| With pphosphates in Dsb,s and the cleaning thier after, it comes in two forms in a bed. Most of the organic form of phosphates is bound in detritus/organics and so on between the particles and they also form tough bonds on the surface of the sand particles. This form can be cleaned if you stir and grind the particles bewtween your fingers while syphoning the debris that becomes dislodged. The second form is ionically bound in the particle of sand itself (makes ya worry about how much is in thier before it ever hits you tank, lol) the only way this bond is broken is by a drop in PH. A ph drop will break that bond and set the inorganic phosphate free, the problem also is that this action melts the particle so its a togh one. But I beleive if you could take care of the organic phosphates you would be ahead of the game.
good post Alberto
Mike |