lanthanum chloride increasing phosphate?

[Green1181]

Hey Guys,

After noticing poor SPS and LPS health I decided to test phosphate, something I haven't done for
awhile. My nitrates are in the 2-5 ppm range, and phosphate was at 0.340 ppm.

I have a 200 gallon system dosing 2 part, with Alk steady at 9.1 dKH, Ca at 425 ppm and Mg a bit high
at 1600 ppm. Phosphate is measured with a Hanna ULR meter.

I decided to dose lanthanum chloride, I am using Hy-clor phosphate reomver at 150g/L. I used 1 ml
of LaCl and 1 L of RODI. This was dripped from an IV bag a 1 drop per second into a 10 micron filter sock.
Here's what happened:

-1 ml LaCl - PO4 starting 0.340 ppm, after dosing 0.408 ppm.

-added another 1 ml LaCl raised the PO4 to 0.414 ppm.

-added another 1 ml LaCl raised the PO4 to 0.463 ppm.

This is doing the opposite as what I had hoped. I tested some NSW in a tank
to check the meter and that is reading at 0.058 ppm.

Can anyone offer some advise on what to do from here? I am stumped on what
to do.

thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey Guys,

After noticing poor SPS and LPS health I decided to test phosphate, something I haven't done for
awhile. My nitrates are in the 2-5 ppm range, and phosphate was at 0.340 ppm.

I have a 200 gallon system dosing 2 part, with Alk steady at 9.1 dKH, Ca at 425 ppm and Mg a bit high
at 1600 ppm. Phosphate is measured with a Hanna ULR meter.

I decided to dose lanthanum chloride, I am using Hy-clor phosphate reomver at 150g/L. I used 1 ml
of LaCl and 1 L of RODI. This was dripped from an IV bag a 1 drop per second into a 10 micron filter sock.
Here's what happened:

-1 ml LaCl - PO4 starting 0.340 ppm, after dosing 0.408 ppm.

-added another 1 ml LaCl raised the PO4 to 0.414 ppm.

-added another 1 ml LaCl raised the PO4 to 0.463 ppm.

This is doing the opposite as what I had hoped. I tested some NSW in a tank
to check the meter and that is reading at 0.058 ppm.

Can anyone offer some advise on what to do from here? I am stumped on what
to do.

thanks

I’d use a different product. I don’t know why you are observing the values to rise. Did you collect much solid in the sock? If the precipitated lanthanum phosphate in still suspended in the water it may be detected as if it were ordinary phosphate.

 

[motortrendz]

You may not be removing It, when i used it o dripped mine directly in to the top of the skimmer cap. And dropped it right into the foam in the skimmer cone. It binds and gets collected right in your skimmer.

 

[Green1181]

Over the entire course I alternated between 2 socks and neither one blocked up. I have a few tangs and did not observe any stress with them either.

If it is suspended lanthanum phosphate is there any precautions I should take?
The Only mechanical filtration is some filter floss and a skimmer.

My skimmer is in a sump chamber and I can’t put a sock on the output, is dripping straight into the neck as safe as using a 10 micron sock?

 

[motortrendz]

Give never put a sock on the output of the skimmer. Itll slow flow and raise the level inside the skimmer. I dripped it right into the foam and allow the foam to bring the bound phosphate into the skimmer cup, skim wetter than you normally would.. You'll see the skimmate will turn a very funky brown color.

When I did this I actually drilled a small hole in the center of the lid to hold my drip line.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Use SeaKlear.

 

[New Jersey REEF]

I had experience similar outcome after dosing seaklear. However after a week of dosing my phosphates disappeared and nitrates were still at similar level. Some of my coral turned brown because of that. If I were to do it again, I’d spread it over longer period, maybe two weeks.

 

[tehmadreefer]

I had experience similar outcome after dosing seaklear. However after a week of dosing my phosphates disappeared and nitrates were still at similar level. Some of my coral turned brown because of that. If I were to do it again, I’d spread it over longer period, maybe two weeks.

Yep gotta be super careful with the stuff. Happened to me my first time using it.

 

[Green1181]

I had experience similar outcome after dosing seaklear. However after a week of dosing my phosphates disappeared and nitrates were still at similar level. Some of my coral turned brown because of that. If I were to do it again, I’d spread it over longer period, maybe two weeks.

You did notice an increase in PO4 right after dosing? I will do another test after work and hopefully
see a drop.

 

[amoore311]

I use Brightwell Phosphate E and never had this issue come up. I also just toss it right in the skimmer, but I'm using it for spot corrections, so it's 1-2 capfuls at a time at most when I use it.