Saltwater Aquarium Guide -- Fast Facts

Fast Facts (page 7)

Removing Trapped Air from Canister Filters: The easiest way to remove the trapped air from a canister filter is to raise the spray bar out of the water. Doing this will allow the trapped air to escape. This should be done anytime maintenance is performed on the filter.

Other in-line canister filters such as the Ocean Clear or the Lifegard systems, contain a small valve on the top of the canister. This valve should be opened when first operating the filter to allow the air to bleed from the filter.

Keeping Phosphate Levels Near Zero: Phosphate is a nutrient that fuels algae growth and inhibits calcification of corals, invertebrates, and coralline algae. Therefore, phosphate control is extremely important in minimizing algae growth and maximizing coral growth in reef aquariums - especially those containing hard corals.

To keep phosphate levels down in your aquarium, you must employ an efficient protein skimmer and perform water changes with water that has been purified by reverse osmosis. To further reduce phosphate levels and boost the calcification process within your aquarium, incorporate a chemical media specifically designed for phosphate removal.

PhosBan^TM is an ideal chemical media that will never leach nutrients back into the water, even after it is exhausted. Simply place a mesh bag of PhosBan in an area of high water flow, such as your sump. For larger aquariums, or those with severe phosphate problems, use a fluidized bed filter. Fill the filter with a media such as PhosBan, attach a powerhead, and hang it on the side of your aquarium or sump. You will then be able to control water flow through the filter to achieve the best flow rate for the media. This will, in turn, allow you to maximize media performance, while keeping phosphate levels near zero.

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