Help with lower phosphates

[carlos413]

Ok tanks been up for three months now. I am seeing more algae by the day. My glass has to be scraped every other day from algae that is film like. I am noticeing hair algae on the back of the tank and on some of the rocks. My test results are 0-0-0 460 cal, .05 phos temp 82.
An RO is not an option for now at least. The guy at the lfs said to get some no phosphates chemical. Is there anything I can do to reduce the phates till I can get a ro unit. Please help.

 

[meowzer]

You can buy phospure pads, and insert them in your filtration, feed less,

 

[carlos413]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3115410
You can buy phospure pads, and insert them in your filtration, feed less,
Do those pads work? How often u change them?

 

[meowzer]

I use them...I change them whenever I remember, LOL...I think they say to change them when you see phosphates rising again....i buy the ones you cut, and stick a piece in my filter....I guess they work...i got rid of my cyano

 

[king_neptune]

read up on these

 

[stanlalee]

reactor (like pictured above) and phosphate removal media is the best way to remove phosphates but if you cant get a RO unit there must be somewhere you can buy RO water. I used distilled before I had access to RO water (dont know if its good or bad to use though).

 

[king_neptune]

distilled is ok. a lot purer than your tap.

 

[bulldog123]

Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/3115667
distilled is ok. a lot purer than your tap.
Isnt distilled the pure of the pure?

And if your going to use media check into "rowa".

 

[king_neptune]

good question. I know its hospital grade pure. But I believe something from an RO-DI is more ideal.

 

[bulldog123]

Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/3115945
good question. I know its hospital grade pure. But I believe something from an RO-DI is more ideal.
Distilled is the best but the cost will kill you. Even better than ro-di from what I understand.

 

[bulldog123]

Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/3115581

read up on these
How are you liking them? I run a two-fishy on my 54g but thinking about those (only seperate ones) for the 120.

 

[nina&noah]

I don't have an RO unit, but I go to the grocery store and use their machine. It only cost me .30 a gallon. I use natural sea water, so I only need the RO for top offs. Look into it. I'm sure your grocery store has a machine.

 

[carlos413]

I got the phospure pads today. If I am able to reduce the phates. Will the exsisting algae die or will I have to scrub it off? It's kind of in a hard to reach area.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by carlos413
http:///forum/post/3116152
I got the phospure pads today. If I am able to reduce the phates. Will the exsisting algae die or will I have to scrub it off? It's kind of in a hard to reach area.
I would try to remove as much as you can manually...

 

[uneverno]

In reverse order of preference:
Tap
RO (Reverse Osmosis)
Distilled
DI (De-Ionized)
Distilled is better than just RO. DI is better than distilled. Distillation leaves some an- and cat-ions behind, which De-Ionization removes.
I run a 5 stage process: Sediment, Activated Carbon, RO, DI and a dedicated Silica remover.
DI alone will suffice, but it places an undue burden on the cartridges, which aren't cheap. If done in conjunction w/ RO, the DI carts will last much longer, and the RO carts are cheaper to replace.