ROWAphos & 2 LITTLE FISHES REACTOR

[mano1192]

I have been trying to keep my PO4 down and have finally decided to bite the bullet and get a po4 reactor. I have been guided from some respectable reefers to use ROWAphos for media, but wanted to get some opinions on the 2 little fishes reactor. Anyone have and cons with the unit?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[bertoni]

I have two of the new models, with the screw-on top. They're fine, although I don't run them reverse-flow. The older ones, with the top plate held on by screws, was obnoxious, in my opinion. Mine went into the garbage.

 

[mano1192]

Whats your reason for not running them in reverse flow? Does it clog up or get less flow in reverse flow?

 

[bertoni]

There's some concern that the media will abrade more if it's run in reverse flow.

 

[sidd129]

I had to get some more plastic hose clamps for mine and I took off the elbows. Metal holes clamps only caused more leaking.

 

[janakaybravo]

I have Rowaphos in my Phosban reactor. I could never get it to roll at all like I could the Phosban media. It's just not moving at all. Does that mean it's not working?

 

[bertoni]

I've never used RowaPhos. Perhaps it's larger or the pump is clogged or on the wrong nozzle.

 

[janakaybravo]

Which nozzle should it be on? I tried to follow the picture and switched them to see if any different.

 

[PatrickJ]

I use ROWAphos in a Phosban reactor with much success! You dont want the media to tumble too much. You want the top of the media to move like "lava" and that is what you want to shoot for.

Janakaybravo... You dont need high flow through it. shoot for what i said.

 

[mano1192]

Whats your process for rinsing the media out prior to putting it in the reactor, if its not rinsed doesn't it drop your PH drastically?

 

[sidd129]

To rinse the media I took the pump and put it in a bucket of water and just ran it through the reactor until it was clear then discarded the water.

 

[mano1192]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9850954#post9850954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sidd129
To rinse the media I took the pump and put it in a bucket of water and just ran it through the reactor until it was clear then discarded the water.

RODI water Id assume? I just got my reactor in and cant wait to set it up, now I got the 250ml of ROWAphos media, the 2 little fishes reactor says it can take up to 385ml of media, anyone have a preference as to how much media to use? Would you adjust the amount of media due to your PO4 readings?

Thanks again for everyone input.

 

[Billybeau1]

I haven't used it in a reactor, but when I used it in a canister filter, it dropped my alkalinity and pH really bad. I used more than the recommended amount.

Either way, I would not use more than what the manufacturer recommends. This is powerful stuff. And remember to rinse it first. By rinsing GFO, you minimize the lowering affect.

 

[jlynn427]

start off with only a few inches and then slowly increase every time you change out the media

 

[sticky]

Yes, start with a little and work your way up. I recently tried some phosguard instead of the phosban and had a whole lot of stn on my acros. I went back to the phosban and now 1 month later thing have stabalized. I think it was a change from iron based to aluminum based po4 remover. But I really think the different media took the po4 to 0 immediately as my fuge stopped growing for a short time as well. Be careful and go slowly.

 

[jean19]

i use "steel woll" to remove phosphate
for my 250L 1 handful of steel woll in a soc ,i put that in an exter nal filter and i leave it for 3/4 days every month or so

 

[jamesdawson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9866603#post9866603 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jean19
i use "steel woll" to remove phosphate
for my 250L 1 handful of steel woll in a soc ,i put that in an exter nal filter and i leave it for 3/4 days every month or so

Wow!
New one on me. What do you guys think?

James

 

[jean19]

it works,and we've been doing for years ,no problems
we dont like paying for the same thing with a bit of coating

 

[jean19]

sorry it's not steel wool, it's iron straw(paille de fer in french)

 

[bertoni]

The steel wool might well remove some phosphate. I'm not enough of a chemist to be sure. I'd worry about what else might be in the product that could dissolve. Some steels contain other metals that might be harmful.