rowaphos help

[Aaronreef]

Hey everyone.

So I'm looking for some advice on using rowa.
I currently have an ALR2 that doesn't seem to grow chaeto very well.
My phosphate is at 0.20 and nitrate 10
The tank is 200 gallons 1000L

I'm going to try a little bit of rowa, I've read I don't need a lot of it. The only reactors I have are

H2 Ocean Fluidised and a Aqua Medic Multi Reactor S

Im assuming the H2 reactor is too large for such a small amount of rowa in it.
But im also assuming the aqua medic is too small ?

I'd like to use it in a reactor rather than just in a media bag
Any advice would be really appreciated

 

[reefwiser]

I always place this type of media in a bag. As you will replace it regularly and it is messy if you don’t place it in a bag.

 

[ArmyReefer]

What are you trying to bring your phosphate down to?

 

[Aaronreef]

I've put it in a bag that it came with, I've put 25grams in for now not sure if that's not enough but don't want to crash the numbers.

I'd like a number in the region of 0.03,0.04 even 0.05 I'm currently at 0.20

 

[ArmyReefer]

You can use this calculator, I find it pretty spot on. These numbers are for a reactor, if you are running it passively in a bag you will need to double it. http://rowaphos-calculator.com/

 

[Aaronreef]

Thanks,

Will the amount that calculator says drop phosphate quickly? I don't want to shock the corals by striping the phos out too soon

 

[Reef.]

Thanks,

Will the amount that calculator says drop phosphate quickly? I don't want to shock the corals by striping the phos out too soon

your phosphate is on the high side but not so high you need to rush, I would try the smallest amount for a week or two, then increase from there, better that way than it going to 0.

 

[Aaronreef]

That's my thinking too,

I've put 25 grams in the calculator says to use 100 so I'm using a ¼ of the recommended amount. Will test the levels in a couple of days see if it's made any difference

 

[SPR1968]

You really need to use it in a media reactor so it tumbles/simmers to get the best from it. You can use a media bag but it’s not very effective

I run it 24/7 in both my tanks and plenty of it as well to keep phosphate locked down very low. A good target is less than 0.03

At 0.2 phosphate you will need to change it frequently to start with as it becomes spent or it wont work. in my big tank I use 1kg and change it every 6 weeks or so. In my S650 ‘frag tank’ I use 250g and change it every 2 weeks.

 

[Aaronreef]

I only have two reactor to hand one is oversized for rowa and the other undersized

 

[ArmyReefer]

I used it passively before, but now I only use in a reactor. I keep my phosphate higher than most recommend (.05-.1) so bringing it from .2 to .1 over a couple days would not do anything negative to your system unless you have had it at .2 for a very long time and that’s what corals are used to

 

[Aaronreef]

I've had it running at 0.15 for about 6 months and didn't realize, my test kit wasnt very good

 

[ArmyReefer]

Has there been any issues? Plenty of people keep phosphate that high.

 

[Aaronreef]

Yes my SPS seem to struggle little to no growth most seem to die off quickly my ICP test shown pretty much everything is fine a couple of low elements but nothing serious I don't think I've par mapped my tank so lights aren't the issue so the only thing I can think of is the phosphate being so high I know it's not through the roof but still not great for SPS

 

[neiltus]

how much alk/ca are you putting in that tank daily, just curious

FWIW, I run mine up to about 40-50ppb before I do a water change.

 

[Aaronreef]

I'm dosing 80ml red sea alk and 65ml Calcium