I didn't want to open up my Eheim cannister filter to insert a Phos-X (large size), so I hung it over the side (inside a 1 micron bag) of my 55 gallon FW heavily planted tank. It's directly in the path of the outlet tube. I THINK I did this because I'm perplexed at the the 20 ppm nitrates (everything else perfect) after weekly water changes of 25 to 30%. I'm not removing all the detritus at every change, as that has actually made my water cloudy in the past.
Have any of you (1) used Phos-X, (2) hung it over the side, (3) seen any reduction in nitrates? My LFS poo-poos the idea that 20 ppm of nitrates is a big deal. 40 maybe.
My plants and fish are healthy but as always a little algae is always a small problem. I clean the glass every couple of days so I don't get a heavy build-up, but the plants are the ones that suffer the most. Every 2-3 months I'll have to remove a plant because it is just ugly.
I use Excel every other day at dosing schedule on bottle, Flourish at half the dose, Flourish Trace same way, Leaf Zone as directed, Flourish tablets occasionally, and that's about it.
Too long winded? Don't blame you for not bothering to reply, but I'm hopeful.
P.S. I have about 20 1" community fish, usually in shoals of 4-6, 8 Albino corys, a breeding pair of bristle-nose plecostomus (on their second batch of fry) - LFS wants to buy several when they reach 3/4" or so (yeah!). Still have plenty of swimming space, grassy hiding spaces for little bristle-babes.
There are so many of you who have so much more experience than me (2-yr newbie), and I read all the FW forums regularly.
Goldie Lox in Seattle e:bowing:
Have any of you (1) used Phos-X, (2) hung it over the side, (3) seen any reduction in nitrates? My LFS poo-poos the idea that 20 ppm of nitrates is a big deal. 40 maybe.
My plants and fish are healthy but as always a little algae is always a small problem. I clean the glass every couple of days so I don't get a heavy build-up, but the plants are the ones that suffer the most. Every 2-3 months I'll have to remove a plant because it is just ugly.
I use Excel every other day at dosing schedule on bottle, Flourish at half the dose, Flourish Trace same way, Leaf Zone as directed, Flourish tablets occasionally, and that's about it.
Too long winded? Don't blame you for not bothering to reply, but I'm hopeful.
P.S. I have about 20 1" community fish, usually in shoals of 4-6, 8 Albino corys, a breeding pair of bristle-nose plecostomus (on their second batch of fry) - LFS wants to buy several when they reach 3/4" or so (yeah!). Still have plenty of swimming space, grassy hiding spaces for little bristle-babes.
There are so many of you who have so much more experience than me (2-yr newbie), and I read all the FW forums regularly.
Goldie Lox in Seattle e:bowing:
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