When you fill up your Phosban Reactor...

Confused

Confused

I noticed yesterday in my tank that I had ared velvet all over my rocks. Not sand. It blew off with turkey baster. I can't keep algae off glass. I measured PO4 with red sea kit and it measures
.2-.5.

I recently removed skimmer I had borrowed. Looking for skimmer. I have grassy algae growing on top rocks which I am constantly pulling off. I always have a red slime type of algea in with my sump / refug.

Had a Phosban reactor many months ago and it seemed to do nothing. I was told Rowaphos was better. I am very frustrated. I have an MRC 2 calcium reactor that is incomsistent in bubbles and drip. Much of media inside as well as tubing is growing algae inside from stupid light that is on 24/7 in my cabinet above my calurpa due to old miracle mud philosphy. I removed MM 8 months ago. I have better growth since then.


nitrate 20
dkh8
calcium 380
salinity .026
po4 .2-.5
I really need help.

Any ideas...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6606689#post6606689 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by astrea
Does the brand of phosphste remover matter. I mean between Phosban, rowaphos and all the other no name brand.
Click to expand...
I've only used phosban, but I've been hapoy with the results.
 
Re: When you fill up your Phosban Reactor...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6221686#post6221686 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I was wondering how you guys rinse the media. Tonight, I had to pull out both Phosban Reactors from my sump, empty, rinse, refill and then run water through them to remove the fines.

Well, since I'd just cleand the powerhead to the two reactors less than 2 weeks ago, I didn't feel like pulling it out of the sump. The new TLF Phosban Reactors have those nice rubber elbow boots that pop right off the nipple, so I just tugged them off and took the reactor to clean it out and refill it. The pump just kept running, pushing water out and into the sump again.

Once the reactor was refilled (Pura Phoslock), I reconnected the rubber boot and the reactor filled up with blood red water. I just added more tubing to the output, and placed a bucket next to the sump for it to reactor to drain into. After a few gallons had passed through, the reactor was clear again. I removed the excess tubing and pointed the output back into the sump for normal operations.

Do any of you do anything similar, or do you pull out the entire setup and run it in a different container/tank/bucket to get the Rowaphos/Phosban/Silphos/GFO rinsed out thoroughly? This just seemed like a simpler method tonight.
Click to expand...

I do the same. It is hanging on the side of my sump and I just run the water over the side (mine is next to the basement drain) and when it goes clear I'm done. I usually do this right before a water change anyway so any loss of water is no biggie.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6608067#post6608067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thrlride
What pumps are you guys using for your phosban reactors?
Click to expand...
Right now mine is ran through the main system pump. I think we will be changing that at some point in time.
 
I use whatever I have. Maxijet 400, 500, 600, 1200. The flow going through the reactor is governed by the ballvalve on the IN side.

Btw, Julian Sprung was here for our Next Wave conference and we talked about this product specifically. He suggested something I've never heard anyone mention or post: <b>Once a week, turn the ball valve open for 30 to 60 seconds to let a lot of water flow through the media, then close it again. This will prevent clumping and keep flow through all the media.</b>

Was I the only one that never heard this?
 
I've never heard that, and I would be afraid media would escape into my sump. I think the only time you would get clumping would be if you stopped the pump for a full day or so. I run 24 hours, very light flow, I estimate about 60 gph right now. Running 1/2 cup - .20 lbs Rowa.
I'll try blasting mine for a few seconds when I get a chance, maybe this weekend. I put some filter floss in a tray in my sump whenever I change media, I'll do this and blast it, see what happens.
Might clear out some of the detritus that settles in the reactor.

Oh, I'm using a MJ1200 right now, ball valve very closed. I have a new Mini606 ready for action, havent started it yet.
 
That would be a plus. Obviously you can observe what it is doing, and increase the flow enough to tumble it hard for a few seconds and then reduce it back down.
 
Would you guys suggest splitting my return pump to it to feed it instead of using more electricity etc? Since it has the ball valve the flow can be controlled.
 
I just run my output down the sink for a while, till the water runs clear. Helps with the water change.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6640119#post6640119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thrlride
Would you guys suggest splitting my return pump to it to feed it instead of using more electricity etc? Since it has the ball valve the flow can be controlled.
Click to expand...

If you accidentally add too much flow, you'll burst the reactor. These can't handle much over 6psi, I think.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6641823#post6641823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
If you accidentally add too much flow, you'll burst the reactor. These can't handle much over 6psi, I think.
Click to expand...

Be careful, check.

:)
 
Question?
What flow rate is better? Slow for more contact time or fast for higher turn over???. I am using rowaphos, for a year now, use to use phosban. I dont see a difference but rowa clogges up more and compacts, so i mix it with carbonf 1/4 carbon to 3/4 rowa. No more compacting. I use the water going to the chiller, its filtered first so there isnt any muck clogging the media.. Ps.. there is organic po4 and inorganic po4 some testers dont test for one of these, I cnat remember which, but i do know that some testers give a false test because of this. I can get my info out if anyone wants to know.
 
I've always been under the impression you need to use slow flow. That's how I run mine.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6646299#post6646299 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by exo
Question?
What flow rate is better? Slow for more contact time or fast for higher turn over???. I am using rowaphos, for a year now, use to use phosban. I dont see a difference but rowa clogges up more and compacts, so i mix it with carbonf 1/4 carbon to 3/4 rowa. No more compacting. I use the water going to the chiller, its filtered first so there isnt any muck clogging the media.. Ps.. there is organic po4 and inorganic po4 some testers dont test for one of these, I cnat remember which, but i do know that some testers give a false test because of this. I can get my info out if anyone wants to know.
Click to expand...

It should have no more than 90gph going through the media. It should barely move, and if you test the output of the reactor and the PO4 is 0, it is working correctly. If it comes out faster and PO4 is higher than 0, it needs to be slowed down further.

It should not tumble as it will grind itself up into fine powder, according to Two Little Fishies (TLF).
 
TLF did say the top of the media should dance though, right? I hooked mine up last night and I have the top of the media dancing slightly.
 
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