Phosphate in natural sea water ranges from less than 0.01 mg/L to 0.3 mg/L. For corals in reef aquaria, such phosphates should be 0.2 mg/L or less. Phosphates are non-toxic to fish and most invertebrates, but are ideally kept below 1 mg/L to minimize algae growth. In freshwater, phosphates are not critical and the allowable concentration is dependent on variables such as nitrate, manganese, iron, and vitamin concentrations, as well as the extent of use of live plants.

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