ash in foods=phosphates?

[pastina]

im just curious about this one
i was reading all my fish foods ingredients and they all have ash, is ash phosphates or something?? does ash leach out phosphates in a tank?

[Casey]

Almost everything has PHO in it,I would say yes especially frozen and dry food.

[Fly Guy]

The only frozen food i use is mysis shrimp but i rinse it down to about half size before i throw it in the tank. I dont have any scientific answer as to how much this reduces it but i THINK it gets rid of the majority of it as i am left with mistly shrimp and not preservative sauce.

[pastina]

i have a whole package of frozen mysis in the freezer, no one eats it.
they seem to take a taste and thats it, after that they just ignore it.
whats with ash? is it required by fish or something?