Safe liquid phosphate remover?

[Mrod]

Is there something that works to reduce phosphates in liquid form that is safer than lanthium chloride based formulas??

Using gfo now but prefer a safe liquid if one exists you guys trust?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there something that works to reduce phosphates in liquid form that is safer than lanthium chloride based formulas??

Using gfo now but prefer a safe liquid if one exists you guys trust?

Iron is the only other significant dissolved phosphate exporter that I know of. I don’t know if that’s a better option than lanthanum.

 

[Mrod]

Got it and thank you

Happy Memorial Day weekend all

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy reefing!

 

[Mrod]

Randy- what about nitrate dosing to then lower po4? I think I heard people say that works??

Saw a product called neo- nitro and even your diy recipe. Is it True that dosing nitrate could be a safe way to lower po4?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy- what about nitrate dosing to then lower po4? I think I heard people say that works??

Saw a product called neo- nitro and even your diy recipe. Is it True that dosing nitrate could be a safe way to lower po4?

Nitrate dosing only accelerates phosphate consumption if the nitrate is already very low and is limiting the growth of macroalgae or other organism that will grow faster and take up more of everything. If you already have more than 2 ppm of nitrate, adding more is unlikely to have much effect.

 

[Mrod]

I might be in luck then. I usually struggle to get nitrates above 1-3 despite feeding a lot and po4 always high. I’ll give it a shot and see if it helps, at least when no3 is very low which is normally the case

 

[Johnic]

Iron is the only other significant dissolved phosphate exporter that I know of. I don’t know if that’s a better option than lanthanum.

Is Lanthanum safe to lower phosphates ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is Lanthanum safe to lower phosphates ?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-lanthanum-dosing.969669/
Someone asked for a DIY lanthanum dosing recipe.

Be sure you understand that some folks have issues with fish (especially tangs) before embarking on lanthanum dosing.

it is also preferable to catch as many of the solids that precipitate out as you can, so dosing before some sort of mechanical filtration is desirable. Many folks use a filter sock.

Finally, note that lanthanum dosing will tend to drop alkalinity a bit, both from binding phosphate and from forming some lanthanum carbonate.

OK, so here's the rationale...

 

[Johnic]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-lanthanum-dosing.969669/
Someone asked for a DIY lanthanum dosing recipe.

Be sure you understand that some folks have issues with fish (especially tangs) before embarking on lanthanum dosing.

it is also preferable to catch as many of the solids that precipitate out as you can, so dosing before some sort of mechanical filtration is desirable. Many folks use a filter sock.

Finally, note that lanthanum dosing will tend to drop alkalinity a bit, both from binding phosphate and from forming some lanthanum carbonate.

OK, so here's the rationale...

Thanks for the great info...I'm using various bacterias (Microbactor 7, ProBio) to reduce the waste and hopefully help with Phosphates.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Personally, I would not expect dosing of bacteria to generally be a long term solution to lowering nutrients.

 

[Johnic]

Personally, I would not expect dosing of bacteria to generally be a long term solution to lowering nutrients.

I hear ya, I was looking for a natural method as I don’t have room for an algae scrubber or fuge. Not sure how I should long term keep nitrates and phos in check.
I’m doing the moonshiners method and don’t want to do water changes yet and disrupt the element levels.
I will add, I’m battling dino now and had bottom out my phos and hence the reason I got dino I believe.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I hear ya, I was looking for a natural method as I don’t have room for an algae scrubber or fuge. Not sure how I should long term keep nitrates and phos in check.

FWIW, nearly all methods we use are natural in the sense that they also happen in the ocean.

 

[Johnic]

FWIW, nearly all methods we use are natural in the sense that they also happen in the ocean.

Good point!

 

[jda]

I would not worry about natural too much. Oceans do not have protein skimmers or Apex controllers. :) You can see some foam on some beaches, but you can also watch it wash right back out when an afternoon storm rolls in with some heavy rain.