Phosphate at 0.25, how can i bring it down?

[PegasisR]

Do you have a refugium section in your sump? And if so, do you use it? I have absolutely zero Phosphates and do not use any chemicals besides carbon that I use off and on when I remember to change it. I have some Chaeto growing pretty good and figured that would be all I needed for Nitrate and Phosphate control, but I am no expert. Just figured I'd ask.

I wish... my rsr 525 sump is too tiny otherwise that would be my preferred nutrient export!

 

[PegasisR]

Let me know when you want come over the Lanthanum dark side I am still skeptical on the long term use of lanthanum.

Ive got some phosphate Rx on hand, would it be detrimental to dose all at once? Then run gfo the rest of the way?

 

[jsker]

Ive got some phosphate Rx on hand, would it be detrimental to dose all at once? Then run gfo the rest of the way?

Run the phosphate RX separate for the GFO. For example if you have a GFO reactor running, Shut the reactor down then run the phosphate RX. Do you run filter socks? it is best to run filer socks when dosing phosphate RX/lanthanum, the filer socks help filter out the phosphates. Do not over dose lanthanum, the will be hard on the fish, and you will notice with the fish are breathing rapidly.

 

[PegasisR]

Run the phosphate RX separate for the GFO. For example if you have a GFO reactor running, Shut the reactor down then run the phosphate RX. Do you run filter socks? it is best to run filer socks when dosing phosphate RX/lanthanum, the filer socks help filter out the phosphates. Do not over dose lanthanum, the will be hard on the fish, and you will notice with the fish are breathing rapidly.

i dont run filter socks and how would i slowly dose phosphate rx specifically?

 

[jsker]

i dont run filter socks and how would i slowly dose phosphate rx specifically?

How is you filtration setup. Any way of running filter floss? I have dosed the phosphate Rx in the return and then let my filer socks do the rest.

Dosing slowly, I would suggest getting a feed bag on Amazon and use a drip mixed with RO/DI water. This what I do.

 

[PegasisR]

How is you filtration setup. Any way of running filter floss? I have dosed the phosphate Rx in the return and then let my filer socks do the rest.

Dosing slowly, I would suggest getting a feed bag on Amazon and use a drip mixed with RO/DI water. This what I do.

Yes i can definitely do that! I have my rowaphos in those redsea cups so i can switch it out for floss! Would you happen to know the ratio of rodi to lanthanum?

 

[jsker]

I use 1000ml of RO/DI in the feed bag and then add the recommended amount written on the phosphate Rx.

Feed bag link. I do a slow drip over 8 hours.

 

[PegasisR]

I use 1000ml of RO/DI in the feed bag and then add the recommended amount written on the phosphate Rx.

Feed bag link. I do a slow drip over 8 hours.

Oh alright! And you would put how much ml you need in that dilution? Like if your tank needs 6ml?

 

[jsker]

Oh alright! And you would put how much ml you need in that dilution? Like if your tank needs 6ml?

81 drops in 1000ml will dose your system

Six drops of Phosphate Control will lower your phosphate by .5ppm for every 10 gallons (37.9L) of water. DO NOT LOWER YOUR PHOSPHATES MORE THAN .5ppm IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD. For best results, add in high flow areas, one drop at a time. Some temporary cloudiness may occur when adding this product. Cloudiness will clear within 24-hours. For accurate results, wait 24-hours before retesting your phosphate level. Wait ten minutes before dosing other supplements. Test regularly and treat as necessary.

 

[PegasisR]

81 drops in 1000ml will dose your system

Six drops of Phosphate Control will lower your phosphate by .5ppm for every 10 gallons (37.9L) of water. DO NOT LOWER YOUR PHOSPHATES MORE THAN .5ppm IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD. For best results, add in high flow areas, one drop at a time. Some temporary cloudiness may occur when adding this product. Cloudiness will clear within 24-hours. For accurate results, wait 24-hours before retesting your phosphate level. Wait ten minutes before dosing other supplements. Test regularly and treat as necessary.

Okay thank you and where do you put the iv bag? do you change the tubing the iv comes with or no? also plain filter floss will work?

 

[jsker]

and where do you put the iv bag?

I hand the bag from a hook above the sump.

do you change the tubing the iv comes with or no

No, I just use the bag for doing lanthanum

also plain filter floss will work?

Yes, the give the lanthanum molecule some to latch on to.

 

[PegasisR]

I hand the bag from a hook above the sump.

No, I just use the bag for doing lanthanum

Yes, the give the lanthanum molecule some to latch on to.

And that will be dosed over a day?

 

[WallyB]

Having some trouble bringing down my phosphate, ive been running a small bag of rowaphos for about 5months with no hit on the phosphates... what could i do to have more impact on taking it down, of course slowly?

The method/quantity of Phosphate remover will vary depending on not only your Tank Size, but on your fish load and how much you feed them. (plus other factors like Algae in your DT, rocks/substrate leaching built up Phosphate, etc)

I have a 110Gal Tank, and I've been struggling to keep Phosphate down for months..... thinking I could somehow avoid GFO.
I do have an Active Algae Scrubber that produced good harvests every other week, and that kept my Tank Algae Free.
However even with Algae Scrubber (growing two kinds of macro algae on screens and tumble) my tank would naturally run phosphate at 0.4ppm.

For a few months I tried using AquaForest -NPpro with Bios, which did nothing for me.

I considered getting into Red Sea NO3PO4-X (for both N&P reduction) which from what I read does work if used properly (with good skimmer) . I also read of many bad stories, and opted out.

I then tried Seachem Phosguard, since I thought a the gentler phosphate scrubbing would be better, however that turned out to be a disaster since my P would swing up and down as the media didn't last very long. Plus some concern about aluminum based product.

I then considered using Granular GFO (bulk-no-name-brand), which does work but I remember clumping being an issue in the past.

So like you I started using RowaPhos (in a Two LIttle Fishies Reactor), and as recommended by LFS I started changing it every two weeks (CONSISTANTLY). In my cases (Tank Size and BioLoad), 1-1.5 cups was the sweet spot to get my Phosphate down to 0.1, and keep there. (STABLE TOO)
I may increase the amount a bit to get below 0.1ppm (0.04-0.06ppm is my Target/Goal).

RowaPhos isn't cheap, but I like it's consistency. No rinsing needed... Doesn't clump. Water flows thru it evenly, and the capacity to remove phosphates (at slow trickle), for stable P level is ideal for my setup. Changing every two weeks fits nice into my schedule.

I still run the Algae Scrubber, but harvests have drastically reduced since P has dropped.

 

[PatW]

Remember, if you have corals, you will need a certain amount of phosphates. You do not want to completely strip it out.
You can reduce phosphates by several methods:

1). Good old brute force water changes. This is most practical on low volume systems.

2). GFO, granular ferric oxide, in a reactor. There are several problems. It is hard to figure how often to change it and how much to run. Probably the most used method.

3). Some people use lanthenum chloride. You add it to the system and it binds to the phosphates and precipitates out. I don’t think having the precipitate in the system is good so it is best to do this upstream of a filter sock. Some people really like this approach.

4). You can set up a refugium with macroalgae in your sump. It requires a light strong enough to compete with your display tank lighting.

 

[PegasisR]

I hand the bag from a hook above the sump.

No, I just use the bag for doing lanthanum

Yes, the give the lanthanum molecule some to latch on to.

And that will be dosed over a day? @jsker

 

[Chucky]

Having some trouble bringing down my phosphate, ive been running a small bag of rowaphos for about 5months with no hit on the phosphates... what could i do to have more impact on taking it down, of course slowly?

Is 0.025 that bad I’m asking because I’m having the same issue mine stays at 0.025