phosban reactors are they good???

[Michael]

this is a picture of what 1 looks like, and a brief description of what it does, hth

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/207695/product.web

[kolosy]

Originally posted by GrantMeThePower
Does anyone successfully have both a phosban reactor AND cheato in a refugium? I see the cheato more as a growth area for pods with the phosban taking care of the phosphates...

hear hear. anybody got an answer? my chaeto growth is being outpaced by hair algae growth. while phosban will do fine for phosphate, i still want something that will self-maintain the nitrates as well, which that thing won't do but chaeto will.

[sps1-2-b]

+3 on waiting for an answer on the phos reactor and chaeto. I've noticed a decrease in growth of my sps. I don't run phos rx, but have a ton of chaeto. I am assuming my phos level is not ideal for sps but don't have a Hanna phos meter to test.

[Michael]

Originally posted by abulgin
Although these reactors are great to have at the ready, I wouldn't run them with GFO constantly if you are also using Chaeto. If you have a good fuge setup with Chaeto, you'll be robbing the Chaeto of phosphates and inhibiting its growth. These reactors are great to use for quick solutions, like getting a phosphate spike down, but not long term IMO. You're much better off letting your fuge/Chaeto do the work--plus Chaeto gives you the added benefit of having a medium for propogating pods, etc. I have a Phosban reactor, but I use it solely to run carbon unless I have a real phosphate problem.

i think abulgin gives a good insight into this

[ducatimikep]

As I posted earlier,
I have a TLF reactor, as well as
Chaeto in my fuge. It has only been
~ 3 weeks I cannot comment on the
Long term effect of the reactor on the
Chaeto filled fuge.
It has not slowed the growth as of yet,
Nor does it seem to be affected at all.

[HaleMoana]

albugin nailed it...
Although... I do keep mine running at all times with CARBON. If I feel like I need to kick in some GFO for a quick Phosban fix (I actually use Rowa), then I simply add it in the same reactor as the carbon. Make sure the carbon is on the bottom, then insert a sponge filter in between the two medias, and the GFO on top. That is fine to run both in the same reactor for a short period of time, maybe a week or so... but I wouldn't do it as a full time fix.

I'm sure that some might disagree...

[HaleMoana]

Oh... and I, too, have the Two Little Fishies. No complaints at all. I run it with a MaxiJet400

[cloak]

Originally posted by twoodall
Do you want to elaborate on that?

I'm guessing the RO/DI isn't getting the job done.

[wizzbane15]

I run a Phosban reactor with Aquamedic's Anti-Phos product and a cheato fuge. I run the reactor from a ball valve on my returns back into my return area. I want to strip out the last bit of PO4 on its way directly back to the tank. Water goes through the sump and fuge before that so the cheato can take what it needs. I think of the reactor as "polishing" my water. Cheato still grows fine.

[tmz]

Originally posted by GrantMeThePower
Does anyone successfully have both a phosban reactor AND cheato in a refugium? I see the cheato more as a growth area for pods with the phosban taking care of the phosphates...

You can have both. I just find that when I run the reactor constantly and try to get the very low phosphate levels.02ppm genrally recommended for sps it's just not enough phosphate for the chaeto to thrive. Basically I guess it comes down to wether or not chaeto can outcompete the corals and nuisance algae when phosphate is severely limited. I con't think it can.Alternatively a large enough refugium with lots of caheto could reduce phosphate to desired levels. It's another balancing act and the balance you wan't depends on the type of corals and macroalgaes you wan't to keep.

[Dobbs1101]

You can also use one of these. I recently saw one of these Media reactors and they look sweet. You can run almost any media in it. I think you can stack more than one.
http://www.magnavore.com/closerlook/fbrcl.html

[Michael]

that links not working for me dobbs, can you post it again

[Dobbs1101]

Sorry here is a better link.

http://www.magnavore.com/closerlook/fbrcl.html

[Michael]

that works great, thanks, i will have a good look, cheers

[tmz]

They costs about $ 40. They are basically a clear tube in which you place media of your choice ( usually a phosphate remover such as granualted ferric oxide or granular acitvated carbonm) . Water is opumped throug the tube and pushed through the media. I like them and find them convenient. They are not a must have but a very nice tool.

[Wind]

Can you run rowaphos w/ a sock filter type?

If so, what size micron will hold it?

[Wind]

Can you run rowaphos w/ a sock filter type?

If so, what size micron will hold it?

[Tangweed]

I just picked up a Two Little Fishes Reactor and TLF Phosban from my LFS. I had to get a pump and 1/2 flexible tubing also. Now I'm off to hook it up.

[Tangweed]

I bought a MaxiJet 400 for the return but I don't think it has enough power. The phosban doesn't even go half way up the tube. How high should it be? The paper work said MaxiJet 500 but they don't make a 500, next step up is a 600. Dude at LFS said 400 will be fine. Flow rate 105 GPH. Reactor needs 100-200 GPH. I see that HaleMoana runs a MaxiJet 400 also.

Need some help on this one.

[Postal]

You don't want the phosban blowing all over the tube. That will only pulverize it.
All you want is enough flow to make it gently boil at the top.

[HaleMoana]

You should be fine with 400. That reactor only needs about 100gph through it.

I run CARBON at all times in my reactor. I am sure that the 400 should be fine for phosban too though. like postal said... you don't want to kill it. Just let the water run through it.

[seapug]

Originally posted by Wind
Can you run rowaphos w/ a sock filter type?

If so, what size micron will hold it?

No, it will get pounded into dust and end up in the water column. The benefit of a reactor is that it allows you to control the flow rate and direction (upflow) through the media.

PhosBan reactors are great. I'd probably rate them as the single best piece of equipment for the money. Since I set up my dual rig (one for GFO, the other for carbon) my tank has never looked better. Completely eliminated hair algae from the system.

[abulgin]

Originally posted by tmz
You can have both. I just find that when I run the reactor constantly and try to get the very low phosphate levels.02ppm genrally recommended for sps it's just not enough phosphate for the chaeto to thrive. Basically I guess it comes down to wether or not chaeto can outcompete the corals and nuisance algae when phosphate is severely limited. I con't think it can.Alternatively a large enough refugium with lots of caheto could reduce phosphate to desired levels. It's another balancing act and the balance you wan't depends on the type of corals and macroalgaes you wan't to keep.

I agree with Tom, but I think it's easier to keep that balance than one might think. My tank has a lot of SPS that are all thriving/growing well, and the only phosphate "remover" I have is a 30g fuge with Chaeto. I do water changes every other week with RO/DI. I have very little nuisance algae on my LR, and I have no measurable level of phosphate.

[XSiVE]

Originally posted by kolosy
hear hear. anybody got an answer? my chaeto growth is being outpaced by hair algae growth. while phosban will do fine for phosphate, i still want something that will self-maintain the nitrates as well, which that thing won't do but chaeto will.

I've run a phosban reactor with chaeto in my fuge, the chaeto is still growing like mad, and my phosphates are still reading 0.

[Wind]

Originally posted by seapug
No, it will get pounded into dust and end up in the water column. The benefit of a reactor is that it allows you to control the flow rate and direction (upflow) through the media.

PhosBan reactors are great. I'd probably rate them as the single best piece of equipment for the money. Since I set up my dual rig (one for GFO, the other for carbon) my tank has never looked better. Completely eliminated hair algae from the system.

What could fit in the media then?
I plan on use that sock method.