Any negative experiences with PO4 removing reactors in SPS tanks?

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I am considering purchasing a Two Little Fishes Phos Reactor and running PURA Phoslock. I have read 2 threads where a couple people attributed it to SPS colony deaths and i was wondering what others had to say.

 

[joetbs]

Start off slow. Only use half the recommended dose. Alot of the problems seemed to be from people changing large portions of the media, and the associated Alk drop/rise with them.

joe

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

why does the alk jump up or down?

 

[joetbs]

Something in the ferric oxide evidently. I know there is a sharp decrease followed by an increase back to the original dKH when using either the recommended amount or exceeding that amount.

Also, be sure to rinse the phoslock good. It's pretty dirty.

joe

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

would you reccomend phoslock or phosban? i don't run carbon and the phoslock has carbon in with the ferric.

 

[joetbs]

I use phosban, but only because its not as potent & my tank is small. I don't run carbon, just a little purigen in a bag.

joe

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

potent...that scares me?

 

[joetbs]

I guess potent isn't the correct term...more concentrated would be more like it. It's pretty comparable to Rowaphos.

Just start off very slow, way less than you think you need, and go from there.

joe

 

[MiddletonMark]

Wish I could remember the giant thread there was on these media [about a year ago]?

Joe summarizes it quite well.

I've only used FeO PO4 media a few times, don't take my word as expert. But my reading says start with less than what will be your full amount. Careful around when you change it out. I'd take a `less is more' sort of take on this IMO.

I'll try to think of that thread's title in the meantime ...

 

[MiddletonMark]

Here's a couple threads that might be worth reading about the TN issue:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=370825
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=370825

Don't take this to discourage you, as many seem to use phosphate removers without issue ... but it's good to read how things can go wrong if you want to do it right

There's another `big thread' I remember ... can't seem to find it now.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

ty

 

[kabal2]

I used it in my tank and like the other guys said, I used around half of what full dosage, and it help quiet alot, just my own experience

 

[dots]

Dohhhhhh........I just put a bag of phosban in today after not using it for a while to cut back on some algae and was thinking of a reactor soon also.......

 

[jobob]

i just got one, i first got kent phos reactor and it sucked it started leaking and i took it back. i got the two little fishes one and its 100 times better. i tired the phoslock and it made a mess it took forever to rinse out. the phosban by TLF is much better the granuales(sp) are bigger and less messy. i havent tested yet but i heard good things about it so i imagine its working. and make sure u use the ball valve that comes with the tlf one. and hook it up to a small pump. i have mine on a maxijet 400 and i still have to cut the flow so the granuales dont get crushed.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

well, the phoslock also contains carbon and other things(i don't run carbon), not just ferric oxide like the phosban is. It's more concentrated as well, which i like

 

[tstone]

I am running one set up just like jobob. Only difference is i have a Rio 50 running it. Throttled back ever so slightly.

Like it and do feel it helps.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

tstone.....only a rio 50?....man i was told maxi 400, but heard that was too strong so i got a rio 90. i do have it set-up where there is about 1' of head which i'm sure cuts the flow by half.....but if you have any head on that 50, that would be really slow.
How much media did you use at first and how much now?
thanks - matt

 

[tstone]

When I first set it up I had very few corals. Used the whole jar. Now I use half a jar when it needs changing just to keep things stable.

I have hardly any head. The reactor is even with the top of the refugium and the pump is just below the surface.
It is throttled back just a little. If I open it up all the way it tumbles to much. Right now the top of the media is just a gentle rumbling.

 

[clkwrk]

I started with a full container in my 120 and refill with a full container no probs here.

When I first started I started with the flow low and everyday I would crank the flow up just to stir things then back down with the flow again ....Slowly working up to full flow.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

man i heard to use 1/3 to 1/2 of recc.
i'm using about 1/4 just to be safe with about 50/60 gph for flow.......should i add more media?