"Tumbling" Phosban

Eldredge · 01/06/2009, 04:31 PM

I am starting to use Phosban on my 125 mixed reef. I have it in a ViaAqua reactor. I understand that the Phosban should not tumble, or it will break down. I have adjusted the flow so that the top just moves a little here and there, but when I look down the clear side of the reactor, I can see small areas where the Phosban is "tumbling". If I turn it down more, it is almost off, and there is no movement in the media at all. The flow is quite slow now, but I am a little worried about the media breaking down. Am I okay, or should I turn it down more, and what happens if it does break down? Thanks for the help.

seapug · 01/06/2009, 04:40 PM

What you describe sounds fine. The idea is you don't want it to look like you're blending up a GFO margarita.

Reefer08 · 01/06/2009, 04:46 PM

push the sponge and plastic circle clip downwards, that should solve your problem.

Eldredge · 01/06/2009, 04:58 PM

Thanks for the input.

Seapug, that is what I was hoping. If knowone else scares me off, I'll probably leave it this way.

Reefer08, the reason I hesitate to do that is that I have heard that GFO can become a brick if it doesn't move at all, and I am trying to avoid that. I am new to this though, so I am trying to decide what to do.

What happens of the Phosban disintegrates and flows into the tank?

Thanks again for the help.

Ncastro1981 · 01/06/2009, 06:21 PM

If it does that then it more likely than not will have an adverse effect on your coraline life. I use mine in a sock at the bottom of my drain, sitting ontop of a sponge filter. Havnt had any issues.

Craig Lambert · 01/06/2009, 06:50 PM

A slight tumble on the top surface is OK. Be sure to check your ALK over the next few days. It can cause a drop when you begin running it.

Eldredge · 01/07/2009, 12:47 AM

Thanks for the help everyone. I have been watching th ALK and dosing a little. Does this balance out? I have been having to dose some ALk on top of my Kalk anyway. I started running the reacter for about an hour a day, and I have been increasing it an hour each day while watching for any problems.

01/06/2009, 04:31 PM	#1
Eldredge Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eagle, Idaho Posts: 306	"Tumbling" Phosban I am starting to use Phosban on my 125 mixed reef. I have it in a ViaAqua reactor. I understand that the Phosban should not tumble, or it will break down. I have adjusted the flow so that the top just moves a little here and there, but when I look down the clear side of the reactor, I can see small areas where the Phosban is "tumbling". If I turn it down more, it is almost off, and there is no movement in the media at all. The flow is quite slow now, but I am a little worried about the media breaking down. Am I okay, or should I turn it down more, and what happens if it does break down? Thanks for the help.

01/06/2009, 04:40 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	What you describe sounds fine. The idea is you don't want it to look like you're blending up a GFO margarita. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

01/06/2009, 06:21 PM	#5
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	If it does that then it more likely than not will have an adverse effect on your coraline life. I use mine in a sock at the bottom of my drain, sitting ontop of a sponge filter. Havnt had any issues. __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

01/06/2009, 06:50 PM	#6
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	A slight tumble on the top surface is OK. Be sure to check your ALK over the next few days. It can cause a drop when you begin running it. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

01/06/2009, 04:46 PM	#3
Reefer08 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,812	push the sponge and plastic circle clip downwards, that should solve your problem.

01/06/2009, 04:58 PM	#4
Eldredge Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eagle, Idaho Posts: 306	Thanks for the input. Seapug, that is what I was hoping. If knowone else scares me off, I'll probably leave it this way. Reefer08, the reason I hesitate to do that is that I have heard that GFO can become a brick if it doesn't move at all, and I am trying to avoid that. I am new to this though, so I am trying to decide what to do. What happens of the Phosban disintegrates and flows into the tank? Thanks again for the help.

01/07/2009, 12:47 AM	#7
Eldredge Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eagle, Idaho Posts: 306	Thanks for the help everyone. I have been watching th ALK and dosing a little. Does this balance out? I have been having to dose some ALk on top of my Kalk anyway. I started running the reacter for about an hour a day, and I have been increasing it an hour each day while watching for any problems.