Tips for cleaning phosban reactor media

ser_renely · 03/07/2009, 05:55 PM

I clean my phospure a couple of times a month that is in my TLF phosban reactor.

MY question is, why am I having such a PITA time when I get the media out rinsed and put back in? I either lose half of it or I don't do a good job removing particles. Also, those damn sponges on both ends of the reactor seem to hold on to the media for dear life.

I guess I am looking for some tips that I may be missing, because it doesn't seem like it should be this hard.

Thanks,
Ser

Toddrtrex · 03/07/2009, 07:19 PM

This is what I do.

Take the reactor off line, pour as much of the water out of it back into the tank. Then I take it to my spare bathroom, dump the contents into a plastic bag. Then rinse the heck out of all of it (( under running water from the bathtub's tap. )). Then I put it back together --- using a the other end of a cleaning brush to push down the sponge.

Then I place my finger over the hole of the center tube and pour in the appropriate amount of phosban and seal it up. Then I fill up a 5 gallon bucket with water (( I use tap, but suppose should use RO/DI )). With my feed pump in the bucket, and the reactor hanging on it (( with the outlet tube outside the bucket )) I plug in the pump. I run it until the water runs clear.

Then I empty as much water as possible from it (( with it still sealed up )), and hook it back up to the tank.

turretdr · 03/07/2009, 07:20 PM

I have never heard of anyone rinsing and reusing GFO of any type. This product absorbs phosphates and then it is done and needs to be replaced. At least, this is my experience with it.

ser_renely · 03/08/2009, 09:44 AM

My sponges get filled with debris and some of it makes in into the gfo. That is why. I have very fine sand.

ser_renely · 03/11/2009, 02:24 PM

anyone else?

eros · 03/11/2009, 03:01 PM

I had a problem with my reactor sucking up debris and detritous(sp?). I even saw an entire bristle worm floating in the reactor. My solution was to run less media and change it more often. I'm running 50 grams and changing it monthly whereas before I was running 150 grams and changing it even 3 months. So once a month I rinse the reactor, clean the sponges and replace the media. So far it seems to be working much better.

turretdr · 03/11/2009, 04:17 PM

Try adding additional filter material in the bottom of the reactor to keep the sand out.

03/07/2009, 05:55 PM	#1
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	Tips for cleaning phosban reactor media I clean my phospure a couple of times a month that is in my TLF phosban reactor. MY question is, why am I having such a PITA time when I get the media out rinsed and put back in? I either lose half of it or I don't do a good job removing particles. Also, those damn sponges on both ends of the reactor seem to hold on to the media for dear life. I guess I am looking for some tips that I may be missing, because it doesn't seem like it should be this hard. Thanks, Ser __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

03/07/2009, 07:19 PM	#2
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	This is what I do. Take the reactor off line, pour as much of the water out of it back into the tank. Then I take it to my spare bathroom, dump the contents into a plastic bag. Then rinse the heck out of all of it (( under running water from the bathtub's tap. )). Then I put it back together --- using a the other end of a cleaning brush to push down the sponge. Then I place my finger over the hole of the center tube and pour in the appropriate amount of phosban and seal it up. Then I fill up a 5 gallon bucket with water (( I use tap, but suppose should use RO/DI )). With my feed pump in the bucket, and the reactor hanging on it (( with the outlet tube outside the bucket )) I plug in the pump. I run it until the water runs clear. Then I empty as much water as possible from it (( with it still sealed up )), and hook it back up to the tank. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

03/07/2009, 07:20 PM	#3
turretdr I want to play a game Join Date: May 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 296	I have never heard of anyone rinsing and reusing GFO of any type. This product absorbs phosphates and then it is done and needs to be replaced. At least, this is my experience with it. __________________ NO REGRETS.Every decision we make is based on current knowledge. NO REGRETS.

03/08/2009, 09:44 AM	#4
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	My sponges get filled with debris and some of it makes in into the gfo. That is why. I have very fine sand. __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

03/11/2009, 02:24 PM	#5
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	anyone else? __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

03/11/2009, 03:01 PM	#6
eros Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 878	I had a problem with my reactor sucking up debris and detritous(sp?). I even saw an entire bristle worm floating in the reactor. My solution was to run less media and change it more often. I'm running 50 grams and changing it monthly whereas before I was running 150 grams and changing it even 3 months. So once a month I rinse the reactor, clean the sponges and replace the media. So far it seems to be working much better.

03/11/2009, 04:17 PM	#7
turretdr I want to play a game Join Date: May 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 296	Try adding additional filter material in the bottom of the reactor to keep the sand out. __________________ NO REGRETS.Every decision we make is based on current knowledge. NO REGRETS.