Phosphate and silicate removers, do they work ?

[dangdang]

Has anyone used such medium in their filters? Does it work?

I've found a number of products out there that claim to do just that, filtering out phosphate and silicate so to eliminate algae and diatoms. Example; Chemi pure, Kent phosphate spong, Phosguard.

If it does work, how long for? Do you continually replace the medium? Time frames?

Are there side effects? What if the medium is left in filter too long? Would it release the phosphate and silicate back into the water?

Please share your exeriences.

[tHEcONCH]

Yes, they work - in different ways, and for different amounts of time depending upon how much 'work' they have to do. Most won't release back once they are exhausted, they just stop absorbing more and levels might begin to rise again if there is a source (usually excess food). I wouldn't worry about silicate removal - in new tanks it leaches out of the glass for a few weeks and then drops to irrelivant levels. Phosphate, on the other hand, can have quite an effect, especially in Marine tanks, so depending upon what sort of tank you have you might want to remove it.

[dangdang]

thanks conch. will give it a go

[ljtan55]

I use phoszorb all the time. makes a huge difference. My discus tank (which gets lots of food) went from brown to green in a week.

[dangdang]

good to know that people have had good experience. just dont want to throw money away

thanks

[alanmin4304]

Water changes are a cheaper way to remove phosphate but if growing plants you will need some.