Phosphate pads are great for lowering your phosphate levels in your aquarium. Excess phosphates in the water column can cause algae growth and compromise fish health. Adding phosphate absorbing filter pads to your filter can ensure your tank remains healthy. They can easily be be cut down to the size of your filter for a perfect fit. Live plants prefer at least some phosphates be available in the water column, so this filter pad is best used in tanks with elevated phosphate levels.
Chemical Filtration for Phosphate Removal
Chemical filtration has the ability to remove pollutants and certain chemicals from the water. To prevent high levels of phosphate from building up, you can preventatively install an phosphate filter pad to absorb the phosphate and reduce algae growth. Measure phosphate levels with a phosphate test kit to make sure there is still enough to feed your plants.
Customizable to Fit Any Filter
Whether you have a hang-on-back, canister, or sump filter, this phosphate filter pad can fit them all. Just grab a pair of scissors and cut the sponge into the right shape. When the chemical filtration is used up, simply dispose of the old filter media and cut out a new section from the pad to use.
It’s ok but unknown how frequently to change for optimal improvement
These seem to be ok but I’m still in progress of using them. My phosphate was sky high at the max of 10+ per the API yesterday. I doubled the pads as directed by co-op for about two - three days and it’s gone down to around 5ppm. I’m stilling not clear on how long to leave them in or change them and don’t get a direct answer from co-op either. I think if you’re in a bind these can work but I wouldn’t say these are the “best” at reducing a spike.
K
K.A. (Seattle, WA, US)
Updated review (prior 1 star rated)
I initially didn’t like this product because the pads filtered the nitrates out of my water faster than phosphates, thus rendering my fertilizer essentially useless. It caused an algae bloom when this happened. However, when I switched to filtering my source water at the recommendation of the folks at aquarium co-op, this worked perfectly. After two weeks of filtering my source tapwater, my blue algae problem is nearly completely gone.
K
K.A. (Seattle, WA, US)
pulled all my nitrates out, no effect on phos levels, causing a bga bloom
this product may work for some but within HOURS it had dropped my nitrate levels from 40+ to 0, with no effect on phos levels, causing an huge blue green algae bloom. exactly the opposite of what I wanted.
C
Customer (Jewett City, CT, US)
Best way to go
You pay less than buying the pre cut ones and you get way more
D
Deb M. (Elk River, MN, US)
Works Great!
I had high phosphate levels for a while and just deep vacuuming the gravel wasn’t doing the trick for me-I put a few layers of this phosphate pad in a HOB filter and it really helped to quickly lower my phosphate level.
R
River (Woodstock, IL, US)
A giant pad
This will last for a while with my nano tank, another great product.
J
Jennifer F. (Philadelphia, PA, US)
Great Value
I love that I cut this to size for my filter.
R
Rob (National City, CA, US)
Easy to use
It was easy to use this product in all my canister filters, go get it and enjoy.
T
Tyler F. (Springfield, TN, US)
Shipping was super fast!
I was very impressed with how fast my order shipped! I would comment on the easy greens but it’s way too early to give an honest opinion! But anyone who sends a free sticker definitely gets extra thumbs up!
C
Colin K. (Port Saint Lucie, FL, US)
Maybe too early to assess effectiveness?
I purchased the phosphate media pad to address the brown diatom algae plaguing my freshwater tank. No effect so far. But it’s been in for only a few days. Maybe it takes a while?