How effective is rowaphos at removing aluminium?

[Ollie05H]

I have recently been struggling with my euphyllia receding and dying. As a result I did an ICP which showed high levels of aluminium (137.85μg/l). My assumption is that this is from the marinepure balls in the sump. Over a week or 2 I did 3 x 20-30% changes and ran some rowaphos. This brought it down to 88.77μg/l. I was hoping for it to bring it down a bit more since I’ve heard people saying a small bag brought theirs down massively.
How efficient actually is it? And what is the easiest / best way to bring it down.

 

[haitian_reefer]

Following…

I’m in the same boat. Did you get rid of the bio all’s?

 

[Ollie05H]

Following…

I’m in the same boat. Did you get rid of the bio all’s?

No, I don’t have a lot of rock in tank so think I kinda need them. Just hoping it might stop leaching after a while.

 

[haitian_reefer]

I’m going to switch to polyplab genesis to see if that makes a difference

 

[Ollie05H]

I’m going to switch to polyplab genesis to see if that makes a difference

Let me know how it goes

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If the aluminum is present as colloidal (very small) particulates, none of the usual media will likely bind it. Free aluminum ions or aluminum ions bound to organics may bind to some media.

 

[MERKEY]

I have recently been struggling with my euphyllia receding and dying. As a result I did an ICP which showed high levels of aluminium (137.85μg/l). My assumption is that this is from the marinepure balls in the sump. Over a week or 2 I did 3 x 20-30% changes and ran some rowaphos. This brought it down to 88.77μg/l. I was hoping for it to bring it down a bit more since I’ve heard people saying a small bag brought theirs down massively.
How efficient actually is it? And what is the easiest / best way to bring it down.

I believe the water changes are what brought your alluminum levels down not the rowa as it can't bind to it as Randy said.

To remove alluminum specifically we had to get metasorb.

 

[Ollie05H]

If the aluminum is present as colloidal (very small) particulates, none of the usual media will likely bind it. Free aluminum ions or aluminum ions bound to organics may bind to some media.

Is there a way to find out whether it is small particulates or if it is dissolved in the water? And is it still an issue in both cases?

 

[Ollie05H]

I believe the water changes are what brought your alluminum levels down not the rowa as it can't bind to it as Randy said.

To remove alluminum specifically we had to get metasorb.

Would it be worth while using some metasorb? I have put a poly filter in which claimed to turn red after absorbing aluminium but has just gone brown

 

[MERKEY]

Is there a way to find out whether it is small particulates or if it is dissolved in the water? And is it still an issue in both cases?

Randy will definitely give the correct analytical answer

When we were setting up our new filtration system for our well we ran into collodial iron.

Collodial partials do not show up on a tds meter because they are "in process".

To get the colloidal iron out we had to use a chlorine injection system like cities do. You could use many .5 micron filters in sequence and then a carbon block but the injection system was more practical for our house.

Then we had to clean the chlorine out with a huge carbon filter.

Would it be worth while using some metasorb? I have put a poly filter in which claimed to turn red after absorbing aluminium but has just gone brown

I used them both at the same time.

I ran the large metasorb pouch for 48hrs in our 220.

Definitely send an icp off after the initial usage.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there a way to find out whether it is small particulates or if it is dissolved in the water? And is it still an issue in both cases?

Yes, but it's not a DIY thing.

 

[MERKEY]

Makes me wonder how many reefers get bit by collodial particles as they get by tds meters.

 

[Ollie05H]

Randy will definitely give the correct analytical answer

When we were setting up our new filtration system for our well we ran into collodial iron.

Collodial partials do not show up on a tds meter because they are "in process".

To get the colloidal iron out we had to use a chlorine injection system like cities do. You could use many .5 micron filters in sequence and then a carbon block but the injection system was more practical for our house.

Then we had to clean the chlorine out with a huge carbon filter.


I used them both at the same time.

I ran the large metasorb pouch for 48hrs in our 220.

Definitely send an icp off after the initial usage.

I have done an icp on the ro water I use and it showed nothing. I think it’s from the marine pure balls.
If I do remove it, will the marine pure balls keep leaching it or will they stop?

 

[MERKEY]

I have done an icp on the ro water I use and it showed nothing. I think it’s from the marine pure balls.
If I do remove it, will the marine pure balls keep leaching it or will they stop?

If it is them, they will unfortunately continue. Some reefers have good luck with them and some get high alluminum reading like you do.

I'd personally take them out if they are leaching.

 

[Ollie05H]

I have done an icp on the ro water I use and it showed nothing. I think it’s from the marine pure balls.
If I do remove it, will the marine pure balls keep leaching it or will they stop?

I think I recall marinepure claiming that the aluminium from their balls are just particulates and do not impact the inhabitants but I’m not sure what else my problem could be with the euphyllia

 

[Ollie05H]

If it is them, they will unfortunately continue. Some reefers have good luck with them and some get high alluminum reading like you do.

I'd personally take them out if they are leaching.

I have thought about taking them out but worry if it would have a negative impact on the tank because of the lost bacteria. I don’t have much rock in the tank. How would I take them out to minimise any impact?

 

[MERKEY]

How big is your tank amd how much rock do you have in it?

 

[MERKEY]

Oh also how old?

 

[Ollie05H]

How big is your tank amd how much rock do you have in it?

350L with about 25kg rock

 

[Ollie05H]

Oh also how old?

Almost 1 year