How do you use Phosban?

[Radicaljbr]

Do I need to buy a Phosban reactor?

Or can I put it in a sock or pantyhose and tie it on to my overflowdrain in my sump?

What is the best way to do this?

Thanks

 

[xtopher_vw]

that way will work but the best way is either a reactor or a hang on filter of some sort

 

[gill7784]

In the past, I hung a bag of Phosban and a bag of carbon in my overflow. It worked OK, but a reactor is SOO much better. I got 2 Two Little Fishes reactors for Christmas. I am running Phosban in 1 and carbon in the other. What a difference! They are easy to set up and very inexpensive.

 

[examiner]

Definately a reactor - it will tend to cake up on you if you use a bag...then the water flows around it rather than through it.

 

[examiner]

Also, you want to limit the flow through the media - if you attach it directly to your overflow line, you'll probably pummel the media into fine red powder. Not a good thing.

 

[aural]

i use it in a reactor. it really does work wonders.

 

[bhdmc]

Reactor is the best way to use the media. It forces the water thru the media. Bagging it an putting it in the sump will work, but water flow in the direction of least resistance.

 

[dodger1v]

I'm going to be getting one of these this week. I was wondering what do you use to push the water through the reactor on these?

 

[ledford1]

I just ordered a PhosBan reactor today. I was told the Mini-Jet 606 is recommended, as you only want 80-90gph flowing through the reactor.

 

[Radicaljbr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6412276#post6412276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dodger1v
I'm going to be getting one of these this week. I was wondering what do you use to push the water through the reactor on these?

Thanks everyone!

This was my next question.

What about hooking it up to my overflow with a deverter so I can adjust the flow through it?

 

[Radicaljbr]

I am doing this to help get rid of my algea problems.

Did anyone else use one for this and did it help?

 

[Biscutz]

Just put a small inline ball valve. Than you can ajust the flow. I used this with a maxijet 900 and it worked great!

 

[CH]

These reactors look great! I think I'll have to get one too. Can you use Phosguard in them the same way? I have been using that in a filter sock, and I buy it by the scoop at the local fish store, so I would just like to continue using it.

 

[titan04]

I had huge algae problems and red slime problems. The cleanup crew was added late but really couldn't keep up with the slime. Between them and the reactor my algae problems are gone. That could also be the tank maturity mind you but I know that my phosphates disappeared within a couple of weeks and red algae slowly stopped even appearing anywhere.

Be very careful with the flow rate though. I got one too big and had to use the included valve to adjust it and it was still a little bit high I think and some "brown mud" was getting picked up by the skimmer :-D

You can also run carbon and phosban in the same reactor if you want... just run half and half. The tumbling will mix it in and I have had no problems with one getting pulverized... bigger tank I would go with 2 for the price though... on a Nano one is fine to run both for space reasons

 

[titan04]

Phosguard will work as well and they even advertise it will work that too so you don't have to get their version of the stuff if you have some already or have a brand pref.

 

[Ploppers]

I think a lot of people just use small maxijets to run them. I just tapped off my return pump and use the ball valve that came with it to adjust flow. It works wonders.

 

[gill7784]

I simply put a ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œTââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in my return pipe and fitted it with a threaded Ã"šÃ‚½ inch barb. Attach a Ã"šÃ‚½ inch ID hose to the bard and to the reactor via the supplied ball valve. I barely crack the ball valve and get the media tumbling gently.

 

[CH]

Thanks!
I also like the fact that you say you can run both carbon and phosguard mixed. In you're opinion, would this be ok to do on a 75 gallon (100 total) or would I be better off with two for that size?

 

[titan04]

Depends on if phosphate has been a problem for you... if so maybe 2. Also you don't have to run carbon all the time if you don't want so you can switch out what you do or just put in like 15% carbon if phosphates are a problem.

They were for me and I ran it with all Phosban for a month and my levels went up once there wasn't enough for the Cyano to feed on then drastically went to almost 0.... I switched the media to a half and half mix and run that and phosphates never register anymore which is pretty amazing since that is a biproduct of pretty much everything.

 

[coogarts]

So the general concensus of these reactors is that they do their intended purpose very well? I can't get my PO4 readings to zero, so I was looking into these reactors, namely the one from Two Little Fishies, and I was worried that something that was so cheap wouldn't do an effective job.