How to use Phosgard?

[Tom Toro]

Didn't want to hijack Chuck's thread so I started a new one.

Of the guys that use the Seachem Phosgard, do you use the amount indicated in the instructions or is there a safer way to begin? I haven't used any type of phosphate reducer before.

Is there a specific ratio per gallon I should begin so I don't kill things?

[Tom Toro]

Good advice that I'll take, Chris. Thanks!

[MyNemesis]

The directions on the bottle say to use a cup (or 250 ml) for every 75 - 100 gallons in a media bag. I use a third of a one litre bottle which is probably a cup and a half in the two stage BRS reactor, for probably 130 gallons total water volume. It fills the canister up about a little more than half full. I use an Eheim 1260 to run the canisters, so probably 300 gallons/hour. When you change it, you have to rinse it, cause there is some dust and also dust from the carbon. So I run it and drain a couple quarts four times and dump it. You can measure your phosphates if you are fighting a problem, and vary the quantity or frequency of changes and it is cool because the little round white pellets turn brown when they are used up.

[slapshot]

I started at 1/2 for two weeks then changed to a full dose. Then three weeks later went back to 1/2 to maintain.

[Tom Toro]

I started today with 3\4 cup in the 135g (165g total volume) and 2 cups in the 240g (400g total volume). I'll let you guys know how it works. This is half the dose (if I did the math right) and if I don't get some relief, I'll do what Don did and increase after a couple of weeks.

Thanks Folks.

I started at 1/2 for two weeks then changed to a full dose. Then three weeks later went back to 1/2 to maintain.

[binford4000]

I started today with 3\4 cup in the 135g (165g total volume) and 2 cups in the 240g (400g total volume). I'll let you guys know how it works. This is half the dose (if I did the math right) and if I don't get some relief, I'll do what Don did and increase after a couple of weeks.

Thanks Folks.

Lookin forward to your results Tom ! I am optamistic about this product after seeing sucsessful reefers using it ! Going to order two jugs on payday myself!

[binford4000]

Any results on this product to report yet Tom?

[AZDesertRat]

Make sure you change the media often as aluminum based products release captured contaminants when they get saturated unlike iron based media. The advantage to aluminum based media though is it works quicker but again since you don't want things to happen quickly in a reef tank that may not really be an advantage. I started with Phosguard but after a year switched to GFO and have been much happier with the results.

[dputt88]

sorry AZ but you have that backwards.

" PhosGuard™ is not an exchange resin, it does not release anything into the water. It does not leach phosphate or silicate back into the water and may be removed, dried, and returned to service until exhausted. "

that being said, if you own a sponge you might want to re think this, i will be moving my sponge into my macro algae tank, as they require the silicates that phosguard will be removing.

[AZDesertRat]

Thats their claim but in the drinking water industry where I have worked for 38 years it is well known aluminum medias leach contaminants when exhausted. I would like to see their research documentation showing differently.