RowaPhos use

[20gallonreefer000]

I find it hard to get consistent information on how much RowaPhos to use. My phosphates are sitting between 0.5 - 0.7 and I want to bring them down to 0.1. The RowaPhos calculator recommends I use 2 tbsp for my 20 gallon tank. I plan on starting out with 1 tbsp and going from there. Does anyone foresee any issues with this or does it seem right? (probably overthinking). Thanks.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

if thats what the calculator says, thats what i go by. but like you, i cut it in half

 

[Kodski]

I find it hard to get consistent information on how much RowaPhos to use. My phosphates are sitting between 0.5 - 0.7 and I want to bring them down to 0.1. The RowaPhos calculator recommends I use 2 tbsp for my 20 gallon tank. I plan on starting out with 1 tbsp and going from there. Does anyone foresee any issues with this or does it seem right? (probably overthinking). Thanks.

I've used it in the past and have just followed the calculator. I found it accurate. I think RowaPhos works well but not too well. As long as you have a low flow I didn't find it to strip phosphates too fast which I liked. If you're worried try half for now until you get a feel for it. It won't hurt anything by doing so.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Go very slow. More harm is caused by fast drops than elevated phosphate, IMO.

Calculations are of limited value since it cannot know how much phosphate will be released from rock and sand as you try to lower it.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

how long do you recommend waiting to change /add to it, randy?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

how long do you recommend waiting to change /add to it, randy?

I would not try to lower more than 0.05 ppm per day.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

thank you!

 

[Uncle99]

I find it hard to get consistent information on how much RowaPhos to use. My phosphates are sitting between 0.5 - 0.7 and I want to bring them down to 0.1. The RowaPhos calculator recommends I use 2 tbsp for my 20 gallon tank. I plan on starting out with 1 tbsp and going from there. Does anyone foresee any issues with this or does it seem right? (probably overthinking). Thanks.

I’d use Phosphate-E to bring that down first when it’s very high otherwise you’ll exhaust your media quickly and that stuff is expensive to run.

You’d need about 3ml of the LC above in a tight filter sock for 24 hours, pull the sock out, and retest.


Once your down to say .15-.20ppm, then use the GFO to finish it. Just test carefully so you don’t zero out or run something like Phos 0.04 which will prevent that.

Your amount seem fine to me for 20g. Again, test in 24hours to see what was mopped up.