Seachem PhosGuard

PhosGuard rapidly removes phosphate and silicate from marine and freshwater aquaria. PhosGuard is highly porous for high capacity and bead-shaped for optimum water flow. 500ml easily treats over 150 gallonsPhosguard is a  porous chemical agent for removing inorganic phosphate by precipitation at the PhosGuard-water interface. PhosGuard is beadshaped to promote easy water flow through and around it, thereby increasing both its efficiency and capacity. The removal of phosphate by interface precipitation is not only possible in sea water but is enhanced by the presence of salts. Most phosphate salts, with the limited exceptions of sodium and potassium, are virtually insoluble in water and less so in marine water. Although PhosGuard is effective in both fresh and marine water, it will operate better in sea water and the need for it is better defined in sea water. Each liter of PhosGuard has a theoretical capacity of removing about 40,000 mg of phosphate or about 100 mg/L phosphate in 100 gallons. In actual use, however, phosphate precipitation becomes selflimiting to about 20% – 60% of capacity, depending upon original phosphate concentration, alkalinity, and organic content. In practice, then, it can be expected that

PhosGuard  will exhaust after removing 20 – 60 mg/L phosphate in 100 gallons. PhosGuard’s efficiency is maximal when new and will effect a rapid fall in phosphate to less than 0.02mg/L phosphate. Phosphate is bound irreversibly and will not be released. Carbonate is weakly and reversibly bound so that the tank may experience a slight decline in alkalinity. Phosphate, however, is preferentially bound and will displace carbonate. Silicates and organic acids are also removed and excessive concentrations of these in the water may shorten the useful life of PhosGuard. Neither PhosGuard nor any other phosphate remover can be regenerated by any safe method in the home. PhosGuard may be removed, dried, and reused, if it has not exhausted.  The principal benefits of low phosphate are remarkable decline of hair algae and both possible and improved maintenance and growth of many beautiful but otherwise delicate reef corals. Since phosphate precipitates out of marine water as calcium and magnesium phosphates, low concentrations of phosphate also make it easier to maintain adequate calcium (400 mg/L) and magnesium concentrations