Phosban reactor plumbing question

sailsurfski · 08/16/2008, 03:48 PM

My kent phos reactor came with my used setup. It was plumbed with the ball valve on the outflow tube rather than the input. It has a slow leak around the (still decent lookin) o-ring at the top. This set-up creates more backpressure and thus the leak. It would seem to make more sense to put the ball valve on the incoming side.

Am I missing something? Is there a reason it was plumbed this way?

kau_cinta_ku · 08/16/2008, 03:51 PM

I am not sure why he had it that way but I would suggest just putting the valve on the input side.

inachu · 08/16/2008, 03:54 PM

I do not have a ball valve on my kent phosban canister.
Mine does leak in the same exact spot as yours and for that same reason when I need it to run I just place the whole thing in the tank.

sailsurfski · 08/16/2008, 04:03 PM

I am replumbing and want to run the phos and the calcium reactor with manifold splits off the the mag 18 that runs my skimmer. I will need the ball valves to regulate the flow.

The previous owner cut out a section of the top framing acrylic to hang the phos over the edge. Since it is leaking, mine is in the sump too. I have a feeling when I move the ball valve to the input side, the leak will go away.

How do you get the right tumble with no valve to dial it in?

inachu · 08/16/2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sailsurfski
I am replumbing and want to run the phos and the calcium reactor with manifold splits off the the mag 18 that runs my skimmer. I will need the ball valves to regulate the flow.

The previous owner cut out a section of the top framing acrylic to hang the phos over the edge. Since it is leaking, mine is in the sump too. I have a feeling when I move the ball valve to the input side, the leak will go away.

How do you get the right tumble with no valve to dial it in?

I measure the right amount of media.
A little bit less than half makes all of it tumble around.

If I put more than half then it just sits there.

inachu · 08/16/2008, 04:26 PM

Here I have it running mixed media and it doesn't tumble at all.

All the local fish stores do not sell replacement pads to keep the media inside so I make my own out of ladies facial skin scrub pads that are the exact size needed and I just fold twice and cut the tip off to make a nice center hole.

http://www.aznphotos.com/view.html?f...ang057kv5g.jpg

kau_cinta_ku · 08/16/2008, 04:36 PM

wow you use almost 2 times the amount of media in yours than I do in my 75 gal.

carbon media needs a faster flow rate than phosphate media. to fast of flow through the GFO and it will start to crush itself

inachu · 08/16/2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kau_cinta_ku
wow you use almost 2 times the amount of media in yours than I do in my 75 gal.

carbon media needs a faster flow rate than phosphate media. to fast of flow through the GFO and it will start to crush itself

I was just testing.

I normally just use a bit less than half when running carbon.

From my testing I found after 3 days it only drips out so having that much media is not really a good thing.

Tswifty · 08/16/2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kau_cinta_ku
I am not sure why he had it that way but I would suggest just putting the valve on the input side.

I'm not sure of the kent reactor layout. If it is similiar to the TLF reactor (upflow principle)... I have heard of people reversing the input/output when using carbon media.

Possibly the previous owner was running it that way?

kau_cinta_ku · 08/16/2008, 04:53 PM

I have both the kent and the TLF and yes they do run the same way. both upflow just the kent is slightly larger in diameter but not much

can't comment on the reverse part as I have never tried it.

tmz · 08/16/2008, 06:02 PM

My reactors(two little fishes) instructions specify that the ball vavle shoud only go on the input without restriction on the output to avoid pressurizing the reactor and causing leaks?

Tswifty · 08/16/2008, 06:05 PM

Tom your definitely right. You don't want to have a ball valve on the output for the exact reason you specified.

I meant that I have heard of people hooking up the pump to the output instead of the "normal" input and running the reactor in reverse with carbon media.

I think it was because some carbon media tends to float, and running it in reverse kept it all at the bottom of the reactor.

08/16/2008, 03:48 PM	#1
sailsurfski Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fairhope, AL Posts: 51	Phosban reactor plumbing question My kent phos reactor came with my used setup. It was plumbed with the ball valve on the outflow tube rather than the input. It has a slow leak around the (still decent lookin) o-ring at the top. This set-up creates more backpressure and thus the leak. It would seem to make more sense to put the ball valve on the incoming side. Am I missing something? Is there a reason it was plumbed this way?

08/16/2008, 06:02 PM	#11
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	My reactors(two little fishes) instructions specify that the ball vavle shoud only go on the input without restriction on the output to avoid pressurizing the reactor and causing leaks? __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

08/16/2008, 06:05 PM	#12
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Tom your definitely right. You don't want to have a ball valve on the output for the exact reason you specified. I meant that I have heard of people hooking up the pump to the output instead of the "normal" input and running the reactor in reverse with carbon media. I think it was because some carbon media tends to float, and running it in reverse kept it all at the bottom of the reactor. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

08/16/2008, 03:51 PM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	I am not sure why he had it that way but I would suggest just putting the valve on the input side.

08/16/2008, 03:54 PM	#3
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	I do not have a ball valve on my kent phosban canister. Mine does leak in the same exact spot as yours and for that same reason when I need it to run I just place the whole thing in the tank.

08/16/2008, 04:03 PM	#4
sailsurfski Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fairhope, AL Posts: 51	I am replumbing and want to run the phos and the calcium reactor with manifold splits off the the mag 18 that runs my skimmer. I will need the ball valves to regulate the flow. The previous owner cut out a section of the top framing acrylic to hang the phos over the edge. Since it is leaking, mine is in the sump too. I have a feeling when I move the ball valve to the input side, the leak will go away. How do you get the right tumble with no valve to dial it in?

08/16/2008, 04:26 PM	#6
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	Here I have it running mixed media and it doesn't tumble at all. All the local fish stores do not sell replacement pads to keep the media inside so I make my own out of ladies facial skin scrub pads that are the exact size needed and I just fold twice and cut the tip off to make a nice center hole. http://www.aznphotos.com/view.html?f...ang057kv5g.jpg

08/16/2008, 04:36 PM	#7
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	wow you use almost 2 times the amount of media in yours than I do in my 75 gal. carbon media needs a faster flow rate than phosphate media. to fast of flow through the GFO and it will start to crush itself

08/16/2008, 04:53 PM	#10
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	I have both the kent and the TLF and yes they do run the same way. both upflow just the kent is slightly larger in diameter but not much can't comment on the reverse part as I have never tried it.