How much Phosar in my phosphate reactor??

[pezcubano]

Can anyone guide me in terms of how much Phosar to put in my Phosphate Reactor. I have Warren Marine High Capacity Phosar and a Two Little Fishies reactor.

Last week I put about 3 inches into the reactor and my phosphates went down from 2.5 ppm to 1 ppm. But since dropping to 1ppm, it has just hovered.
Do you think my media needs to be replaced?
Should I put more than 3 inches whenever I add media?

My tank is a 75G reef tank with a 20G sump and my algae/cyano problem is mild, but present.

Thanks!!

 

[Craig Lambert]

You could probably get by with 1/2 the recomended does. You would be better off starting with a smaller amount through the first several weeks. The brand you've chosen is a good one.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1088557&highlight=phosar+aluminum

 

[jdieck]

The normal PHOsR maintenance dose is 1 gram per gallon and the HC is 1 gram per three gallons so as little as three tablespoons will do for maintenance in a 75 gal once the PPM go below 0.5 at this point use the same amount you used before once they stop dropping again replace the media. With every drop the media will last longer so you might use a bit less every time.

 

[pezcubano]

Craig - Great thread. I think I made the right choice with the Warren Marine HC. BillyBeau is actually the guy who put me on to it.

I put a little more than 3 tablespoons in when I first filled the reactor last week, but I can't seem to get the PPM below 1. I will try feeding less as well and see how that goes. Its just weird that with the HC it won't go below 1ppm right off the bat. Its not like my algae problem is severe either, its just on the substrate in a few spots. The algae I had on the glass, in the corners of the tank, is virtually gone. I guess I should try being a bit more patient.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10997949#post10997949 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pezcubano
Craig - Great thread. I think I made the right choice with the Warren Marine HC. BillyBeau is actually the guy who put me on to it.

I put a little more than 3 tablespoons in when I first filled the reactor last week, but I can't seem to get the PPM below 1. I will try feeding less as well and see how that goes. Its just weird that with the HC it won't go below 1ppm right off the bat. Its not like my algae problem is severe either, its just on the substrate in a few spots. The algae I had on the glass, in the corners of the tank, is virtually gone. I guess I should try being a bit more patient.

If you could test the output of the reactor for Phosphate it will tell you if the media has exausted.
On initial use there is an effect that as the phosphate is being pulled out of the water column, phosphate stored in rock and sand starts leaching into the column replacing the one stored. Depending on how long the phosphate has been adsorbing inot the rock and sand will be the lenght it will take to get rid of it.
These release could equalise with the uptake of the media, you can increase the amount of media to accelerate the process but do not be too drastic.

 

[pezcubano]

So the output of the reactor should read zero??

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11001485#post11001485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pezcubano
So the output of the reactor should read zero??

Ideally you want it at zero but as far as the reading is below the reading in the tank (or input) then the media is still working.

 

[pezcubano]

I just took a reading on the output and input of the phosphate reactor, and they are the same.
Does that make sense that my media is exhausted after being used for 1.5 weeks.
My phosphates were really high when I started using it, but I think what you were saying about the P04 leaching out of the rock is what's going on. I've been reading about it alot and I think I've got a rock in my tank that leaching the stuff out...
I've also read to be careful about lowering p04 too quickly.
I think I'm going to replace the media and keep pushing my P04 down. Sound good?

 

[jdieck]

Sounds like a plan.