Best Phosphate Remover

[Fro]

Hello,

I have a 250l freshwater tank with neon tetra, kulhi loach and Vallisneria (which is struggling). I am getting brown algae which I can control through weekly water changes but it comes back after 3 or 4 days. Water params are all as expected and fish doing fine although phosphate is quite high. 2ppm which is the same as my tap water. Any recommendations for a phosphate remover other than going to RO water? I have seen products such as Fluval Clearmax, Seachem Phosguard etc etc. but I don’t know what would be best. I currently have the Fluval phosphate pads in my Fluval 307 filter but they don’t seem to make any difference. Any advice welcome.

 

[Andy Sager]

I'm a big fan of the poly filter pad (https://www.poly-bio-marine.com ) It will remove a lot more than just phosphates too. I've been using them since they came out but more for medication removal and nitrate control.
You can use it one of 2 ways: In your existing filter so it pulls out what is already in the tank or set up a container for water for water changes ( I used plastic garbage cans) and run a filter in there with the pad so that there is no phosphates in the water before you add it to your tank. ( Option 2 is my preferred method since the filter will also remove ammonia and nitrite so eventually will effect your biological filter. I prefer to use the pad as a temporary pad not a permanent pad.)
Hope this helps