Whos Using Or Has Used Rowa Phos ?

[Luke.]

Just had a few questions

1 . Did you rinse it ? (if yes for how long or until when)

2. Have you ever used extra ?

3. I'm using about 3/4 cup in my 40 gallon tank (canister filter) is this much ?

 

[SpongeAl]

I use it in a Two Little Fishies phosban 150 reactor, the reactor works great but is physically too large for my new setup/sump, I will be experimenting with new implementations in the new year.

1. Yes I rinse it. Before I do a water change, I put the new Rowa in the reactor, then let some water drain from the tank through the reactor and into a wastewater bucket until it is clear. Then I continue to do my regular water change.

2. I don't think I have ever used extra, I forget what the dosage is. I put about 1/2"-3/4" in the bottom of the reactor.

3. 3/4 cup sounds like a little much for your tank because its expensive and high capacity. You are probably fine though, I don't think you can have too much. When its set up properly you can measure zero phosphates at the output of the reactor. You can leave it in there until it no longer works effectively.

IMO though, if you leave it too long, you get all kinds of critters and crustys that will grow in the reactor, making it harder to clean. So only put in enough that will work for 1 1/2 - 2 months. (or less) Give the reactor a vinegar soak 2-3 times a year (or as needed) if you go that route.

My systems have been always under 25 gallons, I guess I get over a year out of a single 500g can. A can only holds a few cups tops, so that should give you an idea as to the amounts needed. If all else fails, I believe the instructions say how much phosphate a can will remove.

Ultimately just use enough so that it is still working at your desired service interval, I swap it out every 2 or 3 water changes.

I recommend a Hanna ULR phosporus checker, short of that you will see your macro algae start to grow when the Rowa is depleted. When its working, macro barely grows at all.

 

[Luke.]

I use it in a Two Little Fishies phosban 150 reactor, the reactor works great but is physically too large for my new setup/sump, I will be experimenting with new implementations in the new year.

1. Yes I rinse it. Before I do a water change, I put the new Rowa in the reactor, then let some water drain from the tank through the reactor and into a wastewater bucket until it is clear. Then I continue to do my regular water change.

2. I don't think I have ever used extra, I forget what the dosage is. I put about 1/2"-3/4" in the bottom of the reactor.

3. 3/4 cup sounds like a little much for your tank because its expensive and high capacity. You are probably fine though, I don't think you can have too much. When its set up properly you can measure zero phosphates at the output of the reactor. You can leave it in there until it no longer works effectively.

IMO though, if you leave it too long, you get all kinds of critters and crustys that will grow in the reactor, making it harder to clean. So only put in enough that will work for 1 1/2 - 2 months. (or less) Give the reactor a vinegar soak 2-3 times a year (or as needed) if you go that route.

My systems have been always under 25 gallons, I guess I get over a year out of a single 500g can. A can only holds a few cups tops, so that should give you an idea as to the amounts needed. If all else fails, I believe the instructions say how much phosphate a can will remove.

Ultimately just use enough so that it is still working at your desired service interval, I swap it out every 2 or 3 water changes.

I recommend a Hanna ULR phosporus checker, short of that you will see your macro algae start to grow when the Rowa is depleted. When its working, macro barely grows at all.

Thanks for your input I was worried I was rinsing it to much but it sounds like I'm fine I know I'm due for a filter change and I'm sure that's why I'm getting green Alge (not hair just the begining)

 

[Nighthawk26]

I am finally done my 1000ml container. I personally did not like it nearly as much as my high cap gfo. I can't believe how much it needs to be rinsed before it runs clear, and I found the high cap GFO was more effective at reducing my GHA. Perhaps just me.

 

[Luke.]

I am finally done my 1000ml container. I personally did not like it nearly as much as my high cap gfo. I can't believe how much it needs to be rinsed before it runs clear, and I found the high cap GFO was more effective at reducing my GHA. Perhaps just me.

I hear this too .. I don't have a reactor I use a mesh legging type sock you could say and put that in my filter inbetween some pads .
Do you know what happens if you don't rinse enough? Say you put it in the filter when red is still coming out ?

 

[SpongeAl]

Thanks for your input I was worried I was rinsing it to much but it sounds like I'm fine I know I'm due for a filter change and I'm sure that's why I'm getting green Alge (not hair just the begining)

Sometimes that golden green algae is early stage Coralline algae, which is a good sign. It will turn pink and purple in a few months.

Actually I just took a few pictures because this would be a good time to show you, although I'm not saying for sure your green algae is coralline, you will have to judge that by how hard it is when you clean your glass etc.

In the first picture, you will see a rock that I added to this system about a month ago. It was basically a creamy white colour, now it is starting to colour up again.
Now, some of the darker green stuff to the left of center in my first picture might in fact be macro algae as I haven't run Rowa in this new build which is going on to 6 weeks old. I estimate my phosphate has crept up to around .090 by now which is getting out of my comfort zone. When I see a few bubble algae start to appear, I know it's time for phosphate removal.

The second picture shows the glass, which hasn't been cleaned for a few weeks. There are some pods and dodads on there, but I'm fairly sure the hard golden green stuff is coralline, particularly as I don't have any types of soft film algae anywhere else.

 

[SpongeAl]

I hear this too .. I don't have a reactor I use a mesh legging type sock you could say and put that in my filter inbetween some pads .
Do you know what happens if you don't rinse enough? Say you put it in the filter when red is still coming out ?

If I may answer this, the red stuff shouldn't bother anything, it will just tint the water red on a small system like yours for a little while.

The instructions don't want you to rinse, because I would imagine those little red fines are very good at trapping phosphate, why waste it.

When you use a reactor, you don't have much choice but to rinse it. It's not hard to rinse the amount you are going to use. I think it only takes 2-3 gallons to pass through my reactor to clear it up, because they are small particles, not like a dye.

Since your system is small, I would rinse it regardless of which application you use. (Canister or reactor) No biggy as the Rowa will work very well regardless on your relatively small system, no need to worry about losing a few fines IMO.

 

[Joshbrookkate]

I usually use GFO but I'm battling cyano so I used Rowa Phos this time. I rinse either by running a couple of gallons into a pail when I first change it.
But I recently added a clam and I read that carbon/GFO fines can irritate them. So I also added a filter sock to catch any fines that are left after rinsing.
Just an FYI....

 

[AdInfinitum]

I am finally done my 1000ml container. I personally did not like it nearly as much as my high cap gfo. I can't believe how much it needs to be rinsed before it runs clear, and I found the high cap GFO was more effective at reducing my GHA. Perhaps just me.

I agree...have used both. The fact that it removes the PO4 more gradually can be a good or a bad thing depending on your issues.