Super high PO4!?!?

Just an update -


I've been running the sump for about five weeks now. And although my water is crystal clear, I am still fighting the red slime. My PO4 is lower, usually no higher than .025, which is an improvement but not good enough. I have been running the PosBan in the canister and changing every four weeks. I just ordered a PosBan Reactor it should be in by the week end and we'll see how it goes.
 
Bax, thanks for the update. I'm pretty much in the same boat and am contemplating getting a Phosban reactor. The use of the phosban in its sock nestled in the bubble catch of my sump has helped quite abit but there is still a measureable amount (<.1 , my RedSea test isn't more accurate than that) and I'm still fighting red slime (not as much, but way more than I want). Looking forward to hearing your results with the reactor.
 
OK...

Here's an update.

41/2 weeks of running a PhosBan Reactor with 150g of Phosban and the cyano is defintly slowing down, it's not gone but slowing down. I used to have adaily thick red carpet over corals LR and LS. Now I get it in thinner patches over the LS and the bottom edges of the LR and little patches on some of the more damaged corals.
(unfortunately I think I may lose my yellow proities and several TBS corals and my yellow sea finger gorg took a beating but just won't give up)
I am trying to hold off going chemical. I bought some Kent's Poly-Ox but would prefer to get ahead of the cyano with the media reactor if possible. This weekend I am going to change to better lighting in the fuge and see if that helps too.
 
i dont have a real algae problem but my readings have been .25 for a long time . i have two CPR HoB fuges and that still doesnt help . bought the phosban reator . tell ya how it works.
 
At five weeks of running a PhosBan Reactor, I am noticing a slight increase in RS coating on the sand bed and some of the LR. I'll change media as soon as I can.

Will keep you posted
 
I just got done reading every entry in the this thread with the intention to find out more abou the TBS. I am getting ready to embark on my first SW tank. I have currently have and 29g FW tank that has been going for about 1.5yrs. and my neighbor gave me another 29g tank so i figured i would try my hand at a SW. I actually live in Tampa so TBS is the only logical choice in starting a reed tank. I just finished building my stand and have ordered and Red Sea Prizm Deluxe protein skimmer two Aquaclear powerheads and a Coralife Lunar light fixture with two 65w compact flourescne. Do I need to purchase a mechanical filter to go along with this to and is it nesseccary to have a sump?

Also if i was to go with TBS i would be gettting the package for a 29g. Anyone have anything to say (Ya or Nay) about this or anything you have recieved from TBS. I would like to do it right the first time :)
 
Yes ... before you buy TBS talk at length to Richard. He's very knowledable and helpful.

I am sure he told you that you have to have a skimmer. Mechanical filtration is optional but I like the clear water you get with carbon. A sump is not a requirment to do skimming, carbon or Phosban, but it gives you more room to work and I recomend a sump highly.

That's just my free newbie advice for the day.:D
 
Well, I've thrown in the towel on trying to control cyano through just control of PO4, nitrates and circulation. I've run PhosBan and Kent Phosphate remover to where my readings are under .05 for a couple of months. RO/DI water from day one. I increased the circulation (added a SIEO) that now has the water moving so vigourously that I'm concerned any more movement would damage the corals. I've blasted and siphoned the rocks and sand vigourously. I've reduced the time my lights are on and cut back on feeding the tank. Though these actions have reduced the red slime some, still, I have persistant sheets of cyano that develope on the sand and rocks daily (and, of most concern, on some of my tubastrea and zoanthids).
I am awaiting the arrival of some Chemi-Clean to add to the tank. I don't like the idea of adding a chemical to control, but I've run out of ideas. I'll let you all know how things turn out; what effects it has on the tank and it's inhabitants.
 
sometimes the best answer is to just leave things alone and give the tank some time to work out its own problems
 
docklink

I feel your pain.

It took me about eight weeks or more of running the PhosBan reactor but he cyano is finally yielding its grip on my tank. The costs have been great, my Yellow Sea Finger Gorg (one of my first pieces) is really hurting and my Turbina and a once beautiful yellow porites are all but dead. No chems just the PhosBan, bi weekly water changes, monthly carbon change and a definite cut back on feeding. Iwill admit, that I spent many a night holding a measuring cup and a bottle of Kent's Poly-Ox fighting the temptation to nuke the tank. I remain positive that, for now, the cyano is behind me.

I just read a thread on using sugar and the writter claimed nearly immediate success with the method. I'll look it up and post again.
 
Chemi-Clean

Chemi-Clean

Well, It's been a week now since applying Chemi-Clean to the tank. All seems to be doing very well without any sign of distress or disturbance to the tank with exception of the cyano. All Gone!!!:D No more stringy sheets of gooey red forming during the day. The rocks and corals are looking better than they have in months. And no indication that anything living in the tank (fishes, inverts, macro algae, corals) was aware anything different was added.
I added the chemi-clean last Sunday evening, turning off the skimmer and removing all filter media per the instructions. About 1/8 of a teaspoon ( 5 of these tiny little scoops that came with it) was added to my tank. The next day, there was a noticeable lessening of the amount of cyano. I suctioned out some of the larger strings that were still hanging on. After 24 hrs., I did a 12 gal (20%) water change (again per instructions), turned on the skimmer (which went wild) and added a sack of charcoal in the sump. By 48 hours there was only a trace of red in a few limited nooks and crannies. By Thursday, there was no trace of cyano and the skimmer had settled down to normal (or slightly less) output. Only time will tell as to the long term effects and effectiveness of the treatment.
I would still recommend trying the standard methods of reducing cyano first, but after four months without seeing an appreciable decrease in the amount of cyano, the use of the chemi-clean seemed appropriate.
 
Congrats! Jeff

I now keep a bottle of Poly-Ox onhand in case cyano ever breaks out again. The PhosBan Rx still seems to be doing the trick
 
Where did you guys buy your phosban reactors... We made it thru the Red slime pretty well... I only got fed up once and added "red slime remover" works good but I think the red slime in my dads tank was able to become resistant after a while...

So yeah my Phosphate is screaming these days 0.5 to 1.0 and the hair algae is starting to becoem a constant....

Ive just started phosban in the filters but would like to try the reactor

I know a lot of people bash TBS saying their rock is a Phosphate sponge... "the gulf is loaded with phosphate..." whatever... Until someone can prove to me why TBS is worse then any other rock... I will always be a believer in TBS...
 
So basically its just a tube, with sponges on either end to keep the Phosban from flowing thru??? But 33.99 is cheap and it would cost me at least that for the materials and time to get it done... And it would probably leak anyway...

Looks like I'll grab one, thanks
 
They are really simple bu the 150 modle is put together pretty well and it is cheap. (Compared to EVERYTHING else in this hobby).
I got mine from Fish Depot cause not evryone had them, but they are now available almost everywhere on line. Dr Foster & Smith, Marine Depot .... ect. just shop around.
I piad about $35.00 so $33.99 sounds good.

Good luck with the red slime.
 
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