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ROWA®phos?
for reliable, effective removal of phosphate from freshwater & saltwater.
ROWA®phos is a completely new filter
material for eliminating phosphate, which was developed by the Weil
Industrieanlagen GmbH company in Osnabrück, Germany. Due to its unique
chemistry, it has the ability to bind large quantities of phosphate by
adsorption to its surface without negatively influencing the water in the
aquarium in any way.
Why is a phosphate removal system
necessary?
Phosphate (PO4) in the aquarium is caused by
the decomposition of organic substances. Especially in the confined habitat of
an aquarium, several of these decomposition processes are caused from food
surplus, dead plant and animal matter, and excretions (animal waste, etc.)
It is very important to maintain PO4
concentrations at very low levels which are in harmony with the aquarium's life
and habitat. Natural waters that have not been negatively affected by human use
typically show very low PO4 concentrations. However, it is nearly impossible to
maintain this ideal condition in an aquarium without an artificial phosphate
removal system.
An increase in PO4 concentration leads to
unwanted growths of nuisance algae, and to the inhibition of lime synthesis in
certain specialized marine organisms in saltwater, such as calcareous algae and
stone hard corals.
For more information on Phosphate,
click here.
What are ideal phosphate levels for
freshwater and saltwater aquariums?
To correct phosphate-induced problems, it
is recommended to always keep the concentration of phosphate less than or
equal to 0.15 - 0.3 ppm in freshwater aquarium systems (expressed as
phosphorus P.)
In saltwater aquarium systems,
phosphate levels should always be kept below 0.015 - 0.03 ppm (expressed as
phosphorus P.)
How is ROWA®phos used to
maintain ideal phosphate levels?
The phosphate targets mentioned above can be
easily reached with ROWA®phos, which effectively binds PO4 without
negatively influencing the water in your tank. With ROWAphos, release
of potentially toxic substances like aluminum will NOT occur. When exhausted,
the product does NOT release phosphate back into the water. ROWAphos should be
used regularly, especially in aquaria with very sensitive fish (discus,
for example) and in reef aquariums with complex living systems.
ROWA®phos can either be used in a
canister filter as a separate slow phosphate filter, or, alternately, it can
function at the end of the main filter system as the final stage, after the
biological and mechanical filters. The material can either be used in the filter
net supplied with the pack, or sandwiched between two layers of fine filter wool
(on the incoming and outgoing flow.)
Please refer to the table below to determine
how much ROWA®phos should be used in your system to reduce phosphate in
the water column by approximately 3ppm phosphate (measured as PO4-) and to
maintain the required low levels on an ongoing basis. The amount of ROWAphos
required is determined by both the level of phosphate in the water and the level
of phosphate in the rocks, gravel and other substrates within the aquarium.
On new or established aquariums where the
phosphate levels are high, first measure the level in the water and assume that
2-4 times that amount may be bound up in the substrate; then adjust the ROWAphos
amount accordingly.
Amount of ROWA®phos required
to remove phosphate at 3ppm |
Aquarium Type |
| |
Description |
Fresh Water
|
Salt Water |
| RP10 |
100 ml packet of ROWAphos |
800 liters (200 US gal) |
400 liters (100 US gal) |
| RP25 |
250 ml packet of ROWAphos |
2000 liters (500 US gal) |
1000 liters (250 US gal) |
| RP50 |
500 ml packet of ROWAphos |
4000 liters (1000 US gal) |
2000 liters (500 US gal) |
| RP100 |
1 liter bucket/tub of ROWAphos |
8000 liters (2000 US gal) |
4000 liters (1000 US gal) |
The lifetime of the filter material, like the
usage, depends entirely on the PO4- concentration in the aquarium. Regular
control checks with a precise and reliable phosphate test will show the
extraordinary effectiveness of ROWAphos. In addition, it can indicate
in advance when the filter material needs to be exchanged.
ROWA®phos can work for several
months in the aquarium before replacement is necessary, depending on the initial
phosphate concentration and level of feeding. It is important to remember that
with an established aquarium that has not used ROWAphos before,
phosphate concentrations may be at exceptionally high levels of 5ppm or more,
requiring several treatments over a period of time (as specified above for the
tank size) to remove the phosphate from the water column and to eradicate the
levels previously absorbed into the substrate and rocks.
For more information, read our
tips on how
to use ROWAphos or visit the links below.
