my 150g has been set up for 8 mos or so now. it has several south american cichlids (with some tiger barbs as dither fish), but everyone is still a juvenile (largest fish approx 4"), so i'm not overstocked.
my water parameters pretty much always check out fine (thanks to weekly water changes and a large sump), but my phosphate levels have been climbing steadily -- to the point where they are now at the highest concentration my test kit will measure (5 mg/L). my tap water contains no phosphates.
the only indication i have that anything is wrong or that anyone is under stress is that my tiger barbs drop scales from time to time, leaving little bald spots on their sides.
so my questions are:
-- how big a deal is high concentrations of phosphate?
-- how do i bring it down? it appears that there are a plethora of additives available, but most people at MFK seem to council against relying on additives...
advice appreciated
my water parameters pretty much always check out fine (thanks to weekly water changes and a large sump), but my phosphate levels have been climbing steadily -- to the point where they are now at the highest concentration my test kit will measure (5 mg/L). my tap water contains no phosphates.
the only indication i have that anything is wrong or that anyone is under stress is that my tiger barbs drop scales from time to time, leaving little bald spots on their sides.
so my questions are:
-- how big a deal is high concentrations of phosphate?
-- how do i bring it down? it appears that there are a plethora of additives available, but most people at MFK seem to council against relying on additives...
advice appreciated
