needing help with Phos!

[straightrazorguy]

Phosphates are difficult to bring down without GFO. I battled phosphates for months, and I didn't really make a dent in them until I started running ROWAphos in a reactor.

[ashr]

Originally Posted by straightrazorguy

Phosphates are difficult to bring down without GFO. I battled phosphates for months, and I didn't really make a dent in them until I started running ROWAphos in a reactor.

At this time I am running ROWAphos in a TLF 150 reactor and have Chemi-pure elite in my tank as well. They don't seem to be doing it..

[ashr]

I also picked up some Seachem Phosguard but have not tried it yet..

[jordsyke]

DO you have lots of flow??, Maybe try power heading your rocks to get any detritus out and into your water stream, then do a large water change, then change your GFO shortly after

[Reef Pilot]

If you want to get a deep nutrient sink P04 laden tank down quickly, use Foz Down. Then use GFO for normal ongoing maintenance.

[ashr]

Originally Posted by jordsyke

DO you have lots of flow??, Maybe try power heading your rocks to get any detritus out and into your water stream, then do a large water change, then change your GFO shortly after

This could work too. I am going to do a large water change today

Thanks for the tip

[MitchM]

It's one thing to treat the symptoms, another thing to fix the cause.
Knowing more about your set up would help, and a picture would be best.

[Sebae again]

I wouldn't use the Phosgaurd with SPS

[The Guy]

Originally Posted by MitchM

It's one thing to treat the symptoms, another thing to fix the cause.
Knowing more about your set up would help, and a picture would be best.

I agree no point in trying to band aid fix a phosphate problem until you know the cause. I had high levels in my 90g and was advised to get rid of some of my sand bed depth as I had 2-3", so I removed a 5g pail and a half of real dirty sand bed and am now at 1" max. The detris build up was causing some of my problems, as well I added another wp25 wavemaker power head to increase the flow in and around the live rock which helps to blow any build up off them.
I have about 100 gallons of water volume between the DT and the sump after taking into account rock displacement. and do 25% RO water changes every 2 weeks. I also run GFO which I plan on changing every 4 weeks, until my level is at an acceptable reading, once it's there I'll check the PO4 level every couple of weeks and when I see the levels climbing I'll know it's time for a GFO change. I was using a color chart PO4 tester but find the Hanna checker is the most accurate for phosphates and use Salifert kits for everything else.
This is what I did for my system and it seems to be working for me so far, hope this helps