"Jim Miller" wrote in message
...
I've been told that our water supply is high in phosphorus making tanks
algae prone. Is there anything other than RO changes that can reduce the
phosphorus?


Yes. Various companies offer phosphate absorbing granules
that you can add to your filter. Phos-Zorb is one brand I've seen.
Seachem also off the stuff. You put it into a mesh back into your
filter and let it do its job until it is exhausted. The granules cannot
be regenerated once they are exhausted, which makes the entire
exercise infeasibly expensive over the long term and only suitable
if you are looking for once-or-twice short-term stop-gap solution.

Long term, RO water would be the only thing that would be
affordable, I suspect.

But, of course, with rampant plant growth, the phosphates may
never be a problem. I'd try a tank with fertilization (Duplaplant or
Tropica Mastergrow), CO2, good light, and good substrate. There
is a good chance that the plants will completely outcompete any
algae despite the high phosphate content. I'd look at removing
phosphate with chemicals or via RO water changes only if you
are sure that phosphates really are a problem.

Cheers,

Michi.

--
Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
Triodia Technologies http://www.triodia.com/staff/michi