Phosphate issues!

[JurisHP]

I have always battled high phosphates---I use RODI water exclusively, and have tried various methods of reduction (GFO for a couple of years until I recently replaced that with Phosguard).

I first added the Phosguard to my sump in a filter pouch with the recommended amount. After 1 week, my levels were STILl at .90 (HannaChecker).

So I decided to double-up and put another pouch---4 days later (today) STILL .90!!

Any suggestions?

REALLY annoying/frustrating!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

First I will note that some great tanks have very high phosphate so it is not necessarily a deal breaker to have it as high as you do.

That said, and binder will be rapidly depleted at that high a level, so it will take a substantial amount of material, replaced fairly often, to lower it, especially since there may be 5 times as much phosphate bound to rock and sand that you will need to deplete before you can sustain a lower level. The 5x is a semi-random number, but the real number is high in a tank with exposed calcium carbonate like sand or rock.