Phosphate RX Causing Respiratory Issues

[troia]

A few hours ago I dosed my tank with Blue Zoo Phosphate RX. I dosed the recommended amount (according to the bottle), 18 drops for my +/- 30 gallon cube. I noticed a slight cloudiness but according to the bottle, this is normal. About an hour later I noticed my Lubbock's Wrasse breathing very quickly and searching for a place to rest. I fed and he did make the effort to eat but since then he's been hiding and still breathing very heavily. I'm currently running my return at 100% into 2 300 micron socks placed inside of each other. Is there anything else I can do to help relieve some stress? Not considering removing the fish which will probably cause even more harm.

*update* The micron socks seem to be helping greatly, still breathing quick but not as heavily and now he's swimming around.

 

[Purpletang92]

Don’t EVER !!!!! run that stuff without a protein skimmer. The water is cloudy because phosphate RX is lanthinum chloride. This phosphate remover makes the smaller molecule of phosphate bind together making them larger , thus making it easier for your protein skimmer to remove. If your just dropping that stuff in your system, the phosphate is just floating around making it hard for you fish to breath. It’s like choking on a piece of rice lol . I would advise you to either get a skimmer ASAP or stop use completely and do a large water change. I use phosphate RX on my system but I use a skimmer to collect the phosphate, I have a 150gallon reef.

 

[troia]

Don’t EVER !!!!! run that stuff without a protein skimmer. The water is cloudy because phosphate RX is lanthinum chloride. This phosphate remover makes the smaller molecule of phosphate bind together making them larger , thus making it easier for your protein skimmer to remove. If your just dropping that stuff in your system, the phosphate is just floating around making it hard for you fish to breath. It’s like choking on a piece of rice lol . I would advise you to either get a skimmer ASAP or stop use completely and do a large water change. I use phosphate RX on my system but I use a skimmer to collect the phosphate, I have a 150gallon reef.

I'm aware of how LaCl works and I'm running a skimmer.. I increased my flow to my socks in order to collect any extra bound molecules that my skimmer wasn't collecting. It's funny because none the precautions you should take are listed in the instructions lol

 

[Purpletang92]

I'm aware of how LaCl works and I'm running a skimmer.. I increased my flow to my socks in order to collect any extra bound molecules that my skimmer wasn't collecting. It's funny because none the precautions you should take are listed in the instructions lol

Did you drop in the sump or main display? Are you skimming wet ?

 

[troia]

Did you drop in the sump or main display? Are you skimming wet ?

I dropped in front of my gyre in the main display, yes I'm overskimming

 

[Purpletang92]

That may be your problem there, the reaction is happening in the main display, I always drop in sump , if you don’t have a sump drop directly into the skimmer

 

[troia]

That may be your problem there, the reaction is happening in the main display, I always drop in sump , if you don’t have a sump drop directly into the skimmer

I'll try that in the future, thanks

 

[PerplexyHexy]

That may be your problem there, the reaction is happening in the main display, I always drop in sump , if you don’t have a sump drop directly into the skimmer

I drop directly into my skimmer as well... no issues

 

[Sallstrom]

The rumour among public aquaria is that it might be the lanthanum which hasn't bound to any phosphate molecul that ends up in the gills of fish. Therefor it should be avoided to use LaCl if phosphate is low.
I have no evidence for this, just what I've heard from colleagues from other aquariums.

At which level is your phosphate?

 

[troia]

The rumour among public aquaria is that it might be the lanthanum which hasn't bound to any phosphate molecul that ends up in the gills of fish. Therefor it should be avoided to use LaCl if phosphate is low.
I have no evidence for this, just what I've heard from colleagues from other aquariums.

At which level is your phosphate?

It was at .5 before I dosed, 24 hours later its at .05 and my fish are doing fine. Overskimming and doubling up my micron socks seemed to help quite a bit

 

[PerplexyHexy]

Sorry Im chiming in again, but just wanna let you know how I dosed it as well... I was at .36 I was a little reluctant using it because Ive used Rowaphos for years. So I dosed it over 3 days... 12 drops each time... my tank is 100 gallons... I checked each day to see what the drop was... Kept changing out filter floss in cups and emptied skimmer cup everyday as well... I also dosed it at night because I just thought it would be better for the fish while they were sleeping... dripped directly into skimmer... Im very impressed with the stuff so far and all my parameters are spot on... Very happy not having to setup a reactor...

 

[vetteguy53081]

Part of the problem was overdosing rx. You needed to add 12 drops, not 18.
WHY?
You dosed for 30 full gallons. In essence with rock, coral, etc, you have about 22 USEABLE gallons. The rock consumes space and reduces the water volume. Many overlook this and treat for total tank volume. Its an easy oversight and always something to consider when adding any dosages to the system.
I have great success with this product.

 

[troia]

Part of the problem was overdosing rx. You needed to add 12 drops, not 18.
WHY?
You dosed for 30 full gallons. In essence with rock, coral, etc, you have about 22 USEABLE gallons. The rock consumes space and reduces the water volume. Many overlook this and treat for total tank volume. Its an easy oversight and always something to consider when adding any dosages to the system.
I have great success with this product.

Good guess but I'm running a sump which holds around 15 gallons, so if anything I dosed less than the recommended amount.

 

[pdiehm]

if I were to use Phosphate RX, I would drop into my coast to coast overflow, and then use the 3 filter socks to trap the particles, and if anything gets through, the skimmer is there in the next chamber.