Phosphates

[kirkwood]

Can anyone tell me how long phosphate absorbing media lasts? Also, what is the ratio of media / gallons??

I used to add media only sporadically or when I saw the onset of an algae bloom.. The other day I noticed that some of my SPS didn't look that great, also my acan and candy canes looked more skeletal and less full and puffy... I added a new bag of phosphate absorbing media and over the next 48 hours I noticed all the previously mentioned corals looking healthier.. On the negative side, my green people eater palys looked more shriveled.

Just wondering phosphates affect on corals ranging from the less water critical species like mushrooms to the more critical like SPS, and everything in between (zoas, palys, frogspawn, leathers, rics, etc).

thanks.

 

[kirkwood]

I am using GFO. I was not aware that PO4 could leach back into the system if I left it in too long. Thanks for that tip. I have been using GFO for a couple years now, but just haven't been too critical on a replacement schedule for exhausted media. I have never noticed any shock to the SPS so it must not be having a negatively strong affect on the system. I have had terrible growth on my candy canes over the years (although great growth on a birdsnest) so maybe the PO4 level is to blame?? I will see how it works over the next few months as i try to be better about not adding unnessary PO4 to the system (ie: tap water to thaw frozen food, or dissolve buffer) and regularly changing out the GFO.