quickest way to reduce phosphates

Dave1993 · May 23, 2023

no reactors pls

the only way i know if phosguard any better ways?

ti_lavender · May 23, 2023

Lanthanum Chloride

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2023

Quickest is not likely best, but lanthanum dosing can be almost instantaneous

There are many brands. Here's a DIY:

DIY Lanthanum Dosing

Someone asked for a DIY lanthanum dosing recipe. Be sure you understand that some folks have issues with fish (especially tangs) before embarking on lanthanum dosing. it is also preferable to catch as many of the solids that precipitate out as you can, so dosing before some sort of...

www.reef2reef.com

Dave1993 · May 23, 2023

ti_lavender said:
Lanthanum Chloride

yea i don't trust myself with that can kill fish

Mikedawg · May 23, 2023

Dave1993 said:
yea i don't trust myself with that can kill fish

Might check out YouTube vid on Maleev's reef about using LC

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2023

What is your current phosphate level?

Dave1993 · May 23, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What is your current phosphate level?

7.1ppm yes that is correct not 0.71

GARRIGA · May 23, 2023

Lanthanum worked for me as well but I need to find a 10 micron something before trying that again. Although I agree slow is better and in my situation it was making a small move and I wanted to see how effective this approach would be. Was without realizing I should have filters it through 10 micron first. Live and learn but goes to show best grasp completely before just winging it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2023

Dave1993 said:
7.1ppm yes that is correct not 0.71

How did you measure that? What sort of aquarium?

Nano_Man · May 23, 2023

I’ve used it perfect no I’ll effect’s. The problem is that it’s too. good. If a bit worried lower your doses at the beginning until you are happy it’s not harming your fish . People say use a sock but I just dosed into my back chamber . My phosphate was1 and now steady at 0.01 Randy is the man with this sort of stuff l followed his recipe to the letter. This is only my opinion it’s your tank

Jason_MrFrags · May 23, 2023

water changes

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2023

Jason_MrFrags said:
water changes

Actually, water changes do not always do a good job for phosphate, even though they will do a good job for other ions, such as nitrate.
Even a 100% water change might leave a phosphate quite elevated after desorption of bound phosphate from rock and sand. An ongoing method (such as GFO or aluminum oxide) does not suffer that down then back up cycle.

Dave1993 · May 23, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
How did you measure that? What sort of aquarium?

i put 1ml of tank water and 9 ml of rodi water in hanna checker fowlr

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2023

Dave1993 said:
i put 1ml of tank water and 9 ml of rodi water in hanna checker fowlr

OK, and that same checker reads no phosphate in new salt water made from that RO/DI?
Ro/DI water from a depleting DI can have a lot of phosphate. Possibly higher than the incoming water.

I don't doubt it may be very high, but you'd want to be confident in the reading.

Dave1993 · May 23, 2023

i wanna add some softies but don't think they would survive 7.1ppm phosphate hence why i wanna get it down

Dave1993 · May 23, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
OK, and that same checker reads no phosphate in new salt water made from that RO/DI?
Ro/DI water from a depleting DI can have a lot of phosphate. Possibly higher than the incoming water.

I don't doubt it may be very high, but you'd want to be confident in the reading.

checked it reads 0 with the rodi water + i have just changed the rodi filters like 1 month ago aswell as the resin

Dave1993 · May 23, 2023

when i do the checker on its own with just tank water it blinks 2.5ppm (max it can read)

resortez · May 23, 2023

Jason_MrFrags said:
water changes

I can’t stress this enough. There’s no way around or escaping doing the actual work. Just like any other living thing, it needs tending. From a dog, cat, bird, plant, hamster or fish & coral, all require good husbandry practices. Miracle in a bottle is only a bandaid. All animals thrive in a clean healthy environment so roll up them sleeves & get to work, the animals depend on our caregiving. Discipline, routine & patience in this hobby will take you a long way.

Dave1993 · May 23, 2023

resortez said:
I can’t stress this enough. There’s no way around or escaping doing the actual work. Just like any other living thing, it needs tending. From a dog, cat, bird, plant, hamster or fish & coral, all require good husbandry practices. Miracle in a bottle is only a bandaid. All animals thrive in a clean healthy environment so roll up them sleeves & get to work, the animals depend on our caregiving. Discipline, routine & patience in this hobby will take you a long way.

water changes are not a good way to reduce phosphates

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2023

resortez said:
I can’t stress this enough. There’s no way around or escaping doing the actual work. Just like any other living thing, it needs tending. From a dog, cat, bird, plant, hamster or fish & coral, all require good husbandry practices. Miracle in a bottle is only a bandaid. All animals thrive in a clean healthy environment so roll up them sleeves & get to work, the animals depend on our caregiving. Discipline, routine & patience in this hobby will take you a long way.

All that you write is great, but the post you quoted is a method unlikely to work well.