My Own Phosphate Experiment

After many weeks of withholding phosphate fertilization, corresponding to many weeks of withholding blog posts, I guessed that the phosphate level in my 30 gallon tank had dropped quite nearly to zero. This became obvious when I was cleaning the tank in preparation for Christmas vacation, and I noticed green spot algae on several plants for the first time in recent memory.

Some time ago, because of consistently high phosphates, I had stopped dosing it in my 30 gallon tank (but still in the 10 gallon shrimp tank), thinking that phosphates were leaking in from the tap water and/or fish food. Any time I had measured it, the level was off the chart, so I withheld it indefinitely. It looks like that policy must be suspended.

I did a small dose this evening, and I will resume the regular EI dosing every other day from here on out, I think. Ultimately, this is perfect confirmation of everything I've read about GSA and phosphates.