Use of phosphate remover?

[jmcmahon66]

1 month into Zeo, and most everything is going well. Only problem is increasing phosphates, with a subsequent cyano outbreak. When I started Zeo, my phosphates were immeasurable, now they have climbed to 0.1 on the same Salifert test kit. I also have a small, but increasing cyano patch on the 1" thick sandbed. I have read that a phosphate remover is not necessary, but will it disturb the Zeo process? I would like to bring the PO4 down. I believe the PO4 is coming out from my rockwork, as I feed very little, use RODI water, tested the output of my Ca reactor, have very wet skimmate, and do frequent water changes.

Tank parameters:
135g Oceanic RR
750W of 15KK XDE bulbs with 200W of PC actinics
Ca: 440
KH: 9
SG: 1.025
Temp: 80F
Mg: 1320
PO4: 0.1 and rising
NO: 0
3 drops food/bak every 3 days
.2ml Start2 in AM and PM

Thanks for the input
Regards,
Dr. Joe

[losmandy]

Yours is the same scenario as I experienced abt 2 months into zeovit. Was using PO4 remover all along and had PO4 undetectable until I started zeovit.
PO4 was 0.22ppm and despite the higher PO4, there is no algae outbreak or cynao due to the high flow in my tank.

I managed to slowly bring the PO4 down from 0.22ppm to 0.06ppm in about 3-4 months (without the use of PO4 remover) by increasing the dosage of zeostart slowly and observing for signs of overdose.

A hanna PO4 colorimeter helps a lot for keeping track of the reduction of PO4 as I can see the PO4 reading gradually reducing as I go along hence giving me full confident of the product.

Am 9 months into zeovit right now and PO4 is 0.03ppm measured few days ago. Zeostart1 dosage has dropped to 0.09ml/8x/day.

[jmcmahon66]

Thanks Losmandy. I have decided to not use a PO4 remover, and try to stay on course. I was looking for a technical answer as to why a PO4 remover would harm the Zeo system, but am content to wait it out. I have no doubt that Zeo is extracting phosphates buried in my rockwork. It will probably be a while till my setup is phosphate free. Thanks for the advice,
Regards,
Joe

[Aged Salt]

Joe, losmandy is correct, in that, if one experiences nutrient increases[assuming no increase in bioload/fish-feedings] that's a signal that your zeo-dosages are too low. Slowly increase Start, ie. .3ml 2x's/day for one wk & observe your readings. If no change, increase to .4ml 2x's/day, etc. Bob