The saying “everything in moderation” can apply to many situations—even organic nutrients in water.
Phosphates are a form of phosphorus that naturally occur in ponds and water features. Depending on the surrounding environmental factors, like rainfall, fertilizer runoff, and more, the levels of this nutrient can vary.
When there’s an excess amount of phosphates, your pond water loses clarity and becomes polluted by a murky green overcast. The effects of this buildup can become unhealthy to the water, fish, and aquatic organisms.
If your pond has nutrient buildup, we recommend reducing phosphorus levels early on to improve the health of the water.
Here’s what happens when phosphate levels are too high.
3 Outcomes of Excess Phosphate Levels
1. Rapid Pond Weed Growth
Excess nutrients will stimulate the growth of aquatic weeds in the pond.
Meaning, ponds weeds grow rapidly with high phosphate levels. The result of too many weeds affects the pond ecosystem in a negative way. Plus, the appearance of the pond overall isn’t pleasant.
2. Too Much Pond Scum
In addition to ponds weeds growing wildly, the clarity of the water fades.
A dark, murky green takes over and clouds up the water.
Checking the water quality for a substance imbalance will help ensure if there’s a major problem, other than unpleasing look. We recommend cleaning with our Phos Negator product to maintain healthy phosphate levels.
3. Harms Fish, Frogs & Aquatic life
Phosphorus is an essential element of plant growth.
Too much of it can be deadly for aquatic life. According to the Water Research Center, the increase of nutrients reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen, endangering the lives of fish.
To keep fish safe, here’s what to do if you find phosphorus in your pond.
Prevent High Phosphate Levels in Your Pond
Do you have excess levels of phosphorus in your pond?
Don’t wait until a problem exists. Get healthy phosphate levels in water. Our Phos Negator product is an all-natural, mineral-based solution. It’s effective in preventing the growth of green organic matter in your pond.
Have questions? Contact our customer service team today to learn more!
Good Morning, In regards to high phosphate levels, I have bought new comet gold fish recently, and about a month later they started dying. They look perfectly healthy. I’ve tested nitrates, ph, ammonia, all in the norm. The only thing that is high is phosphates, its over 10 PPM, according to my home test kit. Could this be the cause of the deaths?
I did about a 60% water change and the levels are still high! I should mention I tried using a phosphate remover. It did nothing! The only thing I can think is to totally remove all water and scub the pond clean! What are your thoughts, Thanking you in advance. Gary
Hello,
I am sorry to hear about your fish dying. We are not experts with fish, I would suggest reaching out to the company that you bought them from.
Wishing you Healthy Ponds!
Take a reading of your drinking water. Water treatment plants use a high level of phosphate to compensate for hard such as lead. I share your troubled experience . I lost several koi’s, i went nuts trying to figure out the cause, then I decided to test our drinking water in Philadelphia. Our Ammonia was 2.0 as were nitrites and phosphates. I installed a rain barrel which is what I now use in my pond. I also read that as long as ammonia Nitrites & PH Are normal a 2.0 ppm reading for phosphate will not kill your fish. Also add plenty of plant life to your pond they need phosphate and will help in balancing the ecosystem in your pond. Make sure you have plenty of aerators .check the size of you fish stock, maybe you have one to many. Keep testing add good bacteria, and sludge Remover. Don’t go overboard changing so much water. What I’ve read 25% water change is the norm. Our anxiety to make things right immediately takes over, and we don’t realize that a balanced eco system can take a 2-4 weeks. Were levels go up and down. Repeat your water testing always do two or three if questionable. I have have PH crash reading and before I did anything I re-tested, and was I glad I did. Remember that with every Water change You are also getting rid of healthy friendly eco balancing bacteria. Good luck moving ahead
Same thing is happening to my fish that I have had 14 years, have lost them all and phosphate is the only thing that is testing high, I have never had an issue with phosphate and even wondered why my test kit included it, I understand all to well now. omg I am so sorry my beautiful fish I am going to miss you. Have a blanket of algae growing on the pond walls I guess that’s the culprit.