PhosGuard 250 mL Seachem

Comparison of phosphate strippersSeachem

Instructions

May generate heat upon initial contact with water. Pre-wet by adding to a double volume of fresh water, followed by rinsing. For best results, PhosGuard™ should be rinsed before use and placed in a manner that maximizes water flow through it but not so that it tumbles against itself during flow. It can be used in a cartridge filter, media chamber, canister filter, or any high-flow area of a trickle filter. The use of a filter bag is recommended. Use 85 mL (1/3 cup) for every 200 L (50 US gallons) of saltwater or 400 L (100 US gallons) of freshwater.

Leave the product in place for 4 days, then test the phosphate or silicate concentrations with MultiTest™ Phosphate or MultiTest™ Silicate .

If the concentration of the component you are trying to reduce has not dropped to around 0.02 mg/L, replace the PhosGuard™; otherwise, leave it in place until the levels start to rise again.

As long as the concentrations remain under control, the product is not depleted.

Excessive treatment is not recommended. PhosGuard™ is not an ion exchange resin and does not release anything into the water.

It does not retain phosphate or silicate in the water and can be removed, dried, and put back into service until it is exhausted.

Continuous use of small quantities is preferable to intermittent use of large quantities.

FAQ translates to "Frequently Asked Questions" in English.

How to use PhosGuard™? How long does it work and when is it exhausted?

PhosGuard™ is best used in small quantities and changed frequently. In an environment with excessively high phosphate readings, PhosGuard™ depletes quickly (4 to 5 days). Place the product in a high-flow 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 slightly as it picks up organic matter, but this is not an indicator of depletion for phosphate removal. Continue to test weekly for phosphate until you see it start to rise again. You will then know it is time to change the PhosGuard™. If you have low phosphate levels, PhosGuard™ will absorb silicate from your system. It is inert and safe to leave in your filter.

Is PhosGuard™ regenerable?

Although some manufacturers claim that their aluminum oxide-based phosphate removal products can be regenerated through intense heat, this is unfortunately not the case. This assertion is based on a naive interpretation of information provided by bulk aluminum oxide manufacturers. Aluminum oxide is more commonly used in gas purification to remove volatile organic compounds and moisture; heating the material after such use will release the non-covalently adsorbed compounds. However, heat cannot cause the release of phosphate from aluminum oxide due to a difference in the nature of how phosphates are bound to aluminum oxide compared to adsorbed gases.

I was told that products containing aluminum oxide will release aluminum, which will close up corals for weeks and could even damage them. Is this accurate?
In recent years, there have been speculations that aluminum oxide-based removers like PhosGuard™ release aluminum into the water and subsequently damage corals. The evidence supporting this claim was largely anecdotal.

Thus, through a series of controlled experiments in freshwater and saltwater, we aimed to address both the question of the solubility of aluminum and the toxicity of aluminum. The results of these experiments show that under reef conditions (pH close to 8), no detectable soluble aluminum is released by alumina. Under low pH conditions and high doses, soluble aluminum can be released from alumina; at three times the labeled dosage rate, we detected 0.2 mg/L of aluminum at a pH of 5.3.

Furthermore, aluminum oxide is not easily absorbed into the cell to cause negative reactions. Even at three times the dose of PhosGuard™, soft-bodied corals such as Sarcophyton remain unaffected.

If PhosGuard™ does not release aluminum that would stress the corals, why did my corals close up a day after adding PhosGuard™?

Phosphate plays a major role in aquarium chemistry, and an overdose of PhosGuard™ can rapidly lower the phosphate concentration in the aquarium. If an overdose of PhosGuard™ is used, it may lower the phosphate concentration so quickly that the corals become stressed.

Company X says that I don't need to replace their phosphate absorber for several months, while your instructions indicate that PhosGuard™ should be replaced every 4 days when reducing phosphate. Doesn't that make PhosGuard™ an inferior product?

Not at all! If it takes several months for a phosphate absorber to reach its full capacity when the tank is rich in phosphates, it means that the medium is exceptionally slow at absorbing phosphate. PhosGuard™ should be replaced every 4 days as long as there is a phosphate problem because, given an infinite amount of available phosphate, PhosGuard™ absorbs phosphate so quickly that it reaches its full capacity in 4 days. The 4-day replacement period is based on how quickly the medium works, not on the maximum capacity of the medium.

Can I use PhosGuard™ in a media reactor?

We do not recommend it, as the tumbling action of a media reactor can cause the production of dust from this media.