Is there a way to remove silicate without removing phosphate?

[Mr. Brooks]

I just received my test results from Aquarium Water Testing. I've been battling algae problems for years. According to the test results, pretty much everything is good except for silica:

04-12-2016 Ammonia (NH3-4) Good 0 0.000 - 0.050 mg/L
04-12-2016 Nitrite (NO2) Good 0.001 0.000 - 0.100 mg/L
04-12-2016 Phosphate (PO4) Good 0.05 0.000 - 0.250 mg/L
04-12-2016 Nitrate (NO3) Good 1.7 0.000 - 25.000 mg/L
04-12-2016 Silica (Sio2-3) High 1.2 0.000 - 0.500 mg/L
04-12-2016 Potassium (K) Good 386 350.000 - 450.000 mg/L
04-12-2016 Ionic Calcium (Ca) Good 303 100.000 - 400.000 mg/L
04-12-2016 Boron (B) NA NA 3.000 - 6.000 mg/L
04-12-2016 Molybdenum (Mo) Good 0.2 0.000 - 0.300 mg/L
04-12-2016 Strontium (Sr) Good 7.6 5.000 - 12.000 mg/L
04-12-2016 Magnesium (Mg) High 1420 1100.000 - 1400.000 mg/L
04-12-2016 Iodine (I) Good 0.08 0.030 - 0.090 mg/L
04-12-2016 Copper (Cu) Good 0.05 0.000 - 0.100 mg/L
04-12-2016 Alkalinity (meq/L) Good 3.3 2.500 - 5.000 meq/L
04-12-2016 Total Calcium (Ca) Good 430 350.000 - 450.000 mg/L
04-12-2016 Iron (Fe) Good 0.005 0.000 - 0.010 mg/L


I use a ceramic filter media which might be partly to blame, but I believe a lot of it probably came through some exhausted DI filters. I've been pretty lazy about replacing them when they go bad. I tend not to notice in time.

I know that Phosguard and GFO will remove silicates, but they also remove phosphate. My phosphate level is already good, I'm not sure if I want to lower it any further. So is there a way to target silicate specifically?

Also, which media is more effective at removing silicate, Phosguard or GFO?

 

[joekidwell]

If you have a lot of algae it might be sucking up the phosphates before it shows up in a test. I've been battling green hair algae for years with little to no phospates. In the past two months I've been cracking down on it with more flow, less feedings, smaller and more frequent water changes and blowing off my rocks daily. I have less algae now and what I have left turned brown so I'm hoping a couple more months and I will be algae free.