phosphate/silicate remover?

[kevin]

I have read about compounds that can remove phosphate and silicates on another saltwater site. You put them in "bags" and change every 5 days for 4-5 treatments. Does anyone know where you can but these compunds online? I have recurring blooms of brown diatoms and would like to get rid of the silicates in my tank. Thanks for any info.

 

[chuck]

Let's find the cause of both of these first. Silicates might be coming from your tap water, if you are not using ro/di water test your tap water. If it is not your water are you using a silicate sand for a substate? Using a silicate sand will cause your tank to always have diatom blooms. When you see the brown residue it is the shells of dead diatoms. Once all the diatoms die off in your tank they can't come back unless there is silicates present for them to feed off of. Now for you phosphates. Test your tap water if using tap water. That is usually the problem. Use Phosgaurd by seachem, this stuff works great and it will reduce phosphate levels dramatically.

 

[krazzydart]

chuck is right ...... I use phosguard and in 3 weeks my tank cleared right up....