Phosphate remover affecting skimmer operation!?

[doubledown1996]

hey everyone. i have a 55 gallon fish/invert system that has been running for 3 months. eventually going to upgrade to full blown reef. everything was fine in operation until a few weeks ago when i put seachem phosphate remover into the sump. for some reason this product seems to be what caused my skimmer to quit working. or so i have guessed... instead of getting a typical brown foam in the collection cup my skimmer was producing nothing. i took out the phosphate remover balls yesterday after a couple weeks of frustration and it seems to be the culprit. the skimmer is back in business. has anyone else had this problem with seachem phosphate remover? if so, did you find another product that didn't bother your skimming? any input would be appreciate. thanks!

[reefrunner69]

I have never experienced this with Phosgard, but it is certainly possible.

[MR294]

I can't comment on the skimmer function, but you might want to avoid using seachem's phosgard and other aluminum containing phosphate removers in a reeftank. I would personally recommend using Rowaphos, but have also heard good things about Phosban.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...y2003/chem.htm

[reefrunner69]

Good advice MR294

Another option is to do water changes with water free of PO4, and use Kalk for all evap, one of kalk's side benefits is it will precipitate PO4.