maybe a dumb question concerning phosban

[nemofish2217]

okay, so i am going to be getting a phosban reactor soon.... but i got to thinking about something that i need cleared up....

if the phosban reactor removes phosphates from the water, then wont your macro algea struggle and die off? or does phosban not remove nitrates and thats what macro is for...thanks for the clarification...

P.s. what are some of the immediate causes of slime algea... (im not sure whether or not its red slime or not because it looks "browner" i guess it could be cyano) I have some growing in my overflow box, and now some is starting in my sump.... any ideas? thanks again

 

[Mishap]

phosban will only remove phosphate. So you're macro will still be fine.

As for cyano, it is usually caused by lack of flow and phosphate (I think) I had a pretty wicked case of it but I added a phosban reactor with a spraybar and it went away.

So I added both lots of flow and phosphate sponge.

Hth,

Matt

 

[kevin gu3]

Algae need phosphates, nitrates, and other nutrients to grow. If one nutrient is completely missing it will die. Usually the phosphates limit the growth (there is nitrate and other nutrients to spare). So it is the limiting nutrient. Thats why people concentrate on the phosphates.

If you have red slime you probably have more that the usual amount of phosphates; it needs lots to thrive.

Phosban will remove phosphates if there is lots in the water. But in my experience with a mature tank (no cyano) the phosphate level is always zero on the best kit I can find (Hach). I believe the macro is better at taking it up than the phosban because the macro growth isn't affected when I use phosban. So I'm guessing a better way to remove phosphate is to grow and remove macro algae.