Phosphate problem and Phosban reactor help

CeeGee · 01/08/2007, 12:00 AM

Can anyone point me in the right direction about how to install a phosban reactor.

I have all necessary components.

TLF Phosban reactor
rowaphos
and MJ400 powerhead.

I am pretty much good to go. I am not sure about how to go about using the rowaphos media (washing it off etc.) and how much to use at first to prevent any negative effects on the tank.

I am suffering what I consider to be a severe phosphate issue in my tank. I have nearly lost two of my favorite SPS frags and my SPS growth over the last year has been laughable. I have crazy amounts of hair algae growing on my tunze streams and my overflow and return pipe. The crazy thing is that I have a ugly birdsnest that I bought hoping it would color up and it has really grown in the year it has been in my tank while all other SPS have not including the other 3 variations of birdsnest I have. Very strange.

Aside from ordering the reactor and media, I have initiated water changes of the magnitude of 5 -8 gallons every other day while blowing out the rocks (a ton of detritus has come out of them) as best as I can every night and installing filter socks to catch all that detritus. 5 gallons every other day probably doesn't sound like much but I only have around 60 total gallons of water in my system.

I am very ashamed at my lack of underestimating the need for blowing out my rocks frequently. It is my first reef though and not all is lost I think I can turn this around.

If anyone can help with the phosban reactor (or anything else I can do to turn this scenario around) I would certainly appreciate it.

ReefWreak · 01/08/2007, 12:52 AM

Just run the phosban reactor through some RO/DI water before you put it in your tank to clean it of the dust. You'll have to make sure to tone down the flow too with the included valve. I have mine at just enough flow to get the reactor media rolling around on the top of the media layer, but not enough for it to be stirred up and flowing upwards toward the top sponge.

I'm still getting .5 phosphate in my tank

even with a phosban reactor running. The worst part is that for whatever reason, the phosban reactor effluent measures the same amount of phosphate as the surrounding water...

Best of luck!

Aquaman · 01/08/2007, 01:41 AM

To be honest if your having that bad of an issue with phosphate and algae then a phosban reactor is not going to fix the problem. First thing would be to check your RO/DI source make absolute sure that your makeup water is TDS of 0.
Next keep up the frequent water changes, but scrape/harvest as much algae out as you can before the water change. Use a fine net to scoop out as much free floating hair algae as you can, then change the water.

wentreefgirl · 01/08/2007, 06:01 AM

I fill mine with phosban. I hold a bowl under the spout until it runs clear. Then im good to go.

CeeGee · 01/08/2007, 11:36 AM

Aquaman,
that is good advice and what I have been doing. I was going to add the phosban reactor as a secondary measure. I am confident that I am starting to make a dent I just need to keep at it and get the water cleaned up.

wentreefgirl,
did you have a problem with alk after setting up the reactor?

wentreefgirl · 01/08/2007, 05:04 PM

No, no problem with alk. It was a miracle for me. I had the same problem.

CeeGee · 01/08/2007, 06:11 PM

I think my main problem has been the lack of blowing out the rocks as often as I should.

CeeGee · 01/08/2007, 09:32 PM

Does anyone know what negative effects I might see and how to notice them and correct the problems before it is too late?

also how often does one change the media while running one of these units?

Aquaman · 01/08/2007, 10:30 PM

For some reason it seems that it takes no time for a tank to develop a problem and forever to fix that problem. Keep at it, its a slow recovery process.

I'd change the media out every week.

wentreefgirl · 01/09/2007, 05:33 AM

Usually start loosing the skin at the tips. Poor color. Rtn

CeeGee · 01/11/2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wentreefgirl
Usually start loosing the skin at the tips. Poor color. Rtn

Are you referring to the effects of high phosphate or what could happen by using the rowaphos?

If this is the effect of high phosphates then this is what I am seeing in my tank along with little to no growth.

r00onmac · 01/11/2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CeeGee
wentreefgirl,
did you have a problem with alk after setting up the reactor?

is this a regular problem? i added a phosban reactor about a month ago... started to take algae away but its been coming back so i assume that the phosban is getting "full" of phosphate.

I ask because my alk has been around 7.2 and wont seem to go up and i havent found a cause yet since i use NSW for water changes...

wentreefgirl · 01/11/2007, 10:27 AM

You need to bumpt that alk up. Its not the phosban filling with phosphate. Its the substance in the phosban doing it. You just have to dose accordingly to get that back up. Ive been using phosban for more then a year and a half now with no problems.

CeeGee · 01/11/2007, 08:35 PM

how often do you change the media?

I sure as heck don't want any phosphate to leach back into the tank after the Rowaphos takes it out.

And Oh yeah NICE AVATAR!!!

My daughters and I are playing through twilight princess on out Wii that Santa stood outside in the cold on November 18th so that he could bring it for christmas. LOVING IT!!!

wentreefgirl · 01/12/2007, 05:12 AM

Dont know about your media but phosban is said not to leach. I replace about every three months. Im a die hard zelda fan. That pic is from The new twilight princess game.

CeeGee · 01/12/2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wentreefgirl
Dont know about your media but phosban is said not to leach. I replace about every three months. Im a die hard zelda fan. That pic is from The new twilight princess game.

Same here I am a die hard zelda fan. I am also a die hard mario and metroid fan. Love those games. We also got a XBOX 360 for christmas and I know that it won't get 10% of the play time of the "inferior" Wii but it is a much better offering so far than the original XBOX.

The Rowaphos says it doesn't leach either but I don't trust manufacturers claims.

wentreefgirl · 01/12/2007, 04:01 PM

It hasnt for me. How do you like the wii. Are you playing the zelda twilight right now.

CeeGee · 01/12/2007, 06:35 PM

I absolutely love the Wii. I am not playing zelda right now but I am getting ready to

Do you not have a Wii and Twilight Princess?

wentreefgirl · 01/13/2007, 08:17 AM

Nope, gamecube. I hear the graphics are better with twilight princess on the gamecube though. SOme thing to note though. When you get to the lakebed temple, note the giant acro flatworms. lol.

CeeGee · 01/13/2007, 09:37 PM

graphics are the same on both systems. Only difference is that you can play in 16:9 mode on the Wii if you have a TV that supports it. The development team at nintendo wanted to make the graphics better for the Wii version but Miyamoto would not let them. He wanted the graphics the same so that the gamecube owners would not feel cheated since the game was originally going to be a gamecube game.

Unlike in an aquarium the flatworms are easy to kill in the game you just have to put some flatworm exit on links sword

wentreefgirl · 01/14/2007, 08:59 AM

lol, we just need a mini link in our tanks.lol.

CeeGee · 01/14/2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wentreefgirl
lol, we just need a mini link in our tanks.lol.

werd!

Thank you for your help I have the reactor up and running now for a couple of days and I am not sure if it is helping or not yet. Gotta test the water in a while and see how my alk is doing.

Do yourself a favor and skip that black tang (or whatever expensive reef item you have in the back of your mind) you were going to get and go get yourself a Wii and Twilight Princess! The Wii is a blast!

01/08/2007, 12:00 AM	#1
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	Phosphate problem and Phosban reactor help Can anyone point me in the right direction about how to install a phosban reactor. I have all necessary components. TLF Phosban reactor rowaphos and MJ400 powerhead. I am pretty much good to go. I am not sure about how to go about using the rowaphos media (washing it off etc.) and how much to use at first to prevent any negative effects on the tank. I am suffering what I consider to be a severe phosphate issue in my tank. I have nearly lost two of my favorite SPS frags and my SPS growth over the last year has been laughable. I have crazy amounts of hair algae growing on my tunze streams and my overflow and return pipe. The crazy thing is that I have a ugly birdsnest that I bought hoping it would color up and it has really grown in the year it has been in my tank while all other SPS have not including the other 3 variations of birdsnest I have. Very strange. Aside from ordering the reactor and media, I have initiated water changes of the magnitude of 5 -8 gallons every other day while blowing out the rocks (a ton of detritus has come out of them) as best as I can every night and installing filter socks to catch all that detritus. 5 gallons every other day probably doesn't sound like much but I only have around 60 total gallons of water in my system. I am very ashamed at my lack of underestimating the need for blowing out my rocks frequently. It is my first reef though and not all is lost I think I can turn this around. If anyone can help with the phosban reactor (or anything else I can do to turn this scenario around) I would certainly appreciate it.

01/08/2007, 01:41 AM	#3
Aquaman Fishinchick's better half Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: St Cloud, FL USA Posts: 2,278	To be honest if your having that bad of an issue with phosphate and algae then a phosban reactor is not going to fix the problem. First thing would be to check your RO/DI source make absolute sure that your makeup water is TDS of 0. Next keep up the frequent water changes, but scrape/harvest as much algae out as you can before the water change. Use a fine net to scoop out as much free floating hair algae as you can, then change the water. __________________ Tang Police most wanted Outlaw. ORCA Founder Previous tanks, 125,120, 55,37,20, 15, 10, 5 Current Tank Info: 65 reef

01/08/2007, 11:36 AM	#5
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	Aquaman, that is good advice and what I have been doing. I was going to add the phosban reactor as a secondary measure. I am confident that I am starting to make a dent I just need to keep at it and get the water cleaned up. wentreefgirl, did you have a problem with alk after setting up the reactor? __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's Last edited by CeeGee; 01/08/2007 at 11:49 AM.

01/08/2007, 06:11 PM	#7
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	I think my main problem has been the lack of blowing out the rocks as often as I should. __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

01/08/2007, 09:32 PM	#8
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	Does anyone know what negative effects I might see and how to notice them and correct the problems before it is too late? also how often does one change the media while running one of these units? __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

01/08/2007, 12:52 AM	#2
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	Just run the phosban reactor through some RO/DI water before you put it in your tank to clean it of the dust. You'll have to make sure to tone down the flow too with the included valve. I have mine at just enough flow to get the reactor media rolling around on the top of the media layer, but not enough for it to be stirred up and flowing upwards toward the top sponge. I'm still getting .5 phosphate in my tank even with a phosban reactor running. The worst part is that for whatever reason, the phosban reactor effluent measures the same amount of phosphate as the surrounding water... Best of luck!

01/08/2007, 06:01 AM	#4
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	I fill mine with phosban. I hold a bowl under the spout until it runs clear. Then im good to go.

01/08/2007, 05:04 PM	#6
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	No, no problem with alk. It was a miracle for me. I had the same problem.

01/08/2007, 10:30 PM	#9
Aquaman Fishinchick's better half Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: St Cloud, FL USA Posts: 2,278	For some reason it seems that it takes no time for a tank to develop a problem and forever to fix that problem. Keep at it, its a slow recovery process. I'd change the media out every week. __________________ Tang Police most wanted Outlaw. ORCA Founder Previous tanks, 125,120, 55,37,20, 15, 10, 5 Current Tank Info: 65 reef

01/09/2007, 05:33 AM	#10
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	Usually start loosing the skin at the tips. Poor color. Rtn

01/11/2007, 10:27 AM	#13
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	You need to bumpt that alk up. Its not the phosban filling with phosphate. Its the substance in the phosban doing it. You just have to dose accordingly to get that back up. Ive been using phosban for more then a year and a half now with no problems.

01/11/2007, 08:35 PM	#14
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	how often do you change the media? I sure as heck don't want any phosphate to leach back into the tank after the Rowaphos takes it out. And Oh yeah NICE AVATAR!!! My daughters and I are playing through twilight princess on out Wii that Santa stood outside in the cold on November 18th so that he could bring it for christmas. LOVING IT!!! __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

01/12/2007, 05:12 AM	#15
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	Dont know about your media but phosban is said not to leach. I replace about every three months. Im a die hard zelda fan. That pic is from The new twilight princess game.

01/12/2007, 04:01 PM	#17
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	It hasnt for me. How do you like the wii. Are you playing the zelda twilight right now.

01/12/2007, 06:35 PM	#18
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	I absolutely love the Wii. I am not playing zelda right now but I am getting ready to Do you not have a Wii and Twilight Princess? __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

01/13/2007, 08:17 AM	#19
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	Nope, gamecube. I hear the graphics are better with twilight princess on the gamecube though. SOme thing to note though. When you get to the lakebed temple, note the giant acro flatworms. lol.

01/13/2007, 09:37 PM	#20
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	graphics are the same on both systems. Only difference is that you can play in 16:9 mode on the Wii if you have a TV that supports it. The development team at nintendo wanted to make the graphics better for the Wii version but Miyamoto would not let them. He wanted the graphics the same so that the gamecube owners would not feel cheated since the game was originally going to be a gamecube game. Unlike in an aquarium the flatworms are easy to kill in the game you just have to put some flatworm exit on links sword __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

01/14/2007, 08:59 AM	#21
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	lol, we just need a mini link in our tanks.lol.