting a few minutes, compare the resulting shade. The bottle should be placed on a white background to determine the color more accurately;
• after completing the procedure, the container must be washed with running water.

Reminder: The control color may shift if the resultant solution is left next to the measurement scale for longer than six or seven minutes.

The amount of phosphates in the aquarium water can be ascertained by measuring the saturation of the liquid tone. A low concentration of the chemical element is indicated if the final solution has a very faint color. However, it is important to remember that the lack of shadows in the water under test might also point to the presence of phosphorus traces.

For every water change, it is advised to carry out the phosphate level measurement process again. The fish will suffer negative effects only if high phosphate levels are detected and dealt with promptly. As was previously mentioned, the norm can vary and depend on the features of the aquarium and its occupants, so it is also crucial to consider the specific parameters of the aquarium water when measuring.

Correction of phosphate levels

The number of plants and fish in the aquarium directly affects the reasons why phosphates build up, so there are various ways to modify the salt content. Let’s talk about the most successful one.

1. Relocation of fish. If you remove a small percentage of fish from the aquarium, then after a while the biosystem will be able to recover. Of course, a second aquarium is needed for relocation.
2. Changing the diet. In specialized stores, you can buy special granules that should replace the usual flakes or chips for fish.
3. Reinforcement fish control. It is important to constantly monitor the behavior of aquarium inhabitants, as well as whether they eat food. If food still remains, you need to reduce the portions a little.
4. Filter cleaning. It is no secret that over time in filter particles of food can be sucked in, which will then rot. During the process of rotting, phosphates will be released.
5. Cleaning the soil. For the same reason as cleaning the filter, you need to periodically clean the soil .
6. Water change. It is necessary to change the water in the aquarium periodically (no more than 30%). It is important to monitor the quality of the added water.

Kindly take note! A particular aquarium may not be a good fit for the filter due to its power and efficiency. Therefore, it ought to be examined as a precaution.

Use of drugs

The aquarium can benefit from the use of specialty preparations if it contains fewer fish. In this situation, you can keep the water’s phosphate content at an ideal level. Various preparations are employed for this purpose, but their efficacy varies. These are the top students in that class.

Tetra EasyBalance

Liquid aquarium conditioner for bringing the aquatic environment back to normal. Every seven days, add conditioner to the aquarium for best results. Every 100 liters of water, 25 milliliters of conditioner are added. This level of preparation, however, won’t be sufficient if the aquarium is filled with many fish.

ECOMIN MACRO P

The preparation is meant to raise the aquarium’s phosphate concentration. A fertilizer for aquarium plants is called ECOMIN MACRO P. Ten milliliters of the preparation should be added for every 100 liters of aquarium water. Sediment may form after adding. This is typical. When the product is added, the phosphate level typically increases by 0.45 mg/l. This needs to be considered when figuring out the dosage.

Tetra PhosphateMinus

A successful method of lowering the phosphate concentration. It works by stabilizing the chemical makeup of aquarium water so that sediment or turbidity won’t occur later. Every aquarium occupant can safely participate in the preparation. only utilized in freshwater aquariums. The recommended dosage for adding Tetra PhosphateMinus is 25 milliliters of the preparation for every 100 liters of water. In order to restore the phosphate level to normal, it is advised to add the preparation every two days.

Maintaining a healthy environment for your fish and plants in your aquarium requires regular monitoring and adjusting of the phosphate levels. Excessive algae growth can throw off the equilibrium in your aquarium and look ugly when phosphate levels are high. Testing on a regular basis will help you stay aware of any changes and stop possible problems before they get out of hand.

Finding the phosphate sources in your tank is the first step towards managing phosphate levels. Elevated phosphate levels can be caused by overfeeding fish, decomposing plant matter, and using specific water treatments. You can maintain phosphate levels in check and encourage a cleaner, more balanced aquarium by taking care of these sources.

Using phosphate removers or altering your aquarium’s maintenance schedule can help you adjust the phosphate levels. Phosphate levels can be naturally lowered with the addition of live plants, regular water changes, and appropriate feeding techniques. You can make sure your aquarium is healthy and clear of algae with regular maintenance and observation.

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