Rowaphos help

Longnose Hawkfish · Dec 21, 2015

I have a 90 gallon tank with around 75 gallons of total water volume. I have a GFO reactor that I plan on using rowaphos in. I was wondering how much rowaphos should I use? Thanks for the help.

JimWelsh · Dec 21, 2015

The instructions that came with my bucket say 100 mL of RowaPhos per 100 gallons of tank water. You can also "overdose" by up to five times, according to the manufacturer's documentation.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

Do you presently have high phosphate or an algae problem?

Longnose Hawkfish · Dec 21, 2015

I do not have a phosphate problem, but I do have some algae on my sand and overflow box that I want gone.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

Longnose Hawkfish said:
I do not have a phosphate problem, but I do have some algae on my sand and overflow box that I want gone.

Do you know the phosphate value? If not, i'd start slow to make sure you don't overdo it.

Sabellafella · Dec 21, 2015

Be careful with rowa, start slow, i started with the recommended dose nd pretty positive it made all my montis acros and zoas pale, i now use 2 tablespoons on a 450l but i also use 2 tablespoons on a 30 gallon, imo any high grade gfo is kinda dangerous

JimWelsh · Dec 21, 2015

I've never had any issues using RowaPhos in keeping with the directions that were packaged with it.

Longnose Hawkfish · Dec 21, 2015

Phosphate level is .04 ppm. Should I add rowaphos? I use the Red Sea test kit.

Longnose Hawkfish · Dec 21, 2015

Nitrate is 0 ppm according to Red Sea test kit

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

I'd definitely start slow at that level.

Longnose Hawkfish · Dec 21, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I'd definitely start slow at that level.

So would 50ml of rowaphos be a good starting point? And could the .04 ppm be causing the algae?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

Longnose Hawkfish said:
So would 50ml of rowaphos be a good starting point? And could the .04 ppm be causing the algae?

Elevated individual nutrients should not be viewed as "causing" algae, but if enough is present, they "allow" it to grow. Algae need all of the following: a source of N, P, iron, other trace metals, light, a place to grow, etc. Take any ONE away and they will die.

0.04 ppm is enough to satisfy the need for P for many types of algae, especially since it may only be as low as it is because the algae is taking up some of the available phosphate. If you want them to die for lack of phosphate, it likely does need to be lower. 0.02 ppm or even lower might be necessary.

Longnose Hawkfish · Dec 21, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Elevated individual nutrients should not be viewed as "causing" algae, but if enough is present, they "allow" it to grow. Algae need all of the following: a source of N, P, iron, other trace metals, light, a place to grow, etc. Take any ONE away and they will die.

0.04 ppm is enough to satisfy the need for P for many types of algae, especially since it may only be as low as it is because the algae is taking up some of the available phosphate. If you want them to die for lack of phosphate, it likely does need to be lower. 0.02 ppm or even lower might be necessary.

Thank you very much for your help. I will add some rowaphos to my reactors tonight. Also, thanks to everyone else who helped. Merry Christmas

jsker · Dec 21, 2015

I had .16ppm red sea test and used 4 table spoons and I am down to .08 ppm in a 61 gal water volume. As others said I would start off slow. you do need some trace of Po4 to work with some Red Sea products for coral growth.