Does Chemi-pure elite work?

[Redbird5]

I've been battling phosphates since March. They're either really high or when I add GFO they drop like a rock to 0.0. High is 0.65 on my Hanna test. My coral is thriving, one of my Duncan's has two heads and I noticed third head this morning. There's one hammer that seem to be closed up, but the rest are doing fine, my torch looking like it's getting another head.

I know that phosphates can help coral grow, but too high and it cause them to be brittle. I know I've asked a lot of questions especially about my phosphates. I've tried GFO, which I learned that without a skimmer they don't work properly. My LFS told me that when it's in the media bag without being moved around it clumps up and doesn't work. When I add them to the aquarium I had them to a media bag and place the bag in the filter sock and that's when things drops to nothing.

My LFS suggested Chemi-pure, which is coming this week. I know the next step is a skimmer and I really don't want to have to drop several hundred dollars on one. What's everyone's experience with Chemi-pure? Am I doomed to get a skimmer?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I've been battling phosphates since March. They're either really high or when I add GFO they drop like a rock to 0.0. High is 0.65 on my Hanna test. My coral is thriving, one of my Duncan's has two heads and I noticed third head this morning. There's one hammer that seem to be closed up, but the rest are doing fine, my torch looking like it's getting another head.

I know that phosphates can help coral grow, but too high and it cause them to be brittle. I know I've asked a lot of questions especially about my phosphates. I've tried GFO, which I learned that without a skimmer they don't work properly. My LFS told me that when it's in the media bag without being moved around it clumps up and doesn't work. When I add them to the aquarium I had them to a media bag and place the bag in the filter sock and that's when things drops to nothing.

My LFS suggested Chemi-pure, which is coming this week. I know the next step is a skimmer and I really don't want to have to drop several hundred dollars on one. What's everyone's experience with Chemi-pure? Am I doomed to get a skimmer?

Chemipure Elite contains GFO. I use it on a small AIO tank, but also have a skimmer.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

May I ask how old your tank is? It once took me over 2 years to stabilize the phosphate.

If the corals are happy and thriving, I would just add a smaller amount of gfo and slowly suck it out over the next year.

for me personally, I never thought of a skimmer as a phosphate reducer, to me it affects nitrate more but I could be wrong.