Phosphate Control/Export

[arotbart]

Okay, thought I would start this thread to hear from fellow reefers who, like myself, try to have as close to a clean system as possible. Also, I thought this might be a good topic.

I keep a 180 display with a 30 Gallon frag tank plumbed to the main system. 95% SPS. As such, phosphate control/export is a very BIG deal. I use a Hanna "egg" checker for testing (though I am not entirely thrilled with it) as it is pretty fickle. I run Rowaphos and try to keep my phosphates between .02-07. Every now and then when the phosphates spike over that .08 level, I drop about 40-50 ML of Phosblaster from Reef Results Marine. They are a lfs that sells "eco" based marine additives. I just finished my last bit of the stuff and purchased a liquid phosphate remover from Thrive Aquatics which I have not used yet.

I have used Thrive's other products and find they are super powerful, and work very well (almost too well sometimes).

I replace my Rowaphos about every 4 weeks or so. I run it in a BRS reactor. I have to jingle or flip or start and stop the reactor every so often because the little granuals tend to clog up the sponges in the reactor and like to have that semi-gentle tumble.

But I want to hear from others and what products they use on a regular basis for phosphate control.

Thanks, I am sure everyone will get something out of this thread.

 

[illcssd]

Be very careful when using the thrive phosphate remover. It is lanthium chloride(sp) and is very powerful. It will definitely wipe out the phosphates, but if you add too much at once, it will wipe your system of o2 and kill your fish/corals. When using it, I recommend it as a drip, as close to your skimmer intake as possible, at half dose. Make sure when using it your system stays well oxygenated.

 

[ritter6788]

I use Gfo off and on. I'm off now since I just cleaned my sanded I'm seeing how phosphates do without Gfo.

 

[wysiwyg]

i have a nice macro algae fuge that is a great exporter of phosphates no chems needed

 

[stylaster]

Giant clams are also great phosphate removers

 

[Steven R]

Chaeto under par 30 5000k leds all the way i have had 0 PO4 in almost 3 years on all systems from chaeto, and its a double whammy removes Nitrates to.

 

[creefer]

Chaeto under par 30 5000k leds all the way i have had 0 PO4 in almost 3 years on all systems from chaeto, and its a double whammy removes Nitrates to.

I do the same plus a little rowaphos from time to time. Chaeto still grows well even when running the rowaphos.

 

[kuyatwo]

i run biopellets and have been for over two years. i do have a golf ball size of chaeto that has stayed the same size for that time period. I do wet skim also

 

[robert]

This is a topic which I find very interesting.

I run a reactor of my own design - It's both a denitrator and phosphate removal system. Depending on how it is tuned, it can clear 100% of nitrate and up to 90% of phosphate in a single pass. The previous system I built was able to bring 40ppm nitrates to 0 in eight days in a 160 gallon system. (measured) My current system should do the same in less than six days (by scale) but I'm hoping the modified substrate will reduce this to three.

Nitrate is easier to strip from the system than phosphate. Phosphate is available in so many forms. Even if you take it out of the water, its bound in rock and substrate where it can be accessed by microbial activity.

It's operation is based on Enhanced Biologic Phosphate Removal (EBPR). A very through PHD thesis which describes the process (even if most of it is over my head) can be found on the web.

ENHANCED BIOLOGICAL PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL: MODELLINGAND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
(ir. Danielle BAETENS)

 

[AJreefs]

I think I am going to try the natural methods such as a fuge with some and DSB in the display. I would like to have more than one method in case one natural method isnt working as well as another.

 

[robert]

I think I am going to try the natural methods such as a fuge with some and DSB in the display. I would like to have more than one method in case one natural method isnt working as well as another.

I'm less concerned with the method than with achieving natural "reef" levels for nitrate and phosphate. Where I get concerned with method, is when I'm assessing risk. External reactors have the advantage of being remote from the system and in the event of failure, (pump or electrical) they pose little risk to the display or its inhabitants. A DSB on the other hand can take out your entire system in a matter of hours. If you go DSB - (which my reactor basically is) - go remote.