Phosphate reactor question

[Vauche]

Simple question. Is there any real difference in phosphate (phosban) reactors?

Looking at stores and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of selection but still 3-4. I currently have cyano in a somewhat bad way (the stuff grows pretty quick) and read that these will help.

I'm willing to read so even a link to a thread is sufficient but the search is busy at the moment and I just thumbed through 40pgs on the lighting, filtration, and other equipment forum and didn't find the info. I'm looking for.

Thank You!

 

[ahullsb]

No real difference in the reactors. Some come with pumps and are ready out of the box, others do not. Any small powerhead with a gate valve will do the trick. The media probably doesn't matter too much either. I have personally had good experience with the stuff made by Two Little Fishies. Just add the recommended amount of media, and add enough flow through it to keep the media tumbling lightly, or "simmering" at the top. Change it once a month and you are good to go!

 

[abulgin]

The Two Little Fishies Phosban reactor is about as cheap and simple as they come. All you need is a power head (a Maxi-Jet 900 would be fine). The reactor comes with a gate valve, so all you need is a pump.

Honestly, though, you'd be better off employing a fuge with Chaetomorpha first. These phoshpate media are very efficient and will remove almost all phosphate. All animals need some phosphate. I've found that these GFOs can be too efficient--I have actually had the situation where the cyano actually got worse because it was able to out-compete everything else for what little phosphate remained. The minute I swapped out GFO for carbon and just let my fuge do the work, my cyano disappeared (with weekly water changes and siphoning off the cyano from the rocks).

 

[Reefer07]

What does the powerhead actually do. It obviously sucks the water through the chamber and then just shoots it out?
I was thinking of getting 2 reactors to run carbon and phosbane but now that you bring that up I may only get one for the carbon. What is GFO by the way?

 

[abulgin]

Granualized Feric Oxide--the stuff that binds/removes phosphate.

The power head pushes water through the reactor.

 

[o.c.d.]

Only one problem with the TLF reactors ,you get what you pay for. I run two one with carbon and one with phosban. Not the most durable units,after my fourth unit when down I decided on a Deltec reactors and lots of $$$ but built tough.

 

[Vauche]

Thanks for all the info.

For the record reguarding abulgin's post. I do have a sump and fuge with cheato going. It has been for arguements sake up as long as the tank (maybe couple weeks later).

My primary reason is the cyano, but I wonder if I should even bother at this time as the tank is only 4 months old and I am aware this could just be the 1st year "algea" blues.

As always, good info and I appreciate that!