RowaPhos

[Guest Kimo]

I have a phosphate problem.  That is why my tank is COVERED in cyano.

 

I have been thinking about trying ROWAPhos, but it's very expensive.  Does anyone have any experience with it?  I have read lots of good things on RC, but I have not heard of any local reefers that have had success.

 

Please share.

 

J

[ReefMon]

I've used it with good results.  Most of the better public aquariums are running it 100% of the time (IE: Wakikii, Atlantis, Shedd etc) and have nothing but praise for it.

 

It is much more effective to run it in a flow through filter instead of passively putting it in a bag in your sump.

 

HTH

Glenn R

[Guest Kimo]

Thanks Glenn - I was planning on putting a bag in front of my skimmer outflow.

 

I, in the next few days, will build a filter with PVC, a union and 2 hose barbs so I can hook up a powerhead to it.

 

J

[Sph2sail]

Kimo, you really need to find the source of your phosphate problem.  What kinds of food are you feeding?  How effective is your skimmer? What kind of Kalk are you using?  Is it phosphate free? How does your source water measure for PO4?

 

I found the trick being Mrs. Wages.  Some using Balls Pickling Lime have no trouble w/phosphates.  Heavy feeding of flake foods will load up phosphates as well.

 

RowaPhos is a good measure, but I think it better to find out the real cause and evaluate what you want to do about it than to use a chemical solution full time.

 

steve

[michaelg]

I have started using the stuff from tlf.  Phos ban maybe???  It is a ferric oxide compound.  I took an old Tap water purifier, cleaned it out well, and dropped a bag in there.  It is fed from my calcium reactor (if the flow is too strong the stuff falls apart).  In my area- there is a huge difference in water quality from the tap this year.  My pre-filter turns brown in a month.  It used to take 6 months in the dry years.  I suspect it is from all the silt being washed into the resevoirs???  just speculation of course.

[ReefMon]

Yes, Roawa Phos is a freeic oxide, as opposed to the old aluminum oxide phosphate sponges.

As for your incoming water, I recall Tony was having the same problems.  My pre filters seem fine, I just can't get any membrane to last longer than 6-9 months

[Guest Kimo]

Well, the source of my problem is a number of things -

 

1.) Using RO and not RO/DI for a year (I just got a DI)

2.) Heavy feeding to get my potter's angel acclimated and fat (and boy is he fat!  He's fatter than my sailfin!)

3.) An old RO membrane (I will fix this soon)

4.) Not cleaning the skimmer often enough

5.) Being too impatient and filling the tank 1/2 way with tap water when I started the tank (I know, I know...)

 

But...I have been doing water changes and am fixing the problems, (and getting into a regimen!) but I want to get rid of this UGLY, NASTY, KILLER cyano!

 

It is detrimental to my corals.  I siphon it out, and it comes back, etc. you know the story.

 

Tha's why I want to try RowaPhos (If i could find phosban locally I'd try it!).

 

Reef Tank has reusable sediment filters for the RO, just rinse in cold water.

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone - any other comments?

[Aquariareview]

THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION

Large amounts of macro will also uptake a lot of phosphate.

 

Ferric hydroxide is routinely used in public water filtration application, particularly for asenic removal. There are a lot of published literatures on it, Phosphate removal is its other use.

 

Giving it a name (Rowaphos,phosban or whatever), and putting it in a nice package, put a 20X markup on it, does not give any economical reason for buying it.

 

We may want to check scientific supply or filtration supply for ferric hydroxide in bulk. Maybe a group purchase? im almost out.

[Sph2sail]

Concur with Nathan.  A refugium exports a lot of nutrients in a natural way, avoiding the chemical process need.

 

s

[pez]

I used this stuff and saw no difference in my algea problems.  Moreover, I have never found any advantage to a refugium.  I've taken mine off line for many months and the main tank didn't look any better or any worse.  They are a nice place to hold macro algea an large copepod/isopod populations.

 

Cyno is not generally caused solely by phosphate.  It's usually a combination of nitrate, phosphate, poor/old lighting, over feeding, and low alkalinity.

 

-Tom