Can you filter out phosphates with carbon?

[ignath]

I have a 150 with a phosphate problem. I was too lax about feeding my frozen food and added the waterfrom the frozen brine and now i have a tank of very lush algae (and i think some fish and inverts?). I really don't want to go through a series of water changes at the present time. My question is simple: can you filter out phosphates with carbon? I have my trusty diatom and carbon powder at hand! Please let me know your ideas on this problem.

 

[reefkprz]

not really, but you can use a phosphate media to remove them.

 

[ignath]

I am not familiar with the products, will you recommend one? Thanks

 

[newsalt40324]

I filter out phosphate using SeaChem's Phosguard does a good job. I run it on a continous basis and change it out once a month no phosphate problems.

 

[ignath]

Thanks! I wil check it out!

 

[phelpz]

Originally Posted by NewSalt40324
http:///forum/post/2257612
I filter out phosphate using SeaChem's Phosguard does a good job. I run it on a continous basis and change it out once a month no phosphate problems.
Does anyone know how well this product works?
I'm still having cyano problems. Not near as bad as they were before, but its killin' me.
I had seen another product that you add directly to your tank to remove phosphates, but after my problems with adding a PH Buffer to my tank and raising it to 8.8 I'm scared to add something like that.
I would rather have something that is used in the filter to remove them.

 

[1journeyman]

It works well.
Not as good as water changes, but it can be a great backup.

 

[phelpz]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2509830
It works well.
Not as good as water changes, but it can be a great backup.
I've done water changes. I do a 5G change on a 20G tank once a week. And when I had first seen the tank I did like 3 in a week. I dont know if thats bad, but it didnt really seem to do anything.
It seems to be coming on a lot slower than it was at least.
I dont know, its getting kinda frustrating.
I'm going to to try to find somewhere that carries that stuff.
Am I not doing enough water changes, or enough water?
Other than the phosphate problem its a stable tank. Everything is always 0. Nitrates, nitrites, amonia....