High Silicates - No Phosphates

lwhillman · 01/27/2017, 11:38 AM

Silicates 0.900 mg/l

Phosphates 0.010 mg/l

Test results are from the Aqua Medic Lab and seem to match Red Sea test results I've done myself.

Phosban and GFO reduced Phosphates to nearly zero ... maybe even too low. But Silicates remain high.

How can I remove Silicates without further reducing the Phosphates?

jason2459 · 01/27/2017, 12:26 PM

Are you having any issues you believe are related to silicates?

What is your source water?

lwhillman · 01/27/2017, 12:29 PM

Issues: I have diatoms on the glass.

Source Water: RO with High-silicate removal membrane.

jason2459 · 01/27/2017, 12:57 PM

Could still be the source water. Are you sure it's not a film algae on the glass? I'm sure there's probably diatoms mixed in though. I would not rely on color.

Sponges like silicates

bertoni · 01/27/2017, 10:21 PM

If the issue is diatoms, then many snails should be happy to eat them. How big is the tank? I might try adding a Trochus snail.

Have you checked some freshly-made RO/DI water or freshly-mixed saltwater? The DI cartridge might need replacing. There's no practical way to remove silicate without also removing phosphate, as far as I know.

01/27/2017, 11:38 AM	#1
lwhillman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Chicago Posts: 16	High Silicates - No Phosphates Silicates 0.900 mg/l Phosphates 0.010 mg/l Test results are from the Aqua Medic Lab and seem to match Red Sea test results I've done myself. Phosban and GFO reduced Phosphates to nearly zero ... maybe even too low. But Silicates remain high. How can I remove Silicates without further reducing the Phosphates?

01/27/2017, 12:26 PM	#2
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Are you having any issues you believe are related to silicates? What is your source water? __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

01/27/2017, 12:57 PM	#4
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Could still be the source water. Are you sure it's not a film algae on the glass? I'm sure there's probably diatoms mixed in though. I would not rely on color. Sponges like silicates __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

01/27/2017, 10:21 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the issue is diatoms, then many snails should be happy to eat them. How big is the tank? I might try adding a Trochus snail. Have you checked some freshly-made RO/DI water or freshly-mixed saltwater? The DI cartridge might need replacing. There's no practical way to remove silicate without also removing phosphate, as far as I know. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/27/2017, 12:29 PM	#3
lwhillman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Chicago Posts: 16	Issues: I have diatoms on the glass. Source Water: RO with High-silicate removal membrane.