Help with Phoban 150 reactor

[zarqy]

I bought a Phosban 150 reactor by 2 Little Fishes from the LFS today. They did not have any Phosban media. The only phosphate media that they stocked was "Eheim Phosphate Out!" I wasn't sure how much to put in so I just followed the 1g per 1 gallon ratio that Phosban recommends. The problem I'm having is that even with the maxijet 400 opened all the way I'm not seeing any of the media move and I'm only getting a slow trickle of water, maybe 5gph.

So here's my question in 3 parts. 1) Is the Eheim Phosphate Out! incompatible media? 2) or did I just simply use too much? 3) or did I just set the whole darned thing up wrong?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Scott

 

[Donkeykong]

how full is the reactor? With my 60 gallon system I only have the reactor about 30% full.

 

[zarqy]

Not even 1/3
The Eheim Phosphate Out! is quite a coarse media. Nowhere near as fine as the Phosban media. Should this matter?

 

[leveldrummer]

the pump might be too weak, I use a maxi 900 with GFO and it tosses it gently. Not sure how that compares to the Eheim product.

 

[joshman1204]

Pump is probably not strong enough. I run a maxi 1200 with my GFO in a two little phishies but I turn it down just a touch with the ball valve.

 

[reeftivo]

Get a cobalt aquatics mj1200 and use the tlf valve off the reactor to set the flow. You'll Thank me later. That mj400 is too weak after the head and back pressure from the media.

 

[zarqy]

Firstly thanks to all the replied for your advice, tips, recommendations.

I partly answered my own question as to why I had almost 0 flow exiting the reactor so I thought I'd share in case anyone else had the same problem.

I pulled out the reactor and dismantled it to make sure I had put it together properly and found that there was a thin piece of plastic from the factory blocking the bottom hole on the reactor. Removed the blockage, presto! All the flow that I expected from the maxijet 400.