What method do you use to control Phosphates?

What is your preferred method of exporting excess phosphates?

  • Lanthanum Chloride (Phosban, Phosphate-E, etc)

    Votes: 5 35.7%
  • Granular Ferric Oxide (Bulk/DIY)

    Votes: 3 21.4%
  • Prepackaged GFO Blends (Chemi-pure, etc)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Algae Scrubber

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other: (Describe)

    Votes: 1 7.1%
  • Refugium (Chaetomorpha, etc)

    Votes: 5 35.7%

  • Total voters
    14

polyppal

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I see a trend towards people using lanthanum products to control PO4 these days, however I had a bad experience the one time I tried using Phosphate-E, and never could get a refugium dialed in... So I have stuck to old-school GFO in a reactor...

What methods are you currently employing to control phosphates, and why do you prefer 'x' method over others?
 
In terms of priority:

1) Water changes.

2) Harvesting Chaeto from refugium once every 2 weeks.

3) Try not to feed the fish begging for food everytime I approach the tank. Actually, this might be more important than water changes. ;Woot

This is my fish whenever I go near the tank, those rascals. They are probably the biggest reason for the increasing phosphate levels.

puppy eyes.jpg


I'm a firm believer in minimizing usage of chemicals of any sort for water quality, with the exception of usual alk, calc stuff.
 
Last edited:
In terms of priority:

1) Water changes.

2) Harvesting Chaeto from refugium once every 2 weeks.

3) Try not to feed the fish begging for food everytime I approach the tank. Actually, this might be more important than water changes. ;Woot

This is my fish whenever I go near the tank, those rascals. They are probably the biggest reason for the increasing phosphate levels.

puppy eyes.jpg


I'm a firm believer in minimizing usage of chemicals of any sort for water quality, with the exception of usual alk, calc stuff.
I never get much of a reduction from WC, I presume it binds up more in the substrate for me
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

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