Phosphates in Calcium

[JohnO]

I am thinking about starting up my SW tank again.

From the last time it was working I have quite a lot of rock which I kept, it ( the rock ) was left outside in the sun for a few months, but has been cleaned and stored for future use.

This is something that I have done before with some success, but have a question that some of the more chemically minded ( and I mean that in the nicest way ) of you may be able to help me with.

I did read somewhere that calcium, when it forms on surfaces actually absorbs(?) some of the available phosphates. Now if this is correct, and I use my old rock, will these phosphates leach back?

Any and all opinions appreciated

John

[Tangster]

Big John yes the Ca will lock up and bind the PO4 and as will the rocks Not sure if you recall about 7 or 9 yrs ago maybe we had this discussion on R/C with The all knowing sand God when he was touting no carbon use with a DSB and then when it faild that time he found out the rocks had bound up all the elements from additives and where released back into his little tank (:
Also as for locking up PO4's thats some of the advantage of Limewater use Oh in German thats Kalkwasser use (:

If you are going to reuse the rocks thats fine Just get a old fluidized sand filter for use as a reactor and run Ferric Oxide in it. I had the same problem whit about a ton of old rock we used it had been used witgh untreated well water and it took me several month to get it removed from the water as it leeched out of the rocks.

[JohnO]

Thank you young man, appreciated as always

If I soak the rocks in a vinegar solution for a week or so would thathelp the situation?

John

[Tangster]

Not really but it won't hurt may want to do bleach to clean it up..Would help remove some scale on the rocks But the PO4 are with in the rock its self at this point..

[Matt Rogers]

Originally Posted by JohnO

I am thinking about starting up my SW tank again.

Do you still have your seahorse tank John?