When to replace Phosguard, according to Seachem

[tony_caliente]

Hello Tony,
Thank you for your kind words and for using our products! Here is a question from our FAQ on PhosGuard that may help address your question:

Q: How do I use PhosGuard™? How long does it work and when is it exhausted?

A: PhosGuard™is best used in smaller quantities and changed frequently. In an environment with an excessively high phosphate reading, PhosGuard™will exhaust rapidly (4 – 5 days). Place the product in a high flow rate area and test your phosphate levels, changing as needed. When you see that your level is below 0.2 ppm (mg/L) leave that portion of PhosGuard™in the filter. PhosGuard™may yellow somewhat as it picks up organics, but that is not an indicator of exhaustion for phosphate removal. Continue to test weekly for phosphate until you see it begin to rise again. You will then know that it is time to change the PhosGuard™. If you have low levels of phosphate the PhosGuard™will absorb the silicate in your system. It’s inert and safe to leave in your filter.

Therefore, a color change does not necessarily indicate exhaustion of PhosGuard, as it does with some of our other filtration medias. We hope this helps, but let us know if you have further

 

[acroholic]

A rising tank phosphate level would indicate to me that the Phosguard, or GFO if that is what you are using, needs replaced.

 

[tony_caliente]

Thank you Dave. I actually have no phospates;I do you use Phosguard (per Jenn's recommendations). I was actually "concerned" that I was changing it prematurely (too often). I had seen advice posted by others stating that its remaining efficacy can determined by observing a color change (from white to beige). I was just checking with Seachem to see if this was true (at least in their opinion). Thanks for the reply though. I posted beacuse I wanted others to see what Seachem had to say.