Kalk and Phosphates

[turtleman9100]

I've read several times that kalkwasser precipitates phosphates. If I am dosing kalk via topoff, is there any reason I should run a phosphate reactor and phos media or should phosphates be non existent?

 

[Billybeau1]

Limewater can aid in reducing phosphates but should not be relied upon to keep PO₄ to acceptable levels.

Testing will tell you where you are at.

I recommend a good GFO to keep phosphates in check.

Iron Oxide Hydroxide (GFO) phosphate binders
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.htm

 

[kevin2000]

Re: Kalk and Phosphates

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12933431#post12933431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by turtleman9100
I've read several times that kalkwasser precipitates phosphates. If I am dosing kalk via topoff, is there any reason I should run a phosphate reactor and phos media or should phosphates be non existent?

While the high PH of Kalk can precipitate phosphate its limited to the small vicinity of the drip zone .... many aquarist use a phosphate media on a regular basis. Phosphate tends to slowly build up in all aquariums and how to mitigate the build up is something that most experienced aquarist try to avoid.

 

[tmz]

I tend to think limewater will precipitate some phosphate but that is still just a well reasoned but unproven hypothosis as far as I know. Even if it does it will not manage it to acceptable levels in my experience.

 

[bertoni]

I don't know of any data that show that limewater precipitates phosphate in our tanks. It will precipitate phosphate in the limewater.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

For any system regardless of husbandry practices, I'd see what problems you have and then develop ways to deal with them as they pop up. Phosphate binding by GFO is a fine thing to use along with with most any methods when phosphate becomes too high.

That said, limewater alone is not going to solve phosphate problems, and I'd plan any system to have ways to deal with nitrate and phosphate (of which there are many).

These have more:

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm