I posted this in the NorthEast Reef discussion in error, so here it is in the correct place.
After trying water changes and GFO for 4 months to lower phos on a 300 g tank that was ignored for almost 18 months. I am ready to try Lanthanum Chloride. I have read every thread I can find on the subject and many external pages. My 5 micron socks arrived today and the SeaKlear should be here friday. I have 1 main question remaining method. I am considering one of two methods.
First would be to use a dosing pump to put a small amount into my overflow which is around 20' of 1" spaflex. Have this empty into a 5 micron sock that will have a flow switch mounted about 2" from the top. The float switch will disable the dosing pump and send a text to change the sock.
===Pros = lots of flow low likely hood will exhaust phos allowing Lanthanum to pass into the tank.
===Cons - 5 micron sock of overflow may become clogged quickly even without Lanthanum and if settles in oveflow or drain spaflex may be hassle to clean.
The second is, have a 5 gallon bucket feed off my return manifold with a slow flow rate into the top of the sock, drain hole about 4" below top of the sock into another 5 micron sock, use a dosing pump to dose small amount of Lanthanum, have a small pump in bottom of bucket (on 2-3 layers of egg crate) that also feeds the filter sock. Again the sock would have float switch to disable the dosing pump and send a text to change the sock.
===Pros-feed comes after skimmer, fuge, and 200 micron filter socks so will be cleaner than overflow, majority of reaction in bucket for ease of cleaning, extra 5 micron filter sock
===Cons - extra electrcity usage from pump, possible heat from pump (some think this causes Lanthanum to not bind to phos properly), flow rate may not be fast enough to provide enough phos for Lanthanum).
I am going to start slow and monitor things closely.
Any input on the pro's and cons of these methods or feedback on other ideas is greatly appropriated
After trying water changes and GFO for 4 months to lower phos on a 300 g tank that was ignored for almost 18 months. I am ready to try Lanthanum Chloride. I have read every thread I can find on the subject and many external pages. My 5 micron socks arrived today and the SeaKlear should be here friday. I have 1 main question remaining method. I am considering one of two methods.
First would be to use a dosing pump to put a small amount into my overflow which is around 20' of 1" spaflex. Have this empty into a 5 micron sock that will have a flow switch mounted about 2" from the top. The float switch will disable the dosing pump and send a text to change the sock.
===Pros = lots of flow low likely hood will exhaust phos allowing Lanthanum to pass into the tank.
===Cons - 5 micron sock of overflow may become clogged quickly even without Lanthanum and if settles in oveflow or drain spaflex may be hassle to clean.
The second is, have a 5 gallon bucket feed off my return manifold with a slow flow rate into the top of the sock, drain hole about 4" below top of the sock into another 5 micron sock, use a dosing pump to dose small amount of Lanthanum, have a small pump in bottom of bucket (on 2-3 layers of egg crate) that also feeds the filter sock. Again the sock would have float switch to disable the dosing pump and send a text to change the sock.
===Pros-feed comes after skimmer, fuge, and 200 micron filter socks so will be cleaner than overflow, majority of reaction in bucket for ease of cleaning, extra 5 micron filter sock
===Cons - extra electrcity usage from pump, possible heat from pump (some think this causes Lanthanum to not bind to phos properly), flow rate may not be fast enough to provide enough phos for Lanthanum).
I am going to start slow and monitor things closely.
Any input on the pro's and cons of these methods or feedback on other ideas is greatly appropriated