Quote:
Originally Posted by BCOrchidGuy
Andrew, it's great to hear you got it under control. I read somewhere that even using a bucket that once had soap in it will put phosphates into what ever was in the bucket now, soooooo I wonder if you didn't get phosphates from your dishwasher even though you didn't put any detergent in it.
Not that it matters now, I've been thinking about a phosban reactor, just incase.
Doug
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Hey Doug, the original tank obviously had excessive phosphates before the teardown, and I doubt that any new phosphates were introduced by the dishwasher (but I guess it's possible).
I am wondering though if the rock has acted more like a sponge over the past 6 years and is saturated with phosphates (and God knows what else that might be bad) even though I sun-bleached it and sterilized it before putting it back into the new tank?
I've read about sandbeds becoming saturated and essentially useless (actually harmfull as they begin to release the trapped nitrates, etc back into the water) but I wonder if live rock is the same?
I am content now though that any phosphates that are trapped in the rock, or newly introduced from food, etc, are now being binded and removed forever by the Phosban Media.
Perhaps I need to survey aquarists who have had tanks setup for 5 years or more, and see if they have had similar problems or crashes?
If I had to buy another 100+ lbs of new LR, it would be hobby over for me for sure as I'm doubtful I would make that huge investment again.