Phosban help...or guidance.

[JammyBirch]

I have a phosban 150 reactor and the GFO with more plumbing to finish it off I'm ready to go.

Now I've read on here that measuring phosphates is tough and hard to believe, that being said my assumption is that I should get a feel for the effectiveness based on a decrease in the funk growing in the tank.

My question is how should I use, I was thinking to use a cup?

Second question is how long can I run it before it starts redistributing the once captured phosphate?

Third question is, can I just run the dust out of the reactor when first starting it up with RODI or do I need to use salt water?

Hey thanks as always.

 

[Sk8r]

Model Media
Capacity Operating
Flow Rate Aquarium
Size Dimensions Phosban
Phosban 150 200 grams 20-30 gph 150 gallons 4-1/2" x 4" x 17-1/2" high
Phosban 550 750 grams 20-40 gph 600 gallons 5" x 6" x 15" high

The jars are 150 grams. You can try it with 1 jar. Change monthly.

it will never redistribute the phosphate it takes up. But it may saturate so it can absorb no more. To prevent running saturated medium indefinitely, change each month.

How long it takes depends: if all the phosphate is in the water, pretty fast. If some or all the phosphate is soaking out of the rocks, several months. You'll know when, pretty well ovvernight, after a time of use, your algae starts dying out, leaving bare rock.

 

[MinnFish]

I use Phosguard, and the recommended is 1 cup per 65-100 gallons. Taking that into account. I would think 1/2 cup is the right amount. That is what I have been running for the last 2 months. And, the results are noticeable.
As far as, change out goes. I would replace every 2 weeks in the beginning. And, monthly afterward. Also, I would decrease the amount as the algae and phosphate decrease.
I always rinse before with RO/DI to remove any dust. Good luck.

 

[Sk8r]

Definitely remove the dust. Clams really don't like it.

 

[ViktorVaughn]

I use 1 gram of phosban for 1 gallon of system volume and replace it every 4-6 weeks. I always rinse it out by running at least a 1/2 gallon of tank water through it before placing the output hose back into my sump.

 

[JammyBirch]

Great info guys as usual...thank you. My pump is adjustable I have no way of measuring it, I will just increase flow from minimum to get a nice tumble.

No idea this would be running long term, I thought I'd run it with a water change for a few days and take it out...

As long as it doesn't hurt anything I'll run it...have to set it up each time during water change my volume is too low to clean off the GFO into bucket without crushing my water level.

What is a HOT Magnum filter is it basically the same type of thing?

 

[JoelA7]

GFO gentle tumble.
Phosban no tumble.

 

[shesacharmer]

The purpose of the tumble for GFO is to keep the media from compacting into a rock inside your reactor. Most media is soft and tumbling will cause it to grind itself to dust...not the case with GFO.