I have test my aquarium with HANNA phosphate digital colorimeter and get the phosphate level at 0.1ppm, I think in my system the only thing could get rid of phosphate is the macro algae, and some friends told me it is not possible to keep the phosphate lower enough just with algaes, Some friends with Zeovite system could keep phosphate level below 0.02ppm easily, and I am considering something like Phosban or Phosar, but I really want to know if I could get much lower phosphate level with just algaes?
very low phosphate - could macro algae do this ?
- Thread starter Welles
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Serioussnaps
New member
my macros have never been able to do it by themselves....thats why i am buying a phosphate reactor and phosban in the next few minutes!!
Great topic. I have macro algae (chaeto) in my sump for about a year now. It seems to do wonder for nitrate (undetectable), but it doesn't do crap for phosphate. The phosphate level is always around 0.1 unless I use phosphate remover media like rowaphos. But the rowaphos usually only last for about 2 weeks, and the problem is back.
Anyone have great experience using macroalgae to keep phosphate at bay?
Anyone have great experience using macroalgae to keep phosphate at bay?
I am at zero and zero on trate and po4. I did it by removing the caulerpa and going to Chaetomorpha but really by getting a 6.5 K fluorescent growth bulb and putting it on the sump 24 / 7. Harvesting large clumps of Chaeto about weekly now. Bad stuff just getting sucked up and out.
MCsaxmaster
New member
Phosphate concentrations in nature are much lower than this because of biological uptake performed mostly by algae. If you can figure out how to grow algae faster and more effectively you'll likely drop that phosphate concentration very low rather quickly. You might need more light, more space, more waterflow, etc. Impossible to say on this end, but there's no reason in the world you couldn't maintain low phosphate levels in a normal tank through uptake by algae.
cj
cj
Mchava
Active member
Well tell you what I have no macro algea at all, none and my p04 reading are 0.01-0.02 that is with a Hanna color meter. I have 7 fish 4 shrimps, a bunch of crabs. Oh and all I do is change 10% water skim a little wet. I do run 1/2 the recommended dose of rowaphos. So I think with macro algea you can lower the p04 even more but 0.1 is still kind of high for acros.
The reason why I don't trust algae is they have tendency to "go sexual" and rot it all. During the process the algae will release all the nutrient back and the trend is very unpredictable. Especially caulepa. I feel using RowaPhos or Phosban is easier and requires less space to deal with phosphate problem.
How much light do you use for your sump to grow the chaeto? I have 3 compartments and I use 3 x 6.5 K fluorescent bulb (28w each) one for each compartment.
I run the bulb for 6 hours on and 2 hours off regime. So total 18 hours a day. I used to run the bulb 24/7 but find that the bulbs didn't last long. So now I set the time to cool down the bulb for 2 hours after running for 6 hours. I find that this is the best way to prolong the lifespan of the bulb.
Should I add more light, or longer exposure?
I run the bulb for 6 hours on and 2 hours off regime. So total 18 hours a day. I used to run the bulb 24/7 but find that the bulbs didn't last long. So now I set the time to cool down the bulb for 2 hours after running for 6 hours. I find that this is the best way to prolong the lifespan of the bulb.
Should I add more light, or longer exposure?
MCsaxmaster
New member
In answer to your original question, yes algal growth can drop the phosphate level very low. In answer to your apparently secondary question, yes there are other ways to reduce phosphates. Also, in response to above, only Caulerpa spp. can cause problems by "going sexual." Other genera don't do this.
cj
cj
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