Phosphate Pillow

[jowens]

Hi guys,

Have any of you ever used phosphate pillows to control algae? I was considering using one for a day or two to see if I could give my plants a head start on outcompeting the algae that's become a persistent problem in my planted tank. From what I've read, phosphate is the key neutrient when it comes to plants outcompeting algae. It seems when phosphate levels become low in the tank, plants survive and algae dies. While I'm fairly confident this process would play itself out naturally over time, I was thinking that a pillow could speed it along. Agree?

[aspen]

do you have a phosphate test kit? i like to maintain low phosphate and nitrate levels while the tank is getting rolling. if you are using co2 and high light, with a low fishload, it is possible that you already have 0 phosphates. check it first, before you go in that direction.

jmo, rick

[farm41]

I have used the phosphate removers before, then bought a test kit and found that I didn't have excess to begin with. Now I buy phosphate and dose it 2-3 times a week. I use the Seachem phosphate test kit, it seems to work good for me.

I always stock a tank with an algae cleanup crew first, SAE's, Amano shrimp, ottocinclus, and a bristlenose or 2. I like to just use the small SAE's, I buy them at about 1.5-2" and trade them back when they get larger. That is my standard startup fish load. It seems to help me get things off to a good start. After things are rolling along the way I want, I just trade the fish back for something that I really want. Actually the only thing I trade back are the SAE's, I think the bristlenose are pretty cool and the otto's don't use hardly any room.

HTH