Question about phosphates

So, I have had my tank up and running for about 2 and half months and have been using a used ro filter with my tank testing 0 for phosphates. Well today, I decided to test the ro water and it is registering at 2.0 ppm. I'm not sure if this is considered really high or not but I decided to order one of the purasceptre refurbed ro/di units for 128 and it is on the way. I run the Seachem Seagel in my cannister which takes phosphates out of the water. my question is, once I get the ro/di unit going, will water changes and the Seagel slowly take the phosphates out of the tank? I haven't had a big problem with algae, just diatoms, but they seem to have come back with a vengeance in the last week and my skimmer has been skimming like crazy, filling itself everyday.

 

Hi Mike, good call on the spectrapure- you will love it. Water changes will remove PO4 over time, so can running GFO in your canister. I would also reduce your feedings until you have your phosphates under control again. What do the levels in your tank read?

 

And, at 2.5 months is a good time for Diatom blooms. Just keep up good husbandry? and it shoud go away soon. Keep things good, it will pay off.

 

My tank actually reads 0, but I'm not sure if that is because it is being used by algae in the tank..Although, I really don't have any real signs of hair algae, just diatoms basically and little "fuzzier" diatom on my rock closest to the top of the tank, but the hermits have been eating that.

 

You cannot accurately test contaminants in ultra pure water with normal test kits.
Good idea on the Spectrapure though as they custom blend their DI resins specifically for things like silicates and phosphates while RO itself is only marginal on them.

 

Just a heads up...Seagel has Phosguard in it. Phosguard will leech phosphates back into your water once it is exhausted. It is a good phosphate sponge, but must be changed out frequently. GFO on the other hand will not.

 

Thanks for the heads up..I was not aware of that. It says it lasts for 3-4 months on the bottle, you think it is OK to stick with those recomendations?

 

I wouldn't.
Aluminum based phosphate media like Phosguard releases stored up contaminants where ferric oxode or iron based medias do not. I can't think of anything I would leave in my tanks for 3-4 months? Good luck if you do.

 

So would it make sense then to change every 2 months or sooner?

 

Particularly after getting your RO/DI unit, you may want to re evaluate your need for running anything in your canister. Im a fan of not running stuff if it s not needed.