Eggcrate causing Phosphate???

[snaza]

Looking at setting up an SPS frag tank and noticed a few people saying eggcrate leaches phosphate? is ths true? is there a better alternative?

thank

 

[ludnix]

I've never heard this before, can you provide a link?

 

[ReefWreak]

I saw the people in the chemistry forum whining about it, then saying that they soak it for weeks in ro/di water to get it to leach out, then to do water changes on their holding water for the eggcrate. My thought? Give me a break. It's freakin plastic. I've put many sheets of eggcrate into my tank as frag plug holders, and they still have never grown algae on them (a surefire sign that they're zones of high phosphate concentration), and my tank hasn't had any phosphate problems (though I used to run GFO anyway). Now I run carbon dosing, so phosphate isn't an issue

 

[Reefer08]

I let my eggcrate soak in ro/di water for a few days before putting it in my tank always.

Yes I do believe it leaches phosphates since if I do not soak the eggcrate in ro/di for a few days it will always have minor algae build up on the eggcrate then go away.

 

[snaza]

Sorry no links. I just saw it somewhere and was interested

 

[firemedic0135]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15234733#post15234733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer08
I let my eggcrate soak in ro/di water for a few days before putting it in my tank always.

Yes I do believe it leaches phosphates since if I do not soak the eggcrate in ro/di for a few days it will always have minor algae build up on the eggcrate then go away.

LMAO this is priceless.

 

[Peter Eichler]

There are some phosphorus based release agents used for plastics. Also, I believe styrene (what typical egg crate is made from) is believed to leech various things that could be helping algae growth along. If nothing else egg crate seems to be a very welcoming place for various nuisance alages until it builds up a biofilm or some coralline algae. All that said, I still use it.

 

[Reefer08]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15235364#post15235364 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by firemedic0135
LMAO this is priceless.

[profanity]

 

[snorvich]

There are two kinds of egg crate: acrylic and polystyrene They have different characteristics. Acrylic egg crate seems to be more algae resistant. Despite comments to the contrary, polystyrene egg crate is more susceptible to algae.

 

[lurch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15235734#post15235734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer08
[profanity]

Jeez not this crap again.

 

[Superstretch18]

This doesn't seem like it would be hard to test. Just throw some in ro/di for a bit and then test the soak water for phosphates. Answer this once and for all...

IMHO though, if there are any phosphates leaching out of eggcrate, it can't be much, otherwise, as reefwreak said, would be an algae magnet...

 

[Garage1217]

I have experience the styrene eggcrate from home depot leaching. It usually does for a few weeks when I place a new piece in the tank. I do not have any noticeable algae in any other parts of the tank, but man when I put a new piece of crate in, it explodes with all sorts of algae. I have heard the black ABS eggcrate is a much better solution & algae does not jump at the chance to grow all over it like most ABS plastics. Giving it a try in the next few weeks.

It could also just be that the material itself is a welcoming environment when new for different types of algae.

 

[dc]

[flamealert]

 

[luther1200]

Then why don't power heads and all the other plastic in our tanks leach PO4???

Also my overflow box ( AGA megaflow) is plastic and a lot of people have them. So are they leaching PO4?

 

[BLKTANG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15235364#post15235364 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by firemedic0135
LMAO this is priceless.

May be,but ive seen this before.friend of mine has 4 prop tanks,& deals with eggcrate ALOT.And had the same thing happen if he didnt soak the crate in his LR curing tub.

 

[Garage1217]

The white eggcrate is made of styrene plastic. Most pumps, powerheads and so forth are made from an ABS if I am not mistaken. Maybe an expert can shed more light on this.

 

[Superstretch18]

If anyone has some lying around, throw it in a cup for a couple of days and then test the water. It's all speculation until someone does that...

 

[Garage1217]

Very true. I will give it a go, however all I have to test with is a cheapy API kit for phosphate. Does anyone have a photometer?

If it turns out not to be phosphate, I wonder what it is that causes the growth on the material.

 

[luther1200]

double post.

 

[luther1200]

I was just reading about styrene on Wikipedia, and it may be Nitrates. It says they use some form of Nitrates to stop the polymerization process.

This is a quote from the web page

"However, the nitrated phenols are still widely used because of their relatively low cost. These reagents are added prior to the distillation."

I'm not sure if thats actually what that means though.


Here is the link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styrene