[JackedupSOB]

The phosphate in my 55 gallon is way high its at 0.8 mg/l causing algae blooms. My 10 gallon much more managable at 0.2 mg/l. The 10 gallon is more or less a frag tank with no fish. The 55 has five fish some of them produce a lot of waste such as my grouper and niger, so this definitely contributes to the problem. Any suggestions on ways to lower my phosphates besides buying a reactor?

[pyromaniac398]

They make phosphate absorbers. They come in bag and you put them in your filter or sump. Here is one that you need to get a bag for.

PhosGuard

[NOSAJ214]

You Will Never Get The Phosphate To O Without A Reactor.you Can Use Phosguard,its Decent But Only Lasts A Couple Days.i Would Suggest Phosban,it Lasts For At Least A Month,it Is More Expensive But Its The Best In My Opinion.but Phosguard Will Help For The Mean Time.also Do More Water Changes.

[JackedupSOB]

Can I mix phosban in a filter bag with activated carbon? Or would I need to buy another filter bag to put the phosban in?

[pogodzib]

Yes, you can mix phosban and carbon in the same bag, but FYI, when you buy a container of phosban, it comes with a filter bag. The main issue that I see is finding out why your tank has elevated phosphate levels. Overfeeding, water source, etc... Until you find the source of the phosphate and eliminate it, you'll keep battling algae, high phosphate levels and spending money on additives to keep sucking the phosphate out of the water.

[unclejed]

Hello jack, look at it this way, for all the money spent on phosban or whatever, my reactor (poly reactor) cost $44.00 and that was from a lfs so it was a little higher than on line and in less than 2 weeks my tank looked great and it was pretty bad. Finding the source would be nice if that is possible but from experience you won't always be able to. The closest lfs and I could figure was when I flipped my old tank the phos was in the old rock and then of course it got transfered to the new. Look, you spend at least $40+ on corals and a fish! so why not on a device to always have control over phosphates. I don't want to maintain a lot of devices either but a reactor and protein skimmer is not a high price to pay for the health of the system. By the way, if you decide on one, I use pura phoslock, it won't leach back into the system once exhausted like some can. Make sure whatever you use is "ferric hydroxide".

[JackedupSOB]

I use the same grcoery brand distilled water for both my 55 gallon and 10 gallon tank but phospate only seems to be a problem in my 55, so I do not think that water is the problem. I thought that overfeeding was the problem so I cut down greatly on the food I was using and they didnt seem to have a drastic effect. A posssiblity is the old live rock that I used from my former 29 gallon tank when I upgraded. Thanks for the info on the reactor uncle jed, that is something that I am now starting to consider. I need to research them a little more though since I do not know much about them. Don't you also have to buy a pump to go with the reactor?

[unclejed]

The poly reactor comes with one. There is really nothing to it, buy it, add the phos-lock, add the water, set it where you want (mine stands next to sump) plug it in and that's it. Once a month change out the media. Another thing is that flake foods have phosphate and so do most frozen. I stopped the flake when I got the reactor. Thaw your frozen then add water (pure) then drain the water and add a little more to keep in fridge.

[Tonz of fun]

Like Brain was saying you need to get to the source. Everything else is putting a bandaid on a cut that needs stitches...I run a phosban reactor just in case but you need to get to the source.

[unclejed]

Like I stated earlier, finding "a" source would be nice but don't think you will because there are "many" sources and many ways phos. enters the system.

[Arnold40]

How many sources can there be?

1) top off water
2) salt water (water changes)
3) Food
4) any additives
5) carbon if your using it

It's a good idea to find out where it is coming from. Then go ahead and change what is causing it.

[das04j]

WARNING SCIENCE CONTENT:Activated carbon, the water you use and the food you feed are normally the causes of phosphates. If you are using RO/DI then it shouldn't be there. A way to test is to use a TDS on the RO/DI water, if it reads ZERO then that is not the problem. Secondly, if you are using activated carbon, 90% of the time THIS IS YOUR SOURCE. Activated carbon is chemically "activated" by the manufacturer spraying phosphoric acid on the carbon to increase the surface area (makes it more porous). This intern leaches phosphates into the water because the residual phosphoric acid dissociates with contact with water ( loses its acidity and becomes ionic). Lastly the foods you feed have phosphates in it. Believe it or not but phosphates are essential to all that is living. Phosphates are required for the production of ADP and ATP. These are molecules that breakdown the carbohydrate to produce energy in the animal. So it is necessary to make sure that all the food eaten. Therefore the conclusion of this lecture is that phosphates are going leach into tank water almost regardlessly unless you make sure all food is eaten, you are using good water, and your are not using activated carbon. IMO i like to use carbon so in order to make sure my phosphates are in check i test regularly and i run a phos reactor.

[JackedupSOB]

I run activated carbon in both my tanks the 55 and the 10 but the 10 doesnt have a horrible phosphate problem. As far as feeding goes my nitrates should also be higher if I was overfeeding and they are >10 mg/l. Unfortuantely I dont have a TDS. I think I need to start using a phosphate reactor it will also make it easier for me to use activated carbon. Besides I researched them online and I can buy one for about 40 bucks.

[jimw369]

WoW! I bet this person has phophates!

YouTube - Day 110 - Red Slime Algae

[pyromaniac398]

WOW! I would def. say so!

[das04j]

just make sure when you use the phosphate reactor, use as directed. I could do crazy things to pH if you dont follow the directions.. dont OD your tank!

[JackedupSOB]

What make reactor do you guys run?
Has anyone used the one made by Kent? Thats the one I've been looking at
Kent Phos Reactor at Big Al's Online

[jimw369]

I just use two little fishes reactor. Can run anything in them. Cheap too...around $35

[JackedupSOB]

does that one come with a pump?

[jimw369]

No pump. I run 2 reactors in series. First with carbon, second with rowaphos. I use a Maxi jet 900. Seems to work well.

[Arnold40]

Jim, how often do you change the media?

[jimw369]

Carbon Every month. Rowaphos every other month.

[JackedupSOB]

I think I'm just going to get one and put some carbon and phosphate sponge in there

[unclejed]

Carbon can leach phos back into tank once exhausted so be careful if you run it. Like I stated I use the Poly reactor (multi media) and phos-lock.

[JackedupSOB]

I currently use carbon by just putting it in a filter bang and allowing paasive flow through it. I change it pretty regularly though and I use small amounts. I figured since Im getting the reactor I figured Id try to put some carbon in there to