The best method for removing PO4?

[breakdanc3]

I have never used anything to remove phosphates .. but thinking i need it to take my tank to the next level.. nitrates are probably under control thanks to my bucket algae filter i recently added. but what about phosphates?

Whats your best method for removing phosphate ?

 

[bertoni]

Using GFO is one of the easier approaches to try, and it can reduce the phosphate level quite a bit, although that might take some time to accomplish. That's where I'd start.

 

[rps3]

Have you tested for phosphates? If not, I would start with that and if levels are more then you want... then start on something like bertoni mentioned. Or figure the source of the phosphates, that helps a lot as well.

 

[breakdanc3]

I haven't tested for phosphates. My tank still looks great, but i previously had a terrible cyano problem which i killed off with erythromycin. I've got a diatom bloom covering only my newly added diy rocks. i've been using an algae scrubber without a skimmer for the last 3 months which has made life in the tank grow wild... in a good way. but i read algae consumes N and P in a 15N to 1P ratio. and that DIY food may have extra phosphates in it. i guess my next question is

whats a good test kit? for phosphate

 

[ReLPSef]

GFO in a reactor will do the trick. Keeps me around .02 w/ pretty heavy feeding.

 

[BigBarnacles]

I love my Hanna digital for checking po4. My po4 was 0.08. Hooked up a TLF phosban reactor with phosban in it, did a small water change, and today it's down to 0.05. That's in just 12 hours. I also added some chaeto to my sump/refugium. Diatoms post cycle are getting to be more than my cuc can handle.