phosphate control product???

[FragIt Dan]

I have been playing around with Brightwell Aquatics XPort PO4, which is kind of like a crouton version of GFO, but 'ultra' high capacity and not requiring fluidizing. I am down to using half the recommended dose of the same amount of HC GFO and after a couple of months am still getting Hannah PO4 readings near 0.00-0.03 with daily feedings of Reef Snow, various other (non-rinsed) foods for the fish and periodically coral frenzy and reef roids (very high in PO4) and ATO with RODI.
In terms of food rinsing, Randy HF recently wrote an article that covered sources of PO4 in the aquarium and concluded PO4 sourced from most (or maybe all) frozen foods were the major contributor to PO4 but rinsing did NOT reduce PO4 by any significant amount: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/3/chemistry.
I am happy with the XPort PO4 product but don't see why using more GFO wouldn't accomplish the same goal. I have some extra if anyone around Nanaimo would like to give it a try.
Dan

[lastlight]

So if you dose into your overflow and it goes almost immediately into a filter sock... is the foz down still as effective? And will a 200 micron sock catch the precipitate? I'd imagine that not all of the foz down would react right away and it would get through the sock itself and cause precipitation elsewhere where you can't collect it?

I have an unused doser channel so I'm curious...

[TimT]

Hi Brett,

Adding the Foz Down the way you suggested is a good way to use it.

As for effectiveness it will immediately bind with any Phosphate it comes in contact with. If you have a lot of Phosphate it might plug the filter sock quickly.

If you have a bucket for ATO water it could be added to that. Then a dilute amount will be added continuously during the day. The water outlet hose for the ATO could be run into the back of the overflow or even directly into the filter sock. I have heard of aquariums using sand filters so a 200 micron filter sock should work well.

Originally Posted by lastlight

So if you dose into your overflow and it goes almost immediately into a filter sock... is the foz down still as effective? And will a 200 micron sock catch the precipitate? I'd imagine that not all of the foz down would react right away and it would get through the sock itself and cause precipitation elsewhere where you can't collect it?

I have an unused doser channel so I'm curious...

[Reefie]

I'm sold on Foz Down, just have to wait to get some. *Ahem* Tim......

Haha!

[TimT]

They should be ready end of next week.

[kobelka]

Is it important to add foz down where you can catch the precipitate? Is it a must do to remove whatever forms?

[Ian]

I have to chime in here
I have been having a huge algae issue for a long time in my 250 gallon system . I am doing 15% water changes weekly and have reduced feeding and am still fighting this battle. I tried FOZ down to the tune of 2 -8oz bottles in 2.5 months and had no change that I could notice. I actually put in 20ml 3 times in 1 day and measured phosphate before and after each dose and the following morning with no measurable change.

It may work for you but just beware it is no miracle cure....and the battle continues