What method do you use to control Phosphates?

What is your preferred method of exporting excess phosphates?

  • Lanthanum Chloride (Phosban, Phosphate-E, etc)

    Votes: 5 35.7%
  • Granular Ferric Oxide (Bulk/DIY)

    Votes: 3 21.4%
  • Prepackaged GFO Blends (Chemi-pure, etc)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Algae Scrubber

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other: (Describe)

    Votes: 1 7.1%
  • Refugium (Chaetomorpha, etc)

    Votes: 5 35.7%

  • Total voters
    14

polyppal

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I see a trend towards people using lanthanum products to control PO4 these days, however I had a bad experience the one time I tried using Phosphate-E, and never could get a refugium dialed in... So I have stuck to old-school GFO in a reactor...

What methods are you currently employing to control phosphates, and why do you prefer 'x' method over others?
 

ReeferSamster

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In terms of priority:

1) Water changes.

2) Harvesting Chaeto from refugium once every 2 weeks.

3) Try not to feed the fish begging for food everytime I approach the tank. Actually, this might be more important than water changes. ;Woot

This is my fish whenever I go near the tank, those rascals. They are probably the biggest reason for the increasing phosphate levels.

puppy eyes.jpg


I'm a firm believer in minimizing usage of chemicals of any sort for water quality, with the exception of usual alk, calc stuff.
 
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polyppal

polyppal

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In terms of priority:

1) Water changes.

2) Harvesting Chaeto from refugium once every 2 weeks.

3) Try not to feed the fish begging for food everytime I approach the tank. Actually, this might be more important than water changes. ;Woot

This is my fish whenever I go near the tank, those rascals. They are probably the biggest reason for the increasing phosphate levels.

puppy eyes.jpg


I'm a firm believer in minimizing usage of chemicals of any sort for water quality, with the exception of usual alk, calc stuff.
I never get much of a reduction from WC, I presume it binds up more in the substrate for me
 

Tentacled trailblazer in your tank: Have you ever kept a large starfish?

  • I currently have a starfish in my tank.

    Votes: 33 29.7%
  • Not currently, but I have kept a starfish in the past.

    Votes: 28 25.2%
  • I have never kept a starfish, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 22.5%
  • I have no plans to keep a starfish.

    Votes: 24 21.6%
  • Other.

    Votes: 1 0.9%
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