Phosphates

[USMarine]

Hello all.

Im having trouble keeping phosphates outa my tank. I do not have an Ro system either. I know that is a solution. What are other solutions that you guys know of to help me out. Thanks

 

[Pkunk35]

You need one!

There is media that you can use to help pull some phos out (GFO), but its not going to do much good if you are dumping it back in with your tap. Do you have a reef tank?

 

[Isoprene]

I used tap water for almost a year and ran ROWA Phos in very small amounts and it took my phos down to zero. This might not be the case with your system though, your tap water might be awful. My suggestion is get a RO/DI asap. You never know what your tap water has in it or in what concentrations.

 

[Reefing Madness]

ChemiPure Elite
GFO
Rowa Phos GFO
SeaChem PhosGuard
PhosBan
Phosphate Filter Pads

 

[Norcalreefer]

I think a good place to start is having your tap water tested really well so that you know if it's something you can work with with in reason or if it's just way too high in phos to start with. It's not as good as rodi water, but I get the ro water from the store in 5gal jugs like you'd use for drinking. This might not be as doable depending on the size of your tank.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Many water utilities actually ADD phosphates to your tap water as a form of corrosion control in the distribution system. Never use tap water if you intend to have a robust mature reef system! Remember, our goal as reef hobbyists should be to provide the best habitat we possibly can for our inhabitants so they can live out their complete life cycle. If we cannot do this we should not be in this hobby. You provide good light, the best live rock, good foods, etc., why not provide the best water you can? Water quality is something you can easily control either by using a RO/DI or buying quality water, its simple and inexpensive.

Water is the single largest ingredient in a reef tank by far and everything depends on its quality and its stability. RO/DI does not change, Tap Water does change all the time. Would you want toddrink the water in New York City or New Jersey right now? Not me!

 

[reefin101]

How bad is your PO4 and what kind of tank? Are you having excess algae?

I ran an excellent softies, zoa & LPS tank for 7 yrs with tapwater, crappy skimmers, crushed coral substrate and wet dry....lol all LFS stuff and had a great tank.

Few simple things are skim wet, blast rock & siphon gravel during WC's, rinse food (try to stick w/ Rod's or like) Low PO4.