usaco Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Hi ppl, I don't know why I can't get the phosphate to reduce, I think i've tried everything. I've placed Aquasonic sponges in my canister filter, then I've made several 20% water changes. I've got a skimmer that's working fine (It's producing heaps of bubbles). I also cleaned my canister filter and the mini reef system from all debris... Tested my tap water with no or very very little trace of phosphate. Does anyone know of any other ways to reduce the phosphate (other than starting from scratch!)??? PO4: 3.0 NO3: 20 cal: 450-500 alk: 160 ph: 8.0-8.1 salt: 1.021 everything else is normal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 How much LR do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 few things, your filters arent going to get rid of phosphates. you can try some phosphate remover, rowaphos phosban etc.... i would reccomend cutting down on feeding and doing some good water changes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Usaco I don't see any information on your filtration so don't know what you have at the moment. However, when you feed, you add phosphate to the tank. Most food is at least 1% phosphate. So you must have some means to remove this phosphate. If you are not removing at least as much as you are putting in, you will eventually have a problem. This starts with a skimmer, the best you can get as this is possibly the single most important part of your filtration system. The crud your skimmer removes is largely organic material, and contains phosphate. So in some low bioload tanks a skimmer is all that is needed to keep on top of it. But with most tanks, something more is required. The two most popular options are an algae refugium, or phosphate removing media. The next two methods are contraversial although I have used both with success, they are the zeovit system, and vodka dosing. However these two last options require a greater skill level, a refugium, or phosphate removing media should be your first port of call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 I battled phosphates for years until I got a fluidiser and ran rowaphos in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 JBL PhosEx did it for me. I just run it in the cannister. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 That is for freshwater isnt it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 rowaphos nuked my phosphates. zeovit anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 No, PhosEx is for both. Clearmec, which does nitrite, nitrate and phosphate is for fresh only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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