Phosphate reactors and Refugeums...

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Paul227

New member
Hello all,

I have a few questions regarding the use of phosphate reactor and nitrate filter in an aquarium sump, which also runs a refugeum.

My questions are, i am in the process of setting up an 8 foot marine tank, this tank contains a baffled tank as a sump, with the second compartment being a refugeum. As I understand, a refugium is great as it absorbs phosphates (via the macro algae) however does not consume large amounts of nitrate, therefore regular water changes are still necessary, not to reduce phosphates, but to keep the nitrates down"¦ is this correct?

Then I started looking at alternative options, for example, phosphate reactor, and then the nitrates being removed with a nitrate filter instead of the refugium"¦meaning I can get away with less frequent water changes"¦.

I then had a mate say to me"¦"Well, why not run both and have the best water quality ever""¦however I would like to know if this is even possible? Because if the refugium algae needs to consume phosphates to grow, will a phosphate reactor greatly reduce the effectiveness of the refugium? Or will the refugeum consume the necessary phosphates to grow, with the reactor picking up the excess? Ii assume it depends which comes first, and where the phosphate reactor sits in the process, ie. If the reactor is downstream from the refigum, the refugium would take care of the primary phosphate removal, with the reactor cleaning up the remainder being returned to the tank, and vice versa?

Thanks all! Really appreciate the feedback..
 
Why can't you run both. I've seen quite a few folks use both.

1) The refugium will help with exporting excess nutrients from your other systems components by absorbing them.
a) The refugium helps with the cultivation of a nice pod population.
2) The reactor will help bind excess phosphate, don't think it will do much to your nitrates though.
 
Not sayingthis is what to do but for me personally I don't do regular water changes ther were times when I would go 6 months of letting the tank go. I did get a phosphate problem eventually. When u let a tank go u don't feed as much. I fed maybe 3 times a week. All did well I have Sps lps soft and a carpet. I just added a phos reactor and I have canister filters one with carbon one with denitrate. Nitrates have been 0 untill I removed the 2 year old denitrate. I have halimeda and four other types of nice algae. And a 75 fuge but all tanks and set ups are different IMO and whatever works works. It also has a dsb. I even let my vho go 3.5 years if u r like me I get a little bored and let it go then get back into it where I can't leave it alone
 
I use a fuge, gfo reactor, a reactor with carbon and weekly 15-20% water changes. I notice a difference in the colors of corals and pe if i skip one water change. The day after a water change everything looks much more happy. I believe water changes are one of the most important things in water quality. Just my opinion and what works for me.
 
cheers for all the feedback guys! i think i might set it up with a kick *** refugeum, and nitrate filter, and just have the connection their for if i one day decide to add the old phosphate reactor it's less of a stuff around :)

cheers guys :)
 
A little off topic but I just go to the regular Reef Central site.

If you have problems, there is an app called Atomic Web that will make any website think you are using Internet Explorer 8. It's free.

I hate mobile sites!
 
I read that link and there's a considerable amount of "loose" information. I would not stop using GFO simply based on that info.

I run GFO and Chaeto in my fuge and for 8 months, no issues with cyano.
 
fla_tony said:
The day after a water change everything looks much more happy. I believe water changes are one of the most important things in water quality. Just my opinion and what works for me.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

I totally agree on this one. Water changes are the most effective way of exporting nutrients and providing new elements to your tank. Its like pollution, you need to breathe new air, and to achieve that you need to get new air.

You can try to skimp out by having nitrate/phosphate/carbon reactors or refugiums and so forth. But good old water changes is still the best way to do it in my book. Also makes the livestock more happier.
 
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