phosphate reactor?

[Ehgemus]

I would like to use a phosphate reactor on my new 75g tank but I don't know anything about them. is there any good reading about them out there.
one of the questions I have is, what media to use and is there different kinds of media, such as one that is meant to use in a reactor and one that is meant to use in a mesh bag. or are they the same. any info will help. Thanks

 

[Scissorhand]

Two Little Fishies, Ken Phosban 150, or Aqua C XP are 3 popular reactors that people use. If you can afford to pay more, there's also the deltec fluidized reactor or the Schuran Fludized reactor.

 

[ERICinFL]

The cool thing about a phos reactor is, you can run almost any media in them. I don't have phos issues anymore, so I have Nitrate media in it to take a proactive approach. I'm currently using the Two Little Fishes reactor. As far as reading is concerned, just Google "phosphate reactor" and you should get plenty of reading selections.

 

[hyperfocal]

There's nothing magical about them, there's no complexity like there is on a Calcium Reactor for instance. Actually, the whole 'reactor' name is a pet peeve of mine... there's no "reacting" going on in there, it's just a bottom feed cylinder that keeps an even amount of flow throughout the media. Quite easy to make, but usually not worth it since the commercial ones are so cheap.

"Reactor"

 

[Dingo Dog]

You've rec'd great input. The only thing I'd add is this. Once the media is in the mesh bag and before you place the media inside the reactor, I'd use a baster and enough r/o water to flush out as much of the loose powder as possible.

 

[jeweldamsel]

Can I just put the media in a mesh beg and place it next to the return pump? Do I really need to place them in a reactor?

 

[hyperfocal]

Typically, you don't put the media into a bag if it's going into a 'reactor' -- you just let it fluidize by gently pumping water through the reactor. If you put the stuff in a bag, you might just as well put it into a HOB or canister filter.

 

[Ehgemus]

thanks for the help guys.

 

[IndyReefMan]

I never had much luck with the reactors. I tried Rowaphos and Phosban and the media would always turn into a brick after a few weeks. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong.

 

[Ehgemus]

I have a few more questions.
How often are u supposed to change the media?

Do you run the media all the time or do you take a brake from it for a week or two?

 

[hyperfocal]

IIRC, the media is good for about 3 months -- run it all the time.

 

[Kannin]

I use Phosgard which is of a larger guage and does not leak out of the reactor. I change every othe week. I use a MJ400 on the reactor which pumps about 100 gallons of water per hour thru the reactor. They run about 40 bucks on line plus the pump.