yep those Phosphates are really up there
I understand .o5 is a good reading at 1.0ppm it's perfect for algae growth.
Understanding where Phosphates come from will help keep them down. The main offender is fish food. Uneaten food in the substrate or over feeding the fish. You know how it goes, "the more they eat the more they..." if the fish are over eating their bodies won't use all the food and it will pass through as waste. The excess
phosphate will pass through also.
Dying plants, waste,
pH buffers, kh buffers, dying algae among other things can contribute to high phosphate even your tap water. Have you tested it?
Some ways to lower Phosphates are:
Water changes, Phosphate absorbers(can be added to filter media to absorb phosphate but source needs to be found), tank maintenance (water changes and substrate vacuums, feed sparingly, change foods is necessary , filter media cleaning(rinse filter media in used tank water to preserve beneficial bacteria), water treatments that alter pH, buffers often contain phosphates (if using check for ones with less phosphates).
Hope that hepled
Carol
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