[Paul & Emma]

Hi all we are new here,
we have a 5ft tan with malawi cichlid in but have a few problems.
or PH is 7.2 and our phosphorus levels are sky hgh.
The tank has been running 2 months and the fish added too soon we know that much.
I wan to avoid chemicals so is there anything else i can do?
Paul & Emma

 

[justshoe]

your best bet is to add some holey rock or other types of substrate to raise PH, ie sand, crushed coral.

for phosphates *** seen rocks from creeks and such that can up phosphates especially if your tap has none so check your tap first. then if the tap is low remove and rocks from the water do some w/c's and then recheck. you can also get some phosban and stick it in a media bag and throw it in your filter.

I use a canister filter w/1 section of crushed coral and then a small media bag of phosban in my 55g. I also use a black sand base. My Ph stays stable at 8.2 and phosphates dont show up at all and my tap is at 1.5ppm

 

[justshoe]

your best bet is to add some holey rock or other types of substrate to raise PH, ie sand, crushed coral.

for phosphates *** seen rocks from creeks and such that can up phosphates especially if your tap has none so check your tap first. then if the tap is low remove and rocks from the water do some w/c's and then recheck. you can also get some phosban and stick it in a media bag and throw it in your filter.

I use a canister filter w/1 section of crushed coral and then a small media bag of phosban in my 55g. I also use a black sand base. My Ph stays stable at 8.2 and phosphates dont show up at all and my tap is at 1.5ppm

 

[Paul & Emma]

I have 25 kg of ocean rock and about the same of noodle rock both supposed to buffer ph and sand that should too.
I am running 1100ltr per hour filter plus air.
I will try getting my tap water checked tomorrow.
If we have phos in tap water then what?
paul

 

[justshoe]

Best thing would probably be using phosban or something similar. I wouldnt go RO only because your ph would take a huge dive then. After your tap is tested if the tap water is high try phosban if not. Than something in your tank is probably causing the spike.

 

[BenHugs]

You can use baking soda to at least get your Ph in check