Phosphate levels high from Calcium Reactor effluent???

[Macropora]

I have a Marine Technical Concepts Pro-Cal Calcium Reactor which I have been using for over 8 years on my 420 gallon reef system.

I recently decided to check on the phosphate levels with the drip water (effluent)? It measured at .14 ppm on my Hannah Phosphate meter.

Here are the other parameters from the drip water:

PH = 6.65
Alk = 42 meg/L
Calcium = 596 ppm
Magnesium = 1500 ppm

My main system runs at .07 ppm and I've been using Phosphate sponge to reduce it.

What could be the reason for such high levels? I use Knop Koralith, Korallin, Reborn for calcium and NeoMag for magnesium in the reactor. I though the calcium reactor media was phosphate free?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Alex]

Calcium media is not always phosphate free, think about what the media is made of, usually skeleton, aragonite or other things. most media has the phosphate locked in and it is release when it gets melted down in our reactors.

here's a solution I saw on RC, run your effluent into a chamber of phosban or other phosphate reducing media and this should bring your levels down in the effluent.

 

[nyfynest22]

are you running a phosban reactor by any chance?

 

[Macropora]

Thanks for the advice Alex and NYFinest22. A Phosban reactor was my next step...

 

[Alex]

No problem, just remember to check your effluent for phosphate and change the media when necessary.