Phosphate Reactor

tanyamikephil · 07/16/2016, 04:42 PM

Hi, we have been battling green hair algae for a couple months now and need to get a phosphate reactor to help win the battle…because we are losing.

Can anyone please give advice about this i.e suggestions of what brand & size of reactor and media to buy that you have had success with in combating green hair algae? We have a 55gal tank.

gone fishin · 07/16/2016, 05:02 PM

For the price and decent quality I use the BRS reactors with their GFO.

billdogg · 07/16/2016, 06:44 PM

Sorta depends on where you plan to put it. IMHO you can't beat the tlf 150 for hob use. I have one and also use the brs reactors for inside the stand and in the fish room

Fish doctor · 07/16/2016, 07:33 PM

I use the Brs reactor on my tank. It has worked well for me.

WaReefer458 · 07/17/2016, 10:11 AM

I have 3 phosban 150's on my 40b. 1 with xport no3, 1 with rowaphos, and 1 with carbon. They work great and at 50$ each, you can't beat it

Gaxmode · 07/17/2016, 08:21 PM

If you will be putting it directly into a sump I recommend the brs reactors. They also sell their own gfo.

dkeller_nc · 07/17/2016, 09:06 PM

I personally very much prefer the Two Little Fishies Phosban 150 reactors over the BRS reactors. The BRS reactors are pretty much RODI holders, and it can be quite inconvenient to unscrew the whole canister to change the media.

But either choice will work, and both choices are very popular. If you don't have a sump and will be placing it on the back of the tank, you pretty much will have to use the TLF model unless you're willing to mount the BRS reactors to the wall behind the tank. If you have a sump, either choice will work well.

You will require a pump to feed tank water to the reactors. Potentially, you can run it off of your main return pump. That's less than ideal, though, as you have to shut down your main return pump to service the reactors, or place shutoff valves between the return pump and the reactor. A better choice is the Sicce Synchra Silent 0.5 pump dedicated to feeding your reactor - they're about $40.

For media, I'd highly recommend the Bulk Reef Supply High Capacity GFO. The particles are considerably harder than many other brands of GFO out there and so you don't run the risk of pulverizing the media and distributing it in your tank.

You will also require a good phosphate test. The best are the Hanna Checkers. The 713 is a good one for higher ranges of phosphate, while the 736 Ultra low range checker is useful if you wish to keep a very low phosphate level.

Whatever you choose, go slow with GFO if you have corals in the tank. Corals that have become used to high phosphate levels can wither and bleach if the phosphate level in the tank is suddenly dropped to near zero.

aquamann183 · 07/17/2016, 09:33 PM

I completely agree with everything dkeller said.

+1 The two little fishies.
It's cheap and works great.
I had a problem with GHA in my 40B, threw one of those in my sump and it cleared it up. Once your phosphate gets low it's very easy to pull the GHA out by hand which helps with eliminating completely.

As stated above, a separate pump will be required..but buy a smaller one then you're probably thinking you'll need. I believe I bought like a $10 pump on Amazon and have my valve almost all the way closed. You barely want your GFO to tumble.

Don't think too hard about it, one of the best purchases you can make imo, completely turned my tank around. 😊

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

scooter31707 · 07/18/2016, 07:34 AM

I agree, with the two little fishies.

dkeller_nc · 07/18/2016, 07:38 AM

BTW - If you decide to go with one of the Hanna Checkers to monitor your phosphate levels, order a 25 pack of reagents along with the meter - the meter package only contains enough reagent packs for 7 tests.

07/16/2016, 04:42 PM	#1
tanyamikephil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 129	Phosphate Reactor Hi, we have been battling green hair algae for a couple months now and need to get a phosphate reactor to help win the battle…because we are losing. Can anyone please give advice about this i.e suggestions of what brand & size of reactor and media to buy that you have had success with in combating green hair algae? We have a 55gal tank.

07/16/2016, 05:02 PM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	For the price and decent quality I use the BRS reactors with their GFO. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

07/16/2016, 06:44 PM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Sorta depends on where you plan to put it. IMHO you can't beat the tlf 150 for hob use. I have one and also use the brs reactors for inside the stand and in the fish room __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/17/2016, 08:21 PM	#6
Gaxmode Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 89	If you will be putting it directly into a sump I recommend the brs reactors. They also sell their own gfo. __________________ 90g dt, 40g sump. Mp40,tunze osmolator,reef octopus 152,gfo and carbon reactors, 2 radion xr15w pro, 500 watt titanium heater. Larrys reef frenzy and pe mysis.

07/16/2016, 07:33 PM	#4
Fish doctor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 189	I use the Brs reactor on my tank. It has worked well for me.

07/17/2016, 10:11 AM	#5
WaReefer458 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 333	I have 3 phosban 150's on my 40b. 1 with xport no3, 1 with rowaphos, and 1 with carbon. They work great and at 50$ each, you can't beat it

07/17/2016, 09:06 PM	#7
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	I personally very much prefer the Two Little Fishies Phosban 150 reactors over the BRS reactors. The BRS reactors are pretty much RODI holders, and it can be quite inconvenient to unscrew the whole canister to change the media. But either choice will work, and both choices are very popular. If you don't have a sump and will be placing it on the back of the tank, you pretty much will have to use the TLF model unless you're willing to mount the BRS reactors to the wall behind the tank. If you have a sump, either choice will work well. You will require a pump to feed tank water to the reactors. Potentially, you can run it off of your main return pump. That's less than ideal, though, as you have to shut down your main return pump to service the reactors, or place shutoff valves between the return pump and the reactor. A better choice is the Sicce Synchra Silent 0.5 pump dedicated to feeding your reactor - they're about $40. For media, I'd highly recommend the Bulk Reef Supply High Capacity GFO. The particles are considerably harder than many other brands of GFO out there and so you don't run the risk of pulverizing the media and distributing it in your tank. You will also require a good phosphate test. The best are the Hanna Checkers. The 713 is a good one for higher ranges of phosphate, while the 736 Ultra low range checker is useful if you wish to keep a very low phosphate level. Whatever you choose, go slow with GFO if you have corals in the tank. Corals that have become used to high phosphate levels can wither and bleach if the phosphate level in the tank is suddenly dropped to near zero.

07/17/2016, 09:33 PM	#8
aquamann183 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 357	I completely agree with everything dkeller said. +1 The two little fishies. It's cheap and works great. I had a problem with GHA in my 40B, threw one of those in my sump and it cleared it up. Once your phosphate gets low it's very easy to pull the GHA out by hand which helps with eliminating completely. As stated above, a separate pump will be required..but buy a smaller one then you're probably thinking you'll need. I believe I bought like a $10 pump on Amazon and have my valve almost all the way closed. You barely want your GFO to tumble. Don't think too hard about it, one of the best purchases you can make imo, completely turned my tank around. 😊 Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

07/18/2016, 07:34 AM	#9
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I agree, with the two little fishies.

07/18/2016, 07:38 AM	#10
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	BTW - If you decide to go with one of the Hanna Checkers to monitor your phosphate levels, order a 25 pack of reagents along with the meter - the meter package only contains enough reagent packs for 7 tests.