How to Reduce Phosphates in Freshwater Aquarium?

Phosphates are common in aquariums; however, most aquarium owners may not know their existence. Phosphates are present in fish, plants, and even fish food. Phosphates are a byproduct of decaying animals, plants, and more. When creatures begin to deteriorate, and phosphorus turns into phosphates, it can be dangerous for your fish.

A high concentration of phosphates could lead to highly damaging effects on your fish, so it is essential to lower the phosphate levels before things get too bad. Phosphate levels tend to rise when aquariums aren’t adequately cared for.

This can cause algae growth. Being aware of the phosphate levels in your aquarium is critical to the health of your tank and creatures. You may test for the phosphate levels in your tank. Testing for phosphate can educate you on the causes of phosphates. It can also help you keep your tank clean, so your creatures can thrive.

It’s not typical for phosphate to cause damage to your fish. However, the algae from the phosphate levels can be dangerous for your fish. Water high in algae can change the water’s pH and decrease the oxygen. The reduced oxygen can be deadly to your fish.

How Does The Level of Phosphates Increase in an Aquarium?

There are multiple ways for phosphates to increase in your tank. Phosphates can increase when wastes are broken down within the tank. They can also grow from external sources, such as added fish food to the tank. Uneaten food, dead fish, fish feces, and more can increase the phosphate levels in your tank. Here are some causes of high phosphate levels:

• Decaying organic matter is a prime contributor to high phosphate levels in a tank. In addition, uneaten fish food and decaying plants can cause a higher phosphate level, so it is essential to clean it out.
• Fish feces can also cause higher phosphate levels.
• Tap water often contains decaying matter, so testing the water for phosphates can be helpful.
• Carbon releases phosphate levels into the water. If you have an activated carbon filter, it could be removing phosphates from the water. However, modern carbon chemical filtration is typically designed not to release phosphates into the water.
• DH, pH, aquarium salts, and kH buffers can cause higher phosphate levels.

How to Reduce Phosphates in Freshwater Aquarium?

Test kits for phosphate levels only test for inorganic forms. Keep this in mind when trying your aquarium for phosphate levels. The best way to avoid phosphates in your freshwater aquarium is to keep track of it so it never gets high in the first place. There should be no more than 1.0 parts phosphate per million in the water. Anything above this can cause algae growth. If the phosphate levels reach 3.0 parts per million in the water, you will get a bad case of algae growth. If the phosphate levels get high, you can reduce them in a few different ways:         

• Change your Water: Changing the water in your tank will help bring the phosphate levels down. However, this will be a temporary fix if the underlying issues are not addressed. It is essential to continue to change your water regularly to ensure that the phosphate levels do not get high again. Keep in mind that it would help test your tap water. Tap water could contain phosphates, so trying it will let you know if you need to use filtered water or not. 
•  Clean your Tank – Cleaning your tank is an important task. First, remove the rocks and whatever decorations you have in the tank. Wash them by hand. Scrape the insides of the aquarium. Finally, clean the filters to get rid of any trapped algae. 
•  Phosphate Absorber – Phosphate absorber can be added to any filter and could be very effective. However, chemicals such as these should be a last resort. 
•  Phosphate Binders – Phosphate binders are liquid chemicals that can be found at the fish store. Start using this at low doses. Adding high amounts of phosphate binders will turn the water white and affect your fish’s health. 

How to Keep The Phosphate Levels Low in your Aquarium?

As soon as you bring the phosphate levels down, make sure they stay down. There are a few things you can do to make sure the phosphate levels stay down: 

• Cut back on Food – Flakey fish food is the leading cause of high phosphate levels. Cutting back on how much you feed and how often can help ensure that the phosphate levels in your tank stay low. 
• Change the Food – Sometimes, changing the type of food you give to your fish could be beneficial to lowering the phosphate levels. However, please do your research on different types of food before switching because it may still increase phosphate levels.
•  Test your Water and Change it Frequently – It is common for tap water to contain phosphate. It is essential to test it regularly to ensure that you aren’t unintentionally adding phosphate to your tank. If you notice that the tap water is high in phosphates, you should seek an alternative water source. Filtering the water may help as well. Changing the water in your tank often will help keep the phosphate levels low. Also, keeping the tank clean helps keep the phosphate levels down. If you notice they are getting high, the easiest first step to lowering the phosphate levels is to clean your tank and change the water.
•  Water Treatments – Water treatments such as buffers that could potentially stabilize the pH of the water often contain phosphates. It is essential not to use water treatments unless crucial. If, for some reason, you need to use water treatments, do your research on them so you can purchase one that contains the least amount of phosphates possible. 
• Clean the Filters – Cleaning the filters in your tank could help lower the phosphate levels. It is essential to clean the filters when you clean the tank as a whole.
• Protein Skimmer – Protein skimmers can be a great way to remove phosphates. These are a great way to remove debris from the tank. However, protein skimmers only work for saltwater tanks.