I'm not sure I'm using my phosban reactor right. I have about a 2 inch layer of Rowaphos in the reactor, been using it for about 3-4 weeks. ight feeding of tank, 10% RELIGIOUS weekly wate changes, and I'm still showing phosphates in the tank. Should I have had results by now? I'm using Hagen Nutrafin test kits, and getting a reading of .25mg/l. Am I just not being patient enough? Should I be using more Rowaphos in the reactor? Should I switch to Phosban? Please help this is really pissing me off. I try so hard to keep the parameters right in my tank what the hell am I doing wrong? Is it the test kits? I read on RC that there's alot of issues with Salifert test kits right now. Are Hagen test kits reliable? PLEASE help.....
Not Enough Rowaphos?
- Thread starter taat2d
- Start date
Your reactor is probably functioning correctly. However, your test kit is not sensitive enough to display your phosphate levels. Based on numerous threads/posts on this board, I'd say a photometer/colorimeter is your best option in determining your phosphate levels. If that is an option you're not willing/ready to purchase, simply maintain your current husbandry practices and let your coral colors and/or algae levels dictate what changes you need to make.
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Tell me what I need and where to get it. I want a thriving tank. I want my fish and corals not to just exist but to thrive and grow and be happy. That's why I'm here to pick at everyone's brain here:grouphug: and get the info I need.:usa1:
- Location
- Wallingford, CT
You should also consider filling your reactor to 120 mgs. You can also check your reactor effluent to see if the output is 0 ppm, if not then either you are running the flow too high or the media is exhausted already.
- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn, NY
How do your corals look? and what type of coral do you keep? and hows the algae problem? Also adding Rowaphos for a week or two isn't going to clear up hair algae or any type of algae. You gotto manually remove it or find something that will. It won't grow back once you do if your levels are in range. Also how olds the tank. Use the search button as Po4 is linked to alk and calc carb and such. Alot of topics on this.
Sometimes you gotto look at the health and quality of the coral and its growth over time. Not only that your numbers are off by the 0.00001 and your not happy with that. If everythings doing great, opening up, SPS have beautiful colors and growth then i wouldn't worry just keep up the TLC you weekly do and its going to stay that healthy. Read the corals sometimes and not just the test kits.
Also for most test kits out there besides hanna or similar if any small small amount of po4 is present its going to give you either a non reading or the lowest reading on the kit. So. Your Po4 might be almost untraceable and your test kit could be showing you there is alot.
Sometimes you gotto look at the health and quality of the coral and its growth over time. Not only that your numbers are off by the 0.00001 and your not happy with that. If everythings doing great, opening up, SPS have beautiful colors and growth then i wouldn't worry just keep up the TLC you weekly do and its going to stay that healthy. Read the corals sometimes and not just the test kits.
Also for most test kits out there besides hanna or similar if any small small amount of po4 is present its going to give you either a non reading or the lowest reading on the kit. So. Your Po4 might be almost untraceable and your test kit could be showing you there is alot.
- Location
- Marine Park
I change my Rowaphos/Phosban every four weeks (right around the first of every month). It may last longer, or not as long but that schedule has worked for me.
Also if you phos levels were high (you can't be sure what they are or were without a photometer) then your tank was saturated with it. What I mean is that phosphates will get sucked up by most of the things in your tank, sand, rock, algae etc. Once they get saturated with phosphates it will show in your water column. As your phos media removes it from the water phosphates will continue to leach into the water from your rock, sand etc. (think osmosis)
Depending on how much phosphate you exposed your tank to it could take some time to get it in check.
Also if you phos levels were high (you can't be sure what they are or were without a photometer) then your tank was saturated with it. What I mean is that phosphates will get sucked up by most of the things in your tank, sand, rock, algae etc. Once they get saturated with phosphates it will show in your water column. As your phos media removes it from the water phosphates will continue to leach into the water from your rock, sand etc. (think osmosis)
Depending on how much phosphate you exposed your tank to it could take some time to get it in check.
- Location
- Marine Park
The jar is 150 so 120 would be almost the full jar. Depending what corals you keep overdoing it with phosban can freak them out a bit. In addition to quickly (hopefully) stripping the phosphate from the water it will also cause you alk to drop.
OK.......Now I see where my problem comes in. I have been adding ONLY 2-4 tablespoonfuls of the Rowaphos. I have about 1 inch of the media in the bottom of the reactor. So I guees I'm not adding anywehre near enough media to get any results.
heres a tip if you didn't know it... The hanna phosphate meter is on sale right now at drsfostersmith.com and you type "dodge" into the coupon code during checkout and get an additional 15% off your order.
so you can pick up a Hanna Phosphate meter for $122...Great Deal
so you can pick up a Hanna Phosphate meter for $122...Great Deal
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