What's the correct Rowaphos dose

[SubzeroLT]

I've seen fellow reefers filling up half a TLF Phosban 150 reactor with Rowaphos for their 400L tanks in an attempt to reduce phosphates / nuisance algae. Ending up damaging corals due to zero phosphates in the system. From my understanding :

• Rowaphos is one of the more effective products out there as its made of virgin iron hydroxide media. Quite potent.
• Ideally fluidized in a reactor (but slow flow) to optimize contact with water
• Putting too much at one go will reduce phosphates too quickly and keep it too low.
• Ideal Phosphate level is less than 0.03ppm but it cannot be zero ppm.
• Salifert can measure a minimum of 0.03ppm. Most folks strive for 'undetectable'. But undetectable can be 0 ppm => too low. A Hanna phosphorous checker is best to measure such low levels.
• Found this online report about various media. A bit 'cheem' but it states that Rowaphos has the best absorbing capacity among the various brands. http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/files/Test report.pdf
• Density of rowaphos is 1200g/litre => 10ml = 12g of rowaphos 
• Dosage :  From the label, 100ml of Rowaphos with remove 3ppm of PO4 from 400 liters of water => 10ml of Rowaphos with remove 0.3ppm of PO4 from 400 liters of water

For my 3ft tank, i put about 20-40ml (not too much) then change it every 1-2 months. 

 

 

 

[DottyClown]

Hi bro, are you using a FR?  20-40ml is very little.  Won't it be too small an amount to put in a regular FR?  It will only be a layer of 2-3mm thick right?

[SubzeroLT]

I started this thread also to understand what others are doing...kind of looking for best practice.

Mine is in a phosban 150 FR. About 2cm thickness of media there. 

[franklin]

Thanks SubzeroLT for starting this thread, If happen to put too much in FR, can I stop the pump when reach desired ppm and re-start again when needed?

[daveyy]

The water will foul up inside.

At least that is what happen to mine when i stop the flow. You might experience differently

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[DottyClown]

I started this thread also to understand what others are doing...kind of looking for best practice.

Mine is in a phosban 150 FR. About 2cm thickness of media there. 

Ya, I'm also figuring out the best way to do it.

Currently I'm running 20-25ml of Rowas in a small pumpless "FR" which I DIY for my 20G tank.  The Rowas is only 4-5mm thick.  The setup is working as its brought my PO4 to nearly undetectable by my API test kit.  But I think that because there's some amount of tumbling of the Rowas, thus I'm getting fines in my IOS sump chamber.

[SubzeroLT]

 Thanks SubzeroLT for starting this thread, If happen to put too much in FR, can I stop the pump when reach desired ppm and re-start again when needed?

Agree with Daveyy. Its probably not a good idea to stop the pump. I'd suggest using less media or using a re-circulating reactor instead.

This is my setup & tumbling rate.

 

Edited March 4, 2016 by SubzeroLT

[SubzeroLT]

Saw several online reports that there are products used in the aquarium trade that uses non-virgin media (i.e. used in water treatment plants for removing arsenic then re-cyled for aquarium hobby use). Quite scary indeed.

Rowaphos is clear to state theirs are virgin material  -> better capacity for absorption & less toxicity concerns.

 

 

Sharing how I rinse new batch of rowaphos - run some tank water through the reactor during water change day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 15, 2016 by SubzeroLT

[keasontoh]

Nice information

[Kelvin Ang]

Saw several online reports that there are products used in the aquarium trade that uses non-virgin media (i.e. used in water treatment plants for removing arsenic then re-cyled for aquarium hobby use). Quite scary indeed.

Rowaphos is clear to state theirs are virgin material  -> better capacity for absorption & less toxicity concerns.

 

 

Sharing how I rinse new batch of rowaphos - run some tank water through the reactor during water change day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bro your tank full of lovely sps

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