The Aquaripure and phosphates

[Aquaripure]

Although it doesn’t really come up that often I am sometimes asked about the Aquaripure and phosphates.

The extent that the Aquaripure removes phosphates isn’t a clear cut issue. I have maintained the Aquaripure on many different types of aquariums. In lightly stocked coral reef tanks and freshwater planted tanks the phosphates normally remain at zero, even without frequent water changes. These are tanks where phosphates would rise without the Aquaripure unless very frequent water changes were done.

In well stocked fish only tanks, phosphates tend to rise even when the Aquaripure is keeping nitrates at zero. Phosphates don’t really seem to bother fish by any account but it might eventually contribute to red-slime algae if left unchecked.

It would seem that the Aquaripure does in fact remove some phosphates in addition to nitrates although I do not know how it does so. How this occurs is a mystery to me. Also, it will not remove all of the phosphates in a more heavily stocked aquarium, especially fish only systems. This is based upon my observations and individual experiences may vary.

John Strawn
Aquaripure, LLC
www.aquaripure.com