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	EcoComplete - High PO4
bensaf Fish Master Posts: 1978 Kudos: 1315 Registered: 08-Apr-2004	as well as very high PO4, [font color="#C00000"]neither of which is bad[/font], but it will throw some folks off" High phosphates in itself won't cause algae. High phosphates where something else is bottomed out might. If it is a bad batch of Eco. Dose everything else but kepp off the PO4. Watch the plants. Make sure the nitrate is being taken by the plants.High PO$ should push Nitrate uptake. Keep an eye on things, the Eco will stop leeching eventually. Don't let the PO4 bottom out. Last edited by bensaf at 12-Sep-2005 08:50 Last edited by bensaf at 12-Sep-2005 08:51 Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue. Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:45
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	tetratech, Also, I went to the Carib-Sea website and found this entry in the Eco-Complete description: [font color="#C00000"]Supplies Calcium without raising pH [/font] Now – isn’t it a fact that calcium increases the ph? That’s at least what I thought. If so, then some other rumors that I have heard might be true, namely that Eco-Complete contains PH Down (don't remember where I heard them, I think it was a while ago when I researched substrates). If, and only if this is true, then you will have a problem measuring proper PH-KH-CO2 relationships. Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:45
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	tetratech, I know nothing about EC, but here is a quote from Chuck Gadd’s website that would show you what algae will grow based on excess PO4 in comparison to NO3: Red algae: Also called Black Beard Algae (bba), or Black Brush Algae. Short hairs (1/4" long), closely packed together. Appears dark green, black, or dark red. Grows on plant leaves, and sometimes on decorations/substrate. Often grows all around the edges of plant leaves. BBA thrives in situations of high phosphates. Phosphates come from fish waste, excess food, and occasionally will be present in the water supply. The best way to eliminate BBA is to let the plants out-compete the algae for the nutrients. In heavily planted tanks, BBA will often show up when the plants have used up all the nitrates. This causes plant growth to slow or stop, which leaves the excess phosphates available to the algae. By supplying extra Nitrate to a planted tank, we allow plant growth to continue until all phosphate is consumed. Then plant AND algae growth will slow/stop. As long as a usable (5-10ppm) level of Nitrate is maintained, the the plants will continue to use up the available phosphate, effectively controls BBA and other phosphorus-dependant algaes. See the article "Adding Nitrate to a Planted Tank" for detailed instructions on how to increase your Nitrate levels. The whole article can be found Here. Hope this helps, Ingo Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 12-Sep-2005 08:12 Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:45
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