Rowaphos discolouration?

[Reef.]

First time I’ve used rowaphos, it’s only a 14g tank so only used around 5 teaspoons in a media bag, the instructions say that it doesn’t release phosphate when exhausted and to disturb the media now and again to ensure all the surface area is in contact with the water, so I did that today, pulled the bag out but saw a pink substance on the bag, thinking it was detritus I rinsed in a couple of cups of RO water, the water turned a very dark pink colour? Is this right? As it looked like something I wouldn’t want in my tank?

 

[Ludders]

you do need to rinse the media before you use it

 

[Reef.]

you do need to rinse the media before you use it

The instructions say not to rinse before use if not used in a fluidised reactor.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its the ferris oxide residue you are seeing

 

[Reef.]

Its the ferris oxide residue you are seeing

Is that safe? And should I rinse before use even though the instructions say not too.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is that safe? And should I rinse before use even though the instructions say not too.

Usually recommend to rinse- residue not dangerous, just ugly

 

[Reef.]

Usually recommend to rinse- residue not dangerous, just ugly

Ok thanks, I wonder why the instructions say not to rinse if in a media bag?

 

[MrDLHughesY]

I use this and always rinse before hand

 

[Reef.]

I use this and always rinse before hand

Do you see a lot of discolouration when rinsing? I was shocked at how dark the water went from only a small amount, think I’ll rinse in future.

 

[Ludders]

You might want to run some carbon to clear up the water from the ferris oxide, but rinse that first too

 

[Reef.]

You might want to run some carbon to clear up the water from the ferris oxide, but rinse that first too

Thanks, yeah I run carbon 24/7, not sure why but I added extra when I added the rowaphos too., work out well.

 

[MrDLHughesY]

Do you see a lot of discolouration when rinsing? I was shocked at how dark the water went from only a small amount, think I’ll rinse in future.

Yeah I just rinse till the discolouration of the water has gone usually a few seconds. Don’t squeeze the excess water out either otherwise it will dicoulour again when water runs through it

 

[Reef.]

Yeah I just rinse till the discolouration of the water has gone usually a few seconds. Don’t squeeze the excess water out either otherwise it will dicoulour again when water runs through it

Yeah definitely rinsing in future, weird how they say not to rinse.

Also bought some small micron media bags, was using 180 micron, I know smaller micron bags are unlikely to help with this, but I also rinsed the carbon at the same time (wasn’t sure which was the rowaphos) and noticed very small carbon bits in the water, even tho is was rinsed, think I may have over done it...25 microns!