Fluorite in a reef tank?

[bpcass]

Has anyone ever used Fluorite in a reef aquarium refugium? I have a 30 gallon tank with a HOB aqua clear 110 mod refugium. I want to maximize the phosphate export by macro algae. Would the iron in the Fluorite be a danger to my tank? Here is the mineral content of Fluorite. Phosphorus is not listed...

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Flourite.html

However this patent application suggests a process to remove phosphorus from fluorite...

http://www.google.com/patents/US4180546

I think I may also have a process to remove phosphorus from fluorite.



My tank is new. It has been up with live rock and a few snails for 4 months. I recently added a small zooanthid frag. I don't want to put much more into it until after the summer. I have time to do a little experimenting. I will start with hanging my refugium on my live rock curing tank and will do some testing for a month or two and then perhaps try it on my main tank.
Any suggestions or warnings?

 

[rwb500]

well it has copper in it. it is 17ppm copper by weight. thats not good. its also a very unnatural color for most marine biotopes. also the size of the gravel would cause detritus buildup.

why do you want to use it? To add iron, in an attempt to accelerate phosphate export via macro algae? Iron can be added with liquid supplements that do not have so many downsides.

 

[bpcass]

Ouch, I didn't notice the copper. That would be a problem.