Cloudy water dosing Lanthanum Chloride into filter sock

[Dolphis]

I’ve recently started dosing very, very small amounts of Phosphate RX LC (about 6-12 drops into a 165g system per day) directly into a 1micron filter sock. However, I’m getting cloudy water.

Is the cloudy water suppose to leach out while the harmful precipitated particles are kept in the sock?

Non of the fish nor corals are affected, not even the baby Biota yellow tang. No heavy breathing or other signs. The cloudiness goes away after about 3 hours with the roller mat and skimmer.

The filter sock is from Pentek - a reputable brand.
Is the cloudy water normal while dosing into the sock or did I perhaps received a faulty sock?

 

[Salty_Northerner]

I'm no expert by any means and this is more a question. Isn't it supposed to be dropped in a high flow area?

 

[c4haskett]

I’ve recently started dosing very, very small amounts of Phosphate RX LC (about 6-12 drops into a 165g system per day) directly into a 1micron filter sock. However, I’m getting cloudy water.

Is the cloudy water suppose to leach out while the harmful precipitated particles are kept in the sock?

Non of the fish nor corals are affected, not even the baby Biota yellow tang. No heavy breathing or other signs. The cloudiness goes away after about 3 hours with the roller mat and skimmer.

The filter sock is from Pentek - a reputable brand.
Is the cloudy water normal while dosing into the sock or did I perhaps received a faulty sock?

Yes, Lanthium will cloud the water temporary as it binds to phosphates. No need to be alarmed. It will clear up within an hour or two. You are dosing it correctly as well into a filter sock.

 

[Lavey29]

I dosed small amounts for several months directly into my skimmer cup and had no cloudy water.

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Are you diluting it? If you dose it undiluted then it may pass through the filter sock before reacting with phosphate/alk and cloud your water.

Also what is your current PO4 level? It becomes less effective as the PO4 level gets lower.

 

[Dolphis]

I'm no expert by any means and this is more a question. Isn't it supposed to be dropped in a high flow area?

To my understanding, no. You want to contain it by dropping in it into the skimmer or a small micron sock

 

[Dolphis]

Yes, Lanthium will cloud the water temporary as it binds to phosphates. No need to be alarmed. It will clear up within an hour or two. You are dosing it correctly as well into a filter sock.

Awesome! Thank you so much!
Didn’t want to worry about endangering the livestock

 

[Dolphis]

I dosed small amounts for several months directly into my skimmer cup and had no cloudy water

The cloudy water will stay in the sock for a couple of minutes (5-10) and will slowly start coming out to the surrounding water, even if there’s no flow.
If I pull out the sock a minute after I dose, the cloudy water will comes out the bottom.

When I dose it directly into the skimmer, it’ll take a few minutes before I see cloudy water in the water column.

 

[Dolphis]

Are you diluting it? If you dose it undiluted then it may pass through the filter sock before reacting with phosphate/alk and cloud your water.

Also what is your current PO4 level? It becomes less effective as the PO4 level gets lower.

Directions didn’t specify any dilution. Only says 6 drops per 10 gallons.
Dosing 6-12 drops in my 100g+ is not much at all.
I’ll try diluting it and see if that makes a difference.

With no flow, the cloudy water will stay in the sock for about 15 mins.
My understanding is, LC binds with phosphate instantly and my PO4 has been dropping since I initially started, so it’s definitely working.
I was mainly concerned the cloudy water had some hazardous particles.

Currently the PO4 is 0.14. Trying to lower it to 0.10, then lower it a bit more and maintain it with the chaeto

 

[Uncle99]

Both those results are good IMM.
I’d keep them and begin stabilizing that level.
I have no idea why people shoot for so, so low.
If you miss the mark and zero out, you may see Dino’s take hold.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

To my understanding, no. You want to contain it by dropping in it into the skimmer or a small micron sock

Nice thanks for the info, I appreciate it

I love to learn the stuff I've never done myself.

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Directions didn’t specify any dilution. Only says 6 drops per 10 gallons.
Dosing 6-12 drops in my 100g+ is not much at all.
I’ll try diluting it and see if that makes a difference.

With no flow, the cloudy water will stay in the sock for about 15 mins.
My understanding is, LC binds with phosphate instantly and my PO4 has been dropping since I initially started, so it’s definitely working.
I was mainly concerned the cloudy water had some hazardous particles.

Currently the PO4 is 0.14. Trying to lower it to 0.10, then lower it a bit more and maintain it with the chaeto

Ok, diluting will help, however I suspect your socks have too large of a pore size. You want 10 micron or less. The cloudy water should not pass through the filter sock.

The purpose of the dilution is to add the LaCl at a slower rate. When the lanthanum is added, it really, really wants to bind with phosphate, but if no phosphate is available locally, it will bind with other elements. So adding slowly, especially for lower phosphate levels, will allow it to bind phosphate.

Your flow through they sock may also be too low. This will again cause the lanthanum to bind to other elements as the phosphate is quickly depleted due to the low flow. So try more flow into the sock while dosing.

 

[Dolphis]

Both those results are good IMM.
I’d keep them and begin stabilizing that level.
I have no idea why people shoot for so, so low.
If you miss the mark and zero out, you may see Dino’s take hold.

I’d like to be in the .08 range. Not chasing numbers or anything and I’m lowering it very, very slow, so a quick bottoming out is unlikely =)

 

[Dolphis]

Ok, diluting will help, however I suspect your socks have too large of a pore size. You want 10 micron or less. The cloudy water should not pass through the filter sock.

The purpose of the dilution is to add the LaCl at a slower rate. When the lanthanum is added, it really, really wants to bind with phosphate, but if no phosphate is available locally, it will bind with other elements. So adding slowly, especially for lower phosphate levels, will allow it to bind phosphate.

Your flow through they sock may also be too low. This will again cause the lanthanum to bind to other elements as the phosphate is quickly depleted due to the low flow. So try more flow into the sock while dosing.

The sock I’m using has a 1 micron pore size, that’s why I thought the cloudiness was odd.
But what you mentioned about the LC wanting to bind to other stuff makes sense.
I’ll try diluting and dosing it a lot slower.
Ideally, I’d like to set it up on a dozer, but haven’t gotten around it yet doing other projects

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I use phosphat-e and occasionally dose like 5ml when needed dripped into the sock area before the skimmer chamber and it temporarily clouds the display. I have kept this tank at .04 all the way to .15 po4 and possibly higher knowing me lol with positive results. Tanks stability relative to the system.

 

[Lavey29]

The cloudy water will stay in the sock for a couple of minutes (5-10) and will slowly start coming out to the surrounding water, even if there’s no flow.
If I pull out the sock a minute after I dose, the cloudy water will comes out the bottom.

When I dose it directly into the skimmer, it’ll take a few minutes before I see cloudy water in the water column.

I wouldn't worry about it. You are dosing tiny amounts. My LFS drops his dose right into the tank with no issues. I used it for like 3 months with no problems. Instructions stated water may cloud so no biggie. Don't dose after lights out.

 

[bakbay]

I’d like to be in the .08 range. Not chasing numbers or anything and I’m lowering it very, very slow, so a quick bottoming out is unlikely =)

You should be good -- I have a 150g cube and I dose 30-40 drops, all in one shot, roughly every 6 months. I like PhosphateRx -- yes, it's cloudy but less messy than doing GFOs & canisters. Of course, I don't dose unless PO4 is over 0.10. My last test was on 6/30: NO3 @ 20 and PO4 @ 0.10 -- I will test & dose (if necessary) at the end of this year.

If you're concerned about cloudiness - just do what I do -- dose after the lights are out, before bed!

 

[bakbay]

I wouldn't worry about it. You are dosing tiny amounts. My LFS drops his dose right into the tank with no issues. I used it for like 3 months with no problems. Instructions stated water may cloud so no biggie. Don't dose after lights out.

Curious: why don't dose after lights are out?

 

[Lavey29]

Curious: why don't dose after lights are out?

Some reports that it lowers 02 level in the tank so better during the day time.

 

[bakbay]

Some reports that it lowers 02 level in the tank so better during the day time.

Interesting - I've not witnessed this. Actually, I don't test specifically for Oxygen level in my tank. My wavemakers are throttled down (so fish can sleep) so less surface agitation. I've been doing this for more than 2yrs -- no issues dosing during the day vs night.