What method do you use to control Phosphates?

[polyppal]

I see a trend towards people using lanthanum products to control PO4 these days, however I had a bad experience the one time I tried using Phosphate-E, and never could get a refugium dialed in... So I have stuck to old-school GFO in a reactor...

What methods are you currently employing to control phosphates, and why do you prefer 'x' method over others?

 

[ReeferSamster]

In terms of priority:

1) Water changes.

2) Harvesting Chaeto from refugium once every 2 weeks.

3) Try not to feed the fish begging for food everytime I approach the tank. Actually, this might be more important than water changes. ;Woot

This is my fish whenever I go near the tank, those rascals. They are probably the biggest reason for the increasing phosphate levels.

I'm a firm believer in minimizing usage of chemicals of any sort for water quality, with the exception of usual alk, calc stuff.

 

[polyppal]

In terms of priority:

1) Water changes.

2) Harvesting Chaeto from refugium once every 2 weeks.

3) Try not to feed the fish begging for food everytime I approach the tank. Actually, this might be more important than water changes. ;Woot

This is my fish whenever I go near the tank, those rascals. They are probably the biggest reason for the increasing phosphate levels.

View attachment 2559903

I'm a firm believer in minimizing usage of chemicals of any sort for water quality, with the exception of usual alk, calc stuff.

I never get much of a reduction from WC, I presume it binds up more in the substrate for me