Phosguard yellow?

[alexytman]

My new phosguard just turned yellow. This is my first time using phosguard. The phosphate stopped dropping and it's now yellow. Does it mean it's exhausted?

 

[wesman42]

Yes, that's the case. Make sure you are following the instructions for using a little amount instead of a large amount because it will bottom your nutrients and quite possibly lead to dinos.

So here's my follow-up question: What were your phosphates when you started with PhosGuard, and what are they now? Having 0 phosphates is asking for trouble.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Agreed— great stuff in a reactor, but use a little cautiously (ease into it). Also, when you see it going from white to yellow (dirty white), the product is getting exhausted.

 

[alexytman]

Agreed— great stuff in a reactor, but use a little cautiously (ease into it). Also, when you see it going from white to yellow (dirty white), the product is getting exhausted.

My phosphates were plateaued at 0.5 using my Ats. This is bcuz I have two lionfishes and a eel. My phosphates dropped to 0.1 around or slightly lower... I have a dirty tank :(

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yellow is not caused by phosphate binding to phosguard and does not necessarily indicate exhaustion or not.

Yellow is most likely organics binding to the surface, but might also be metals like iron.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Yellow is not caused by phosphate binding to phosguard and does not necessarily indicate exhaustion or not.

Yellow is most likely organics binding to the surface, but might also be metals like iron.

Thank you @Randy Holmes-Farley. I can say “I learned something from a chemist today!”

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thank you @Randy Holmes-Farley. I can say “I learned something from a chemist today!”

You're welcome.

Happy reefing. :)