lowering phosphates ???

[unclemuskie]

I just did a phosphate test (salifert) and got a reading of.5.Didn't even realize I had them as I have been running phosban for about 2 months now.Will a expired phosban bag leach back into the water??? also what is the best way to get rid of them all together ??? are there any better media out there than phosban or just good maintenance ???? any help would be great.

 

[Bill and Elaine]

Phosban need to be change every three months or so.........the best way to use Phosban is to get a Phosban Reactor they are about $30 or so.........are you using Ro/DI water ?? if not you may be getting Phosphate from your water supply

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the phosphate is 0.5 ppm, then the media will be repidly used up. I'd replace it now, and weekly if the levels do not drop (assuming that you are forcing water through it, and not just haniging a bag in the sump.

I keep phosphate in check by growing macroalgae and skimming.

These articles may be useful:


Phosphorus: Algaeââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Best Friend
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm


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

 

[unclemuskie]

hey Randy,what about the new product from carib-sea called phosbuster??? It is a liquid media put into the sump.have any thoughts ????thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There are now a varietyof such products. I'm not sure what they all are, or whether I want them in my tank, so I'd avoid them for now.

 

[unclemuskie]

Hey Randy,let me ask you something I dont think I've ever seen an answer to on RC. If you do succeed in lowering your phosphates either by good husbandry or chemically.Aprroximately how long would it take for a moderate hair algae and cyno problem to go away and get good corraline growth again?? thanks for your expertise.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If you lower it enough, some folks see effects on green algae in only a few days. Coralline can take a lot longer to notice effects.

 

[RicoJ]

actually false alarm. I went ahead and bought a salifert phos test kit and I am reading 0 or close to 0.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing.