What is the best way to get rid of or lower phosphates??

SINNERMF · 01/04/2007, 09:09 PM

Besides water changes and skimming what gets rid of phosphates? I've seen people make reference to "Phosban" "Purigen" "Antiphose".... the list goes on. I've seen people support methods and I've seen people tear them to shreds. Just hoping to get range of opinions.

cashman95 · 01/07/2007, 12:38 PM

Water changes!

SINNERMF · 01/07/2007, 02:26 PM

Besides water changes

pjf · 01/11/2007, 06:47 PM

Here are a couple of short articles on phosphates in the aquarium and chemical phosphate removers:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2002/chem.htm
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...004/review.htm

pjf · 01/13/2007, 04:07 PM

Here is more information on the use of iron oxide hydroxide (GFO) to remove phosphates:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php

ronald7410 · 01/15/2007, 04:18 AM

ive seen some poh4 remover at the store but, its 25.99 bux. and the other option was the phosban reactor. then there were the media bags from rena, i needed 3 of them cuz my 150 gallon tank, but thing is, it would have needed to be replaced monthly...

i would also like to know what removes the phosphates, im stuck doing weekly waterchanges and a phosphate lvl of 5.0ppm

MiddletonMark · 01/15/2007, 08:55 AM

I'd also check what you're feeding, check your water [DI + RO filters do get old] ... while removing them is an essential part - so is avoiding adding too many. Despite w/c, skimming, PO4 removers - if you're adding too many, you'll never catch up.

Personally, I go for very regular w/c, heavy skimming - and in rare, careful use a PO4 remover like Phosban or any other FeO phosphate removal product.

With the phosphate media - go slow. It took a while to build it up, will take a while to safely remove it.

rustybucket145 · 01/15/2007, 09:05 AM

I would suggest a refugium with some chaeto. It will consume the phosphate like nobody's business!

serpentman · 01/15/2007, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rustybucket145
I would suggest a refugium with some chaeto. It will consume the phosphate like nobody's business!

I second that motion. Unless you never feed anything, phosphates will always be introduced to certain degree. I would go with a refugium and run ferric oxide as a safeguard. Yes, it is expensive but works. Also, if your refugium is doing its job, you won't have to change it as often.

akrimmel · 01/15/2007, 11:08 AM

phos reactor and water changes to suck off the excess if you know what it looks like.

frederickk · 01/15/2007, 12:13 PM

I'd go with the refugium also. If set under the proper lightning it will grow very fast and decrease your amount of Phosphate.

Poorcollegereef · 01/15/2007, 12:18 PM

also recommend chaeto. Unlike man made chemical methods that costs a fair amount to keep up with PO4 reduction... aka changing the media, chaeto grows fast and increases PO4 removal. The only cost after purchase is the electricty for the fuge light. Another benefit is that it also removes nitrates!

ronald7410 · 01/16/2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rustybucket145
I would suggest a refugium with some chaeto. It will consume the phosphate like nobody's business!

ok does anyone have pix of this chaeto?

drummereef · 01/16/2007, 01:19 AM

Click -

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Algae%20a.../refugium1.jpg

ronald7410 · 01/16/2007, 01:31 PM

Only Chaeto?

What about calpera

Poorcollegereef · 01/16/2007, 08:01 PM

calpera can go sexual and it is hard to get rid of if it get established in the display tank. Chaeto is easy to remove if it is somewhere it aint supposed to be. It just like introducing different plants to cover someone's lawn. Either you can use grass or weeds, but will be green and provide grown cover but one can be removed and timmed easily with the other infests and refuses to leave with a fight

ronald7410 · 01/18/2007, 04:18 AM

ok so calpera does take out phosphates? or only nitrates?

techreef · 01/18/2007, 08:06 AM

i have had a softball sized ball of chaeto in my fuge for at least 3 months now. I'm running a reverse photo period with the PC floodlight suggested by Melev on the fuge, but my chaeto has not grown at all. none. the bulb was bought new. i have cyano a bit in my fuge and display, so I am fairly certain that my phosphates are high (i am trying to figure out if dosing phyto every other day is worth the phosphate headaches)

I thought the chaeto idea was great, but i'm not getting any growth out of it. I just bought a MJ 400 powerhead to put in the fuge. I've read that chaeto should be "tumbling" in a water current, and the current running through my fuge is very low right now. Can anyone give me ideas on how to kickstart my chaeto growth?

CedarReefer · 01/18/2007, 08:32 AM

I had some pretty high numbers. I feed less and redueced the lighting by 2 hours less, around 8 hours now.

It's going down, the corals are doing fine and the fish are still happy. Even though I only have 2 clowns right now.

Sean

01/04/2007, 09:09 PM	#1
SINNERMF Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 415	What is the best way to get rid of or lower phosphates?? Besides water changes and skimming what gets rid of phosphates? I've seen people make reference to "Phosban" "Purigen" "Antiphose".... the list goes on. I've seen people support methods and I've seen people tear them to shreds. Just hoping to get range of opinions.

01/07/2007, 12:38 PM	#2
cashman95 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greenville, S.C. Posts: 810	Water changes! __________________ SPS Tank with sump in the garage, 400watt Radium/Lumatek ballast,ReefKeeper2 controlling it all!! VHO actinics in the works! Current Tank Info: 24x24x20 Rimless Cube

01/13/2007, 04:07 PM	#5
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	GFO Here is more information on the use of iron oxide hydroxide (GFO) to remove phosphates: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php

01/15/2007, 04:18 AM	#6
ronald7410 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 212	ive seen some poh4 remover at the store but, its 25.99 bux. and the other option was the phosban reactor. then there were the media bags from rena, i needed 3 of them cuz my 150 gallon tank, but thing is, it would have needed to be replaced monthly... i would also like to know what removes the phosphates, im stuck doing weekly waterchanges and a phosphate lvl of 5.0ppm __________________ Yes, Its harder for me to keep fish than coral.

01/15/2007, 08:55 AM	#7
MiddletonMark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 14,441	I'd also check what you're feeding, check your water [DI + RO filters do get old] ... while removing them is an essential part - so is avoiding adding too many. Despite w/c, skimming, PO4 removers - if you're adding too many, you'll never catch up. Personally, I go for very regular w/c, heavy skimming - and in rare, careful use a PO4 remover like Phosban or any other FeO phosphate removal product. With the phosphate media - go slow. It took a while to build it up, will take a while to safely remove it. __________________ read a lot, think for yourself Current Tank Info: 58g stony reef [250w10k, 250w 20k MH, 2x vho act, Octopus150, 6060 + 6000] ; 60g mixed tub

01/07/2007, 02:26 PM	#3
SINNERMF Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 415	Besides water changes

01/11/2007, 06:47 PM	#4
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	Here are a couple of short articles on phosphates in the aquarium and chemical phosphate removers: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2002/chem.htm http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...004/review.htm

01/15/2007, 09:05 AM	#8
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	I would suggest a refugium with some chaeto. It will consume the phosphate like nobody's business! __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

01/15/2007, 11:08 AM	#10
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	phos reactor and water changes to suck off the excess if you know what it looks like.

01/15/2007, 12:13 PM	#11
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	I'd go with the refugium also. If set under the proper lightning it will grow very fast and decrease your amount of Phosphate.

01/15/2007, 12:18 PM	#12
Poorcollegereef Future Doc Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Posts: 961	also recommend chaeto. Unlike man made chemical methods that costs a fair amount to keep up with PO4 reduction... aka changing the media, chaeto grows fast and increases PO4 removal. The only cost after purchase is the electricty for the fuge light. Another benefit is that it also removes nitrates!

01/16/2007, 01:19 AM	#14
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Click - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Algae%20a.../refugium1.jpg __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/16/2007, 01:31 PM	#15
ronald7410 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 212	Only Chaeto? What about calpera __________________ Yes, Its harder for me to keep fish than coral.

01/16/2007, 08:01 PM	#16
Poorcollegereef Future Doc Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Posts: 961	calpera can go sexual and it is hard to get rid of if it get established in the display tank. Chaeto is easy to remove if it is somewhere it aint supposed to be. It just like introducing different plants to cover someone's lawn. Either you can use grass or weeds, but will be green and provide grown cover but one can be removed and timmed easily with the other infests and refuses to leave with a fight

01/18/2007, 04:18 AM	#17
ronald7410 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 212	ok so calpera does take out phosphates? or only nitrates? __________________ Yes, Its harder for me to keep fish than coral.

01/18/2007, 08:06 AM	#18
techreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 1,046	i have had a softball sized ball of chaeto in my fuge for at least 3 months now. I'm running a reverse photo period with the PC floodlight suggested by Melev on the fuge, but my chaeto has not grown at all. none. the bulb was bought new. i have cyano a bit in my fuge and display, so I am fairly certain that my phosphates are high (i am trying to figure out if dosing phyto every other day is worth the phosphate headaches) I thought the chaeto idea was great, but i'm not getting any growth out of it. I just bought a MJ 400 powerhead to put in the fuge. I've read that chaeto should be "tumbling" in a water current, and the current running through my fuge is very low right now. Can anyone give me ideas on how to kickstart my chaeto growth?

01/18/2007, 08:32 AM	#19
CedarReefer Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West, MI Posts: 340	I had some pretty high numbers. I feed less and redueced the lighting by 2 hours less, around 8 hours now. It's going down, the corals are doing fine and the fish are still happy. Even though I only have 2 clowns right now. Sean