Proper use of Rowaphos

[fishnugget]

I have a 90 gallon tank that measures very high in phosphates.
I am using a Merck test kit. It originally measured over .43 or very dark blue.
I added rowaphos to a phosban reactor. In 3 days phospahtes lowered to .25 med blue. A day later I found that the tank and the recator measured the same .25. I aasumed the media was then depleted. I changed rowa. Today both measure @ .16 still the lightest of blue not yet turning greenish. All this is within 1 week.

Should I change material again now? Is it exhausted? Both read the same tank & reactor. What is a good level to shoot for? How oftern should I change media to get down to that level?

 

[cutegecko3]

I doubt if its depleted that quickly.Test your phos. level again tommorrow and if it hasnt lowered then change it.Keep a close eye on your alk. because it is likely affecting it as well.You should be aiming for a phos. level of 0.05 or less.

 

[sjames]

the effluent comming from the reactor should read pretty close to 0. If it does not, either your flow is too high, or your media is exausted.

It may take a while to really get your phosphates low, as you drop your phosphate level in the water columb down, it will leach from the rocks into the water.