Phosguard

[EliteEagleX]

I have been told to use Phosguard to kill Algae in my tank....So I am useing two 100ml packet (60 gallons) in my 55 gallon tank, how long does it last and is it really worth it? I guess I'm just curious if it will start killing my trace minerals and thing's like that since it's in with Purigen\Carbon and do Phosphates even harm fish? Thanks in advance

[EliteEagleX]

Meh I just threw it away it made my PH go down to 6.2 when just yesterday it was at 8.2

[Tech Support CH]

PhosGuard removes phosphate. Phosphate, and other nutrients can be a contributing factor in algae production. So controlling Phosphate with PhosGuard and controlling Nitrate with Purigen and water changes will help with algae. Other factors are changing light bulb spectrum and light period, amount and type of food that is feed to the fish, along with water flow.

[Tech Support CH]

PhosGuard is not capable of droping your pH from 8.2 to 6.2. It sounds like an acid got added to your tank or your filters have been off for awhile and CO2 has really built up.

I would recommend you test your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

Also have you done any water changes or added any chemicals in the past few weeks. If so what do you do and when did you do it?

[EliteEagleX]

Nitrites are 0 PPM
Ammonia 0 PPM
Nitrates 20 PPM
I use all Seachem the only chemical I added during that time was Stressguard...

[Tech Support CH]

Can you also tell me your KH (carbonate hardness) level? If you knew what it is before and after the pH drop that would help us figure out what occured.

[EliteEagleX]

Hardness was 150 now it's 250 or 300, The lake salt is only meant to adjust Hardness right?

[Tech Support CH]

There are two types of hardness: carbonate (KH) and General (GH).

The carbonate hardness is a measure of buffering ability. The general hardness is a measure of calcium and magnesium ions. I would like to know the carbonate hardness of your aquarium.

General hardness is raised through the use of Cichlid salt. Carbonate hardness is raised by the use of Malawi/ victoria Buffer.

[EliteEagleX]

I don't have a test kit for that...However after I removed Phosguard I readded Malawi buffer and everything is stable now... I swear it was the phosguard but maybe I'm wrong but all the other chemicals in there are the same...Oh well all is well now I don't really need to remove phosphates right now anyway since I don't have a major algae problem.. I was just testing it out, Thank's anyway

[Tech Support CH]

You are using a carbonate based buffer so your KH and pH go hand in hand. It would be a wise investment to pick up a KH test kit. The other thing that effects a carbonate hardness based buffer is CO2 level. If your CO2 level rises and KH remains the same than your pH drops. If KH level drops and your CO2 remains constant than your pH will again fall. So if you have a KH and pH test kit you can have a good idea of how your CO2 level has changed.

Your KH can be slowly dissolved away by the acids in fish waste and by CO2. If you water your KH level you can add more buffer before your pH falls.