Lowering Phosphates

Techie_ · May 24, 2016

Hey guys so I just got my Seachem Phosphate test kit after being told to test my phosphates from the LFS owner; I have a bad GHA problem. I tested them and they are right around 1.0ppm.

How should I go about lowering them? My NO2 and NO3 are at 0 as well. I really want to get rid of this algae.

I know PhosphateRx is pretty strong, as I have a HOB filter on my tank at the moment I'm worrisome to try it. It's also very expensive, after researching it, I found out it's just lanthanum chloride. I have some for my pool, is it the safe stuff, safe to add, or should I shell out $20 for the name brand stuff?

EDIT: I also found some stuff from ATM, it's lanthanum chloride but significantly cheaper and also designed for aquarium use

Redneckreef90 · May 24, 2016

I will tell you what I was told when I asked the same question. The best way to lower phosphate is with a reactor running gfo. I just bought the reactor, pump and gfo from amazon shipped to my house for 80. I just set mine up yesterday so I don't know what type of results I will get.

Techie_ · May 24, 2016

Redneckreef90 said:
I will tell you what I was told when I asked the same question. The best way to lower phosphate is with a reactor running gfo. I just bought the reactor, pump and gfo from amazon shipped to my house for 80. I just set mine up yesterday so I don't know what type of results I will get.

Don't have the room for it and have heard and read otherwise. Thanks for the reply though!

Redneckreef90 · May 24, 2016

Techie_ said:
Don't have the room for it and have heard and read otherwise. Thanks for the reply though!

They make ones that will hang on the back of your tank. The one I bought will do that. I have it hanging on the side of my sump.

Untamedrose · May 24, 2016

Try this... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4335
I swear by them....can be cut to fit into your HOB. This is a patch though, not a forever fix.

lanthanum chloride is suppose to be bad from inverts.

Also though, takin a guess here are you using tap?

Techie_ · May 24, 2016

Untamedrose said:
Try this... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4335
I swear by them....can be cut to fit into your HOB. This is a patch though, not a forever fix.

lanthanum chloride is suppose to be bad from inverts.

Also though, takin a guess here are you using tap?

Nope, RODI since setup.

Waterjockey · May 24, 2016

If gfo is not feasable in your situation, many people have used lanthanum chloride with success. I used the pool stuff to drop my phosphates from .98 to .07.....read up on how to apply it first, should you choose that route. Nitrate dosing is another method some people use to maintain lower phosphate levels....and seems (imho) less "risky" to apply. You would likely need to do a large or series of water changes to get your phosphates down to more manageable levels first.

Cheers!

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 25, 2016

There are lots of ways to reduce phosphate, and while lanthanum may not be my most preferred emthod, it works and is cheaper than most when cost is a concern.

I compare methods here:

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184