Rowa phosphate remover is it safe??

toyencounters · Oct 23, 2011

I changed to Rowa phosphate remover about 2 months ago how safe is it?? I was using Seachem phosphate remover for over 3 years with no problems but I decided to change to Rowa phosphate remover about 2 months ago. I noticed my purples fading out recently I have been using a little spoon to get the Rowa from the container it coes in to a measuring cup. I rinse the spoon every time and dry it well but I just noticed to spoon is oxidating and rusting away I think it is the Rowa phosphate remover the main ingredient in Rowa is ferrous oxide is this chemical as safe as we think it is I don't think so????

swannyson7 · Oct 23, 2011

Rowaphos is pretty potent stuff... it works much more efficiently than any other type of phosphate absorbing media that I've tried. Chances are, the loss of coloration is due to a quick decline in your nutrients within the tank.

Troylee · Oct 23, 2011

Gotta love rawaphos best stuff out man... Hence the price tag...

aquafrags · Oct 23, 2011

very powerful stuff and does a great job at removing phosphate from the aquarium. I would cut the amount you start with in half, so you don't shock the aquarium inhabitants.

toyencounters · Oct 23, 2011

I use the right amount and I have been using it for a couple of months the fact that is rusted out my spoon trips me out!

Troylee · Oct 23, 2011

Gfo is rust "iron ore" haha.... The chineese use nails for Gfo.... Wouldn't that be cool haha... All of our metals are contaminated we don't have a pure iron...

toyencounters · Oct 23, 2011

Chompers · Oct 24, 2011

The GFO isn't causing the spoon to rust. It can't; the chemistry just isn't there. By chance, are you rinsing the spoon in your tank or reactor?

Chompers · Oct 24, 2011

Troylee said:
Gfo is rust "iron ore"

Exactly. It is abundant and cheap. Unfortunately if you want bulk quantities, you have to buy it in multiples of 100 metric tons. I found a supplier of Fe2O2 that would sell in quantities of 100 pounds but as soon as they found out that it was for aquariums, the price went up. In bulk, it is about 13 cents a pound. For a hundred pounds, they wanted $28 per pound.

AZDesertRat · Oct 24, 2011

What size is your system, how much media are you using and how are you using it with what kind of flow through it?

GFO is a pretty powerful adsorbent or sponge and it only takes about 10 grams or one level tablespoonfull per 10 gallons full dose. You should start out with 1/2 that amount for the first month or two and change it more often working up to the full dose. It requires low flows since it will grind itself to dust with too much action.

GFO will not act as quickly as the aluminum based medias but it has the advantage of not releasing captured contaminants unlike aluminum media which does release contaminants once it is exhausted.