[James]

Have any of you heard of Rowa Phos? I've been told its better than phosguard, but more expensive. If anyone uses it let me know what you think of this product. I currently don't us any phos protection in my tank.

[Ninong]

The only phosphate control that I use right now is Kalkwasser. I do have a Salifert phosphate test kit and I have tested my water on three or four occasions and it has always come out zero phosphate so I haven't bothered to purchase any special phosphate sponge product.

You are wise to avoid PhosGuard. It is pure alumina pellets (Al2O3, aluminum trioxide) and will release toxic aluminum into the water. Most of the other manufacturers now know this and no longer use alumina but Greg Morin must be still investigating the situation because I notice that he still makes PhosGuard. And he still adds extra boric acid to his salt mix! Anyway, Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley brought this to his attention several months back and Dr. Morin agreed to "look into the matter." ROWAphos is granular ferric hydroxide (aka rust) and it is safe according to Randy.

One fish
two fish
Red fish
Blue fish.

Black fish
Blue fish
Old fish
New fish

This one has
a little star.

This one has a little car.
Say! What a lot
of fish there are.

Yes. Some are red. And some are blue.
Some are old. And some are new.
Some are sad.
And some are glad.
And some are very, very bad.

Why are they
sad and glad and bad?
I do not know.
Go ask your dad.

[acropora]

I use Phosguard and I have not had any problems. I was not aware of problems and have not heard of any problems directly associated with it. I would like to know if anyone has had problems. Ninong, do you have a link to the article. Thanks

Rowphos is a good product and since it is imported,it is quite expensive,ounce for ounce. You can test your water and get very low readings,but that does not definitively mean that there is no phosphates entering your tank.What the reading does not indicate is how much phosphates are being consumed by algae. Phosphate controlling media will remove phosphate before hand. Another way is a refugium with macro algae. I use both.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by acropora

Ninong, do you have a link to the article.

Here is the article on aluminum: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...y2003/chem.htm

Here is the thread in which Dr. Morin states: "...this certainly warrants further investigation." http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=219105 He was speaking about the fact that his product, PhosGuard, leaches toxic aluminum into the tankwater. That statement was made back in July 2003. I guess it's still under "investigation."

Here is the article on boron:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2002/chem.htm

Here is the thread in which Dr. Morin says he didn't know boron could be toxic: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...77#post1492977