Can phosban cause algae growth

[linklemming]

I know it sounds like a dumb question but the observations listed below had me wondering:

I recently upgraded the skimmer in my 55G to a deltec AP600. Prior to this I was running phosban in a phosban reactor. The initial plumbing setup of the AP600 didnt allow using the reactor for about 2 weeks.

The first thing I noticed upon hooking up the AP600 was that I never had to clean the glass and much of the hair algae disappeared quickly. I attributed this to the AP600.

2 weeks later I hooked up the reactor with new media and noticed almost immediately that I had to clean the glass the same as before and much of the hair algae was returning.

The skimmate throughout all of this has been consistent.

Could the Fe in the phosban actually be causing algae growth??

Gary

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It's possible if the tank algae was iron limited yes. And that might be more likely with a powerful skimmer. Iron limitation is known to happen in parts of the ocean, and to some species of macroalgae in reef aquaria, but the phosphate drop usually overrides it in reef aquaria.

 

[linklemming]

Using a red sea test kit and a salifert test kit, I really dont see any detectable P04....but these kits are really hard to read at the low range.

Any recommendations on a good P04 test kit. I do have a lamotte kit i used for a FW planted tank but dont know if it would work on SW.

Gary

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Phosphate is tricky. If algae is growing fast and using it fast, it can still be there at adequate levels for algae problems, just not always at a very high concentration. I'm not sure if the LaMotte kit will work in seawater.