PO4x4 Phosphate Remover is a new product claiming to remove up to four times as much phosphate as your traditional Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO). PO4x4 Phosphate Remover was developed by Reef Interests the same company that brought the original NP BioPellets that started the whole biopellet craze and ReefPearls to market. What is interesting about this product is it is another engineered polymer designed to specifically target phosphates in the water plus with a little effort, these can be regenerated for reuse. More details and a video after the break.
From what we can gather about this product, it does share the same color and the same size or slightly larger than your traditional GFO and works best in a fluidized reactor. According to the company, 500ml of this product can remove 3 ppm of phosphate and silicate from roughly 16,000 liters of fresh water or 8,000 liter of marine water. Since the product seems to work so well, they recommend adding small amounts of the product to gradually lower the PO4 levels without causing rapid and negative changes to the water chemistry.
With some effort and the use of specially designed regeneration salts, the PO4x4 Phosphate Remover pellets can be regenerated for use once they are full of phosphate particles. (CAUTION! Regeneration powder is corrosive and poisonous so you will need to be very careful when attempting regeneration!) The regeneration process calls for 150 grams of powder per 250ml of pellets to 1 gallon of water. After its dissolved, soak the PO4x4 pellets at room temperature for 24 hours. After that you will need to wash the pellets 5-10 times until the pH level is around 8.
Aquarium Specialty is carrying these for $21.95 for 250ml and $39.95 for 500ml of the PO4x4 pellets and are currently available online there. In case you are wanting to see how these react in a typical fluidized reactor, check out the video below.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK9agIobQLs&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
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