What do Filter Fleece And Protein Skimmers Do For Phosphates? Nani Tank

[lx_Reef]

I see a lot of Manufactures specifically selling these units say will lower nitrates but not necessarily talk about phosphate. Maybe I might be confusing it, but my assumption is , if you catch the bad stuff before it breaks down, It will also remove PO4?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That comment may relate to the idea that if one exports organics, and prevents release of N and P, the nitrate may fall in fairly close proportion to the N in the organics exported, but the large reservoir of phosphate attached to rock and sand that will desorb if you try to lower P, makes the actual drop in phosphate substantially less than the P in the exported material.