Phosban and carbon reactors

[ncox38]

I am looking for a better way to run carbon and Phosban than throwing a media bag in my sump. The TLF phosban reactor is only good for up to 150 gal (so they say) and i dont want to run 2 for carbon and 2 for phosban to ensure i have adequate filtration. Are there any others out there? I found a Lifeguard fluidized bed filter that i guess would work the same way, but I cant seem to find much else. Are there any succesful DIY reactors floating around? I say successful because i found one that the guy couldnt keep the phosban from flowing out into his tank so he had to put it in media bags, which i would think defeats the purpose.


Go ahead Stupid make a comment about me asking a question.

 

[JxMetal]

I'd just run a TLF reactor for carbon and a reactor for phosban and I think you'd be fine. You're going to be changing the media out monthly anyways.

I got both of mine for $30 total. You can find them used cheap. Also, stupid and lonnie made one out of an empty RO chamber I think.

 

[reef_doug]

For a 125 one or two should be all you need. You wouldn't need 2+2.

Yes the phosoban is tiny and can get through the sponge, so I have both of mine draining into a hang on sump filter sock.

 

[ncox38]

I have about 170 gallons total, not too much more than the recommended 150.

 

[StupidsReef]

Honestly Nick, I think you'd be ok like you said your only 20g over what the claim is anyways. As long as you change it monthly you should do just fine. We made one out of a RO unit that I had. It works ok (channles quite a bit though) for carbon, Because you don't need to run that much through your system. Phosban I haven't try'd our unit with yet. Just too busy, but IMO ya don't need that much of it either. JMHO

Oh yea I forgot, There he goes again, always asking 1000's of questions

 

[StupidsReef]

One more thing Nick, Keep in mind that with the proper amount of LR & LS most of your filteration will be under control to a point (other than skimming) everthing else is extra insurance for mishaps, like over feeding or over dosing something or letting bulbs go far to long or something dying that is rather big. And some experts think too much carbon is harmful to some coral, however that is highly debated.

 

[frenchie]

stupid is right i've heard not to run carbon all the time matter of fact i have one kent phosphate reactor i run carbon for 2 weeks than phosphate remover for 2 weeks. Once a tank is running good and biological filter is going good the only thing a reef tank needs is live rock and live sand and a protein skimmer, seen lots of tanks with skimmers on them no calc reactors or anything water changes replace trace elements needed. Oh yeah good water circulation helps or left over food builds up and causes nitrate problem but i got so many pods and bristle worms nothing is left over.

 

[pewter_jean]

I would agree with stupid, another thing to remember is that your tank may be 125, but after your rock and sand are in, you won't have 125 gallons of water.

 

[sirreal63]

I run phosban and carbon in a cannister filter and it works great. Keep it clean and you you can easily control the amount of phosban you need.

 

[ncox38]

Good point Rena, thank you.

 

[chadfarmer]

they make bigger ones


deltec
mrc
geo


i have seen them

 

[ncox38]

Has anyone used the kent phos-reactor? is it bigger than the TLF reactor? I cant find any info about it on kent's website.

 

[sirreal63]

How high are your phosphates? Mine are undetectable in my 125 and I only use my cannister filter with a small bag of phosban in it? If they are high enough to need that much phosban then something is not right and needs to be corrected.

 

[chadfarmer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9769013#post9769013 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ncox38
Has anyone used the kent phos-reactor? is it bigger than the TLF reactor? I cant find any info about it on kent's website.

it is about the same size

 

[ncox38]

They test at 0 but I have a ton of hair algae consuming them.

 

[sirreal63]

Unless you have fish that must be fed daily cut back on feeding. If you have Anthias you have to feed daily but most fish do not have to eat daily. Hair algae also consumes Nitrates. Follow the sugar dosing thread and try it for a few weeks. I do it and it works. Your chaeto won't suffer if you dose small quantities and run the phosban. I use about an 1/8 of a cup of phosban in my cannister filter and it works fine. I put it in a seachem bag and place it on top of the carbon. My nitrates and phosphates stay undetectable with Salifert tests.

 

[JxMetal]

How long are you running your lights?

 

[Reggae Fish]

Probably not just one thing. However, I'd listen to Jx and get a couple reactors. You don't need 4. One carbon (make sure the carbon doesn't suck and one phosban)
Water changes
Check your TDS
Cut down feeding even if you think you're not feeding enough
Plenty of flow
Cut down your photoperiod (what kind of lights are you running?)

 

[JxMetal]

me and justin had a long talk about reactors this past weekend....sure we had a few pitchers in us, but I think we got the goal accomplished.