Phosban reactor problems

jefft321 · 05/05/2008, 02:08 PM

I am having problems with my Phosban reactor. I set the flow so that the media was "a light boil" on top, but after a day or so the media starts clumping and you can only see media moving on one side. It took me several hours of adding hot water and vinegar to remove the brick. I tried it again with a little less flow and I am having the same problem. Also, I was wondering if after I fix the problem if I can add Activated Carbon to the reactor? Can I run them together in the same reactor?
Thanks.

psteeleb · 05/05/2008, 02:21 PM

are you dosing ca and alk? I remember reading about one or the other (maybe both) calcifying with the ferric oxide under certain conditions

I had some issues like that when I first used it but it went away after a while. At the time I thought it was related to reduction of a higher phosphate level versus maintaining a low one. But after reading about the calcification, I don't know what it was.

stuart0413 · 05/05/2008, 11:09 PM

i have problems with mine too. in my sump, i hooked up a maxi jet 600 to my phos reactor and the media just tumbles a bit. what i noticed later, though, is that it was getting powderized and circulating into my water. this caused some discoloration of the water and i eventually just took it all out. i know of some reefkeepers that recommend blue life phosphate control. it is a liquid which uses a dropper, avoiding the mess of a reactor and apparently works very well. i just bought some and am going to try it out.

Robgixxer · 05/05/2008, 11:15 PM

I have 3 phosban reactors on my tank. One has kent phosphate sponge, one has kent reef carbon, and the other has kent nitrate sponge. and all are working well. each one has its own individual pump and is programmed with the aqua controller as i do not use each item every single day. so they all come on certain times and certain lengths.

cardking · 05/05/2008, 11:22 PM

what pump do you have running your reactor

jefft321 · 05/06/2008, 08:13 AM

I have a Minijet 400 pump. I have a hard time from the beginning getting all of the surface to tumble evenly and after a day or two it seems to only tumble on one side?
I thought I read on Melevs Reef that he is using both carbon and phosphate media together is his, but I couldn't find that article again?

Paul_PSU · 05/06/2008, 08:17 AM

I have a MJ 1200 running two inline with carbon in the first and GFO in the second. Did you rinse the GFO before you put it in? I had the issue when I first set it up with the flow going to one side and it was due to the reactor not being level. Once I played with the leveling screw it was fine.

What brand of GFO are you using? Is it pellets?

jefft321 · 05/06/2008, 10:34 AM

Right now I am just using the Phosban Media in the reactor, I checked it and it is level.

jefft321 · 05/06/2008, 10:35 AM

Phosban Phosphate Media, and I did rinse it first.

05/05/2008, 02:08 PM	#1
jefft321 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rocky River Posts: 650	Phosban reactor problems I am having problems with my Phosban reactor. I set the flow so that the media was "a light boil" on top, but after a day or so the media starts clumping and you can only see media moving on one side. It took me several hours of adding hot water and vinegar to remove the brick. I tried it again with a little less flow and I am having the same problem. Also, I was wondering if after I fix the problem if I can add Activated Carbon to the reactor? Can I run them together in the same reactor? Thanks.

05/05/2008, 02:21 PM	#2
psteeleb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 5,249	are you dosing ca and alk? I remember reading about one or the other (maybe both) calcifying with the ferric oxide under certain conditions I had some issues like that when I first used it but it went away after a while. At the time I thought it was related to reduction of a higher phosphate level versus maintaining a low one. But after reading about the calcification, I don't know what it was. __________________ A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner Current Tank Info: 110g Mixed Reef, LED's & T5's

05/05/2008, 11:09 PM	#3
stuart0413 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: denver, co Posts: 39	i have problems with mine too. in my sump, i hooked up a maxi jet 600 to my phos reactor and the media just tumbles a bit. what i noticed later, though, is that it was getting powderized and circulating into my water. this caused some discoloration of the water and i eventually just took it all out. i know of some reefkeepers that recommend blue life phosphate control. it is a liquid which uses a dropper, avoiding the mess of a reactor and apparently works very well. i just bought some and am going to try it out.

05/05/2008, 11:15 PM	#4
Robgixxer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pompano Beach, Fl Posts: 315	I have 3 phosban reactors on my tank. One has kent phosphate sponge, one has kent reef carbon, and the other has kent nitrate sponge. and all are working well. each one has its own individual pump and is programmed with the aqua controller as i do not use each item every single day. so they all come on certain times and certain lengths.

05/05/2008, 11:22 PM	#5
cardking Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: miami, florida Posts: 51	what pump do you have running your reactor

05/06/2008, 08:13 AM	#6
jefft321 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rocky River Posts: 650	I have a Minijet 400 pump. I have a hard time from the beginning getting all of the surface to tumble evenly and after a day or two it seems to only tumble on one side? I thought I read on Melevs Reef that he is using both carbon and phosphate media together is his, but I couldn't find that article again?

05/06/2008, 08:17 AM	#7
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	I have a MJ 1200 running two inline with carbon in the first and GFO in the second. Did you rinse the GFO before you put it in? I had the issue when I first set it up with the flow going to one side and it was due to the reactor not being level. Once I played with the leveling screw it was fine. What brand of GFO are you using? Is it pellets?

05/06/2008, 10:34 AM	#8
jefft321 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rocky River Posts: 650	Right now I am just using the Phosban Media in the reactor, I checked it and it is level.

05/06/2008, 10:35 AM	#9
jefft321 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rocky River Posts: 650	Phosban Phosphate Media, and I did rinse it first.