Phosphate Removal

Water changes and lots of them are the only way to get them down in my opinion. Chemicals and removers just dont work. Also cutting back on feeding with help with future problems.

Adam, I still over feed so I'd really would like your input on this. I tried the drops with NO success. I also went on ReefBulkSupply.com and spent 35.00 on a media remover that came in a bag the size of M&M's. I ran that for a month but it did nothing to get them down and I did cut way back on my feeding... What are you using that is working so well.

Well that's a good question.  First, I think I do well with phosphate by using filter socks.  That may sound stupid but I think my vortech's keep food and fish poop in the water and off the rocks/sand.  So I collect a lot of that in filter socks, which I change out every other day.

The aluminum oxide phosphate remover, the white granuals is cheaper and works just fine in my experience, but I would ask MrNewbie why the need for phosphate remover. Rarely is it a problem and too often I get calls from people wondering why their coral isn't growing. Too often I've discovered that the use of PO4 remover was the culprit. Coral have Zooxanthellae algae in their tissue. Like all algae, that algae needs PO4 to grow.

I hate to disagree with Mark 'cause he's seen more tanks and helped more people then probably all of us combined, but it's hard for me to imagine a tank with too little phosphate.  I can see how a tank might be too low in nitrate.  IME, adsorbents such as aluminum oxide or iron hydroxide do remove phosphate but you'd have to really use quite a bit to lower it to a level that would stunt plant growth.  And high phosphates are not healthy even in a softy tank.  Although it might not affect the sarco very much it will affect all the other calcifying organisms in the tank (snails, coralline, etc).

I think every tank should either have a refugium to export algae (nitrates and phosphates) or use some kind of phosphate adsorbent or do both if you want long term stability.

MrNewbie wrote: Which phosphate remover is best and Iron based or the white one?  I am looking to do a bulk buy if anyone is interested.

Hmmmm, I'll have to think about that.  Seems like some very basic biological processes, but I'm not sure what I think about that.

As Mark said, I think there's two paths for the phosphate here.  From the water into algae then from algae into coral. 

Phosphate in the water is an issue for any calcifying organism.  Phosphate "poisons" the CaCO3 crystal growth lattice inhibiting any further growth.  Nothing biological about it.  Straight physical chemistry.

But without ANY phosphate in the water algae have a hard time growing so a very small amount in the water is needed.

I'm not doubting you Mark, but it is something hard to believe.  Did they have fish?  Were they feeding them?

My thinking is that you need to allow PO4 --->  get algae growth ----> grows pods ---> feeds the corals. 

Mark Peterson wrote: The aluminum oxide phosphate remover, the white granuals is cheaper and works just fine in my experience, but I would ask MrNewbie why the need for phosphate remover. Rarely is it a problem and too often I get calls from people wondering why their coral isn't growing. Too often I've discovered that the use of PO4 remover was the culprit. Coral have Zooxanthellae algae in their tissue. Like all algae, that algae needs PO4 to grow.