Lets get this over with, whats the best phosphate remover for the money? - Page 2

fishsoldseprtly · 12/15/2006, 05:30 AM

I have tried ROWA and PHOSAR by Warner, I had a bad case of cyano and hair algae and I was running ROWA. It didnt help that mich IMO. I bought some PHOSAR and I now believe in the PHOSAR product!
PHOSAR all the way!

jamal-188 · 12/15/2006, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EXPEDITION
I vote PURA Phoslock

With PURA filtration pad.

Agreed

the_anti_honda · 12/15/2006, 01:00 PM

Every time I use Phoguard I get a diatoms out break and then hair algae about a week into it. I have no idea why.

flyingphish · 12/15/2006, 02:16 PM

a sponge is a sponge is a sponge.

i use a bag of kent carbon and a bag of kent sponge...amazing. then again my tank is only 22 gallons.

kent sponge works great keeping moisture down in my gun safe too.

works great for kitty litter and sweeping compound...

I DARE someone to try to pull P04 out of your tank using Johnny Cat...on sale at Petco....

StrategicReef · 12/15/2006, 03:39 PM

Switched from Phosban to Phosar and I am seeing a difference already. With Phosar the pallets are much less crushed.

And, it's actually cheaper than Phosban, I got the 1000grams bucket... should have got 2000grams next time. I would continue to use Phosar.

ezcompany · 12/15/2006, 05:38 PM

what sorts of difference are you seeing, algae or ph tests?

Frankysreef · 12/15/2006, 06:19 PM

I use my fuge to suck out phosphates... seems to work good.. I have never had any problems.

ezcompany · 12/16/2006, 01:17 AM

i don't have a fuge as i run a nano so i need to figure out the best phosphate remover. btw, how often does one replace their gfos?

Jasonincuritiba · 12/16/2006, 01:19 AM

I replace mine about once a month, I use Phosban, which is white beads that turn dark brown when its about time to change

StrategicReef · 12/16/2006, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ezcompany
what sorts of difference are you seeing, algae or ph tests?

Seems to be slowly killing my plate algae and other algae in only a week. I don't have any measurable levels to begin with, just by observing anyway..

PH is ok, it dropped a little at first then it stablized, just don't use too much more than recommended.

Serioussnaps · 12/16/2006, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Covey
I've used:
PhosGuard
Phos-X
PhosBan
Rowa
Dr. F&S PhosPure

I've noticed little or no difference in the ability of them to remove phos. They ALL work Dr. F&S was by far the cheapiest. In my book GFO is GFO.

GFO is GFO for me as long as it is from a reputable company IMO

Rugrat2006 · 12/16/2006, 09:14 PM

For a 120g tank how much Rowaphos do you guy use it.

ezcompany · 12/18/2006, 12:55 PM

anymore of you guys and girls that believe gfo is just gfo?

poknsnok · 12/18/2006, 01:25 PM

good husbandry and rinsing frozen foods. mine runs .00 to .02 on hannah meter

ezcompany · 12/18/2006, 01:25 PM

Here are the pricings. Data based on Dr. Foster, Marinedepot, and Champion Lighting. 1 g = 1 ml

My question now is, why is Phosguard so dirt cheap?

20 liters of Seachem Phosguard = $174.95 or $.0087 per ml
1000 ml of Seachem Phosguard = $13.00 or $.0129 per ml
4000 grams of Warner Marine Phosar = $139.90 or .0349 per gram
795 grams of Phospure = $27.99 or .0352 per gram
1000 grams of Warner Marine Phosar = $51.90 or .0519 per gram
1135 grams of Pura Phoslock = $69.99 or $.0616 per gram
1200 grams of Phosban = $79.99 or $0.0666 per gram
1000 ml of Rowaphos = $70.00 or $.07 per ml
500 grams of KNOP PhosphatEx = $39.75 or .0795 per gram
150 grams of Fluval Phosphate Remover = $17.99 or .1199 per gram

jdieck · 12/18/2006, 01:40 PM

A couple of comments.
To get accurate data you will need to correlate your findings on the poll with the total number of people using each product.
PHOSaR from Warner is relatively new and has yet to have more people try it but the ones who do will not switch back to anything else. Basically the pellet shape alows for beter flow distribution and reduces clumping of the media exposing more of it to the pasing water either in reactors or on a bag. It is denser meaning that is used in a reactor it will allow for slightly higher flow, aditionally it does not fragment, fracture as easily and has less fines which makes it very easy to rinse. (For those using Rowa you know how messy it is).
I am looking forward for the second generation of PHOSar with twice the adsorption capacity, this will call for a dose of only half a gram per gallon of aquarium water.

Second: the price comparison between Alumina based and GFO based adsorbers may be futile. Alumina is lot cheaper in general but has problems for its application in reef tanks
Basically other than for Fish Only tanks I will stay away from all Alumina based removers (Like Phosgard) as they release unatural amounts of Aluminum which makes corals react badly.

ezcompany · 12/18/2006, 01:51 PM

sorry, i never realized phosguard was alumina based

jdieck · 12/18/2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ezcompany
sorry, i never realized phosguard was alumina based

Its OK that would be my first choice if I had a fish only tank.

ezcompany · 12/18/2006, 02:45 PM

when is the second generation phosar estimated to be released?

empireinc00 · 12/18/2006, 03:38 PM

I use PHOSLOCK.

jdieck · 12/18/2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ezcompany
when is the second generation phosar estimated to be released?

No date has been anounced but I know a couple of guys in the forums are trying it now so it might be just a couple of months.

gcarroll · 12/18/2006, 05:50 PM

The 2nd generation PhosAR will be called "PhosAR HC". It should be available in Jan or Feb. It is not in pellet form but there is currently nothing on the market comparable. It has 2x the capacity of the regular PhosAR. Since you use less, it does not depress Alklinity levels as much. I have been testing it for a couple months now and all that is said about it appears to be true.

ezcompany · 12/18/2006, 07:45 PM

I didn't know phosphate removers depress alk levels, by how much may i ask?

Ti · 12/18/2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdieck
Its OK that would be my first choice if I had a fish only tank.

I run reef with it, no issues.
Used rowa and phosban b4 too.
rowa worked better than phosban, but phosguard good too

jdieck · 12/18/2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ti
I run reef with it, no issues.
Used rowa and phosban b4 too.
rowa worked better than phosban, but phosguard good too

Hi Ti:

You may be interested in reading the results of some of those tests:

Aluminum and aluminum-based phosphate binders
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ly2003/chem.htm

The good news is that not all corals seem to be afected and there seems to be no long term effects. Also if rinsed well the release is reduced and if keeping a good water change regime you may be able to keep Aluminum at manaegable levels.

View Poll Results: What is the best phosphate remover for your system?
Rowaphos	90	35.71%
Seachem Phosguard	16	6.35%
Salifert Phosphate Killer	2	0.79%
Hagen Fluval Phosphate Remover	2	0.79%
Warner Marine Phosar	33	13.10%
Dr. Foster Smith Phos Pure	11	4.37%
Phosban	76	30.16%
Kent Phos Sponge	5	1.98%
Other (please mention)	27	10.71%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 252. You may not vote on this poll

12/15/2006, 01:00 PM	#28
the_anti_honda Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Menifee Ca, Posts: 708	Every time I use Phoguard I get a diatoms out break and then hair algae about a week into it. I have no idea why. __________________ ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> Current Tank Info: Taking a break from the hobby

12/15/2006, 02:16 PM	#29
flyingphish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: KPAO Posts: 428	a sponge is a sponge is a sponge. i use a bag of kent carbon and a bag of kent sponge...amazing. then again my tank is only 22 gallons. kent sponge works great keeping moisture down in my gun safe too. works great for kitty litter and sweeping compound... I DARE someone to try to pull P04 out of your tank using Johnny Cat...on sale at Petco.... __________________ 120g \| sps

12/15/2006, 05:38 PM	#31
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	what sorts of difference are you seeing, algae or ph tests? __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

12/16/2006, 01:17 AM	#33
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	i don't have a fuge as i run a nano so i need to figure out the best phosphate remover. btw, how often does one replace their gfos? __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

12/15/2006, 05:30 AM	#26
fishsoldseprtly Moved On Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Elk Grove-Sacramento-NCali Posts: 1,244	I have tried ROWA and PHOSAR by Warner, I had a bad case of cyano and hair algae and I was running ROWA. It didnt help that mich IMO. I bought some PHOSAR and I now believe in the PHOSAR product! PHOSAR all the way!

12/15/2006, 03:39 PM	#30
StrategicReef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,659	Switched from Phosban to Phosar and I am seeing a difference already. With Phosar the pallets are much less crushed. And, it's actually cheaper than Phosban, I got the 1000grams bucket... should have got 2000grams next time. I would continue to use Phosar.

12/15/2006, 06:19 PM	#32
Frankysreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Newport Beach CA Posts: 3,096	I use my fuge to suck out phosphates... seems to work good.. I have never had any problems.

12/16/2006, 01:19 AM	#34
Jasonincuritiba Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 240	I replace mine about once a month, I use Phosban, which is white beads that turn dark brown when its about time to change

12/16/2006, 09:14 PM	#37
Rugrat2006 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: OC Posts: 79	For a 120g tank how much Rowaphos do you guy use it.

12/18/2006, 12:55 PM	#38
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	anymore of you guys and girls that believe gfo is just gfo?

12/18/2006, 01:25 PM	#39
poknsnok Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: tampa/ Brandon Posts: 2,802	good husbandry and rinsing frozen foods. mine runs .00 to .02 on hannah meter

12/18/2006, 01:40 PM	#41
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	A couple of comments. To get accurate data you will need to correlate your findings on the poll with the total number of people using each product. PHOSaR from Warner is relatively new and has yet to have more people try it but the ones who do will not switch back to anything else. Basically the pellet shape alows for beter flow distribution and reduces clumping of the media exposing more of it to the pasing water either in reactors or on a bag. It is denser meaning that is used in a reactor it will allow for slightly higher flow, aditionally it does not fragment, fracture as easily and has less fines which makes it very easy to rinse. (For those using Rowa you know how messy it is). I am looking forward for the second generation of PHOSar with twice the adsorption capacity, this will call for a dose of only half a gram per gallon of aquarium water. Second: the price comparison between Alumina based and GFO based adsorbers may be futile. Alumina is lot cheaper in general but has problems for its application in reef tanks Basically other than for Fish Only tanks I will stay away from all Alumina based removers (Like Phosgard) as they release unatural amounts of Aluminum which makes corals react badly. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

12/18/2006, 01:51 PM	#42
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	sorry, i never realized phosguard was alumina based __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

12/18/2006, 02:45 PM	#44
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	when is the second generation phosar estimated to be released? __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

12/18/2006, 03:38 PM	#45
empireinc00 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 211	I use PHOSLOCK.

12/18/2006, 05:50 PM	#47
gcarroll Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 9,666	The 2nd generation PhosAR will be called "PhosAR HC". It should be available in Jan or Feb. It is not in pellet form but there is currently nothing on the market comparable. It has 2x the capacity of the regular PhosAR. Since you use less, it does not depress Alklinity levels as much. I have been testing it for a couple months now and all that is said about it appears to be true. __________________ Greg Carroll I will be at REEF-A-PALOOZA! SPS = Stability Promotes Success Be wary of advice coming from those who will not show you the fruits of their success! Current Tank Info: building: 250g AGE Euro tank, Abyzz A200, Vertex Supra-G filtration, Ecotech Radion Pro LEDs, ...

12/18/2006, 07:45 PM	#48
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	I didn't know phosphate removers depress alk levels, by how much may i ask? __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40