Mix Phosban with Carbon

eg8r210 · 04/12/2011, 01:17 PM

I just received my TLF 550 phosban reactor and the directions state that I could mix phosban with carbon. How effective is the reactor mixing these two? Also, which goes in first the phosban or the carbon? Or do I mix them both up first and then put htem in?

dwa_jeff · 04/12/2011, 01:22 PM

I think mixing carbon and phosban would be a bad idea. first they need different flow rates to work effectively. The carbon needs a quicker flow rate than the phosban. Also phosban lasts much longer than carbon. Carbon should be replaced at least every 30 days, whereas phosban can easily go 60-90 days before it needs replacing. Finally if the carbon was tumbling with the phosban, it would likely grind the phosban down and send it out into your tank.

I wouldn't do it. I usually run them in separate reactors and only run the carbon for a few days to polish the water if need be.

Remn · 04/12/2011, 01:47 PM

What Dwa_jeff says is correct. I would run in seperate reactors if you wanted to use both Phosban and Carbon. Thats not to say it hasn't been done, but its a bad idea.

gweston · 04/12/2011, 02:54 PM

I mix both in a single reactor on my small 29g tank. It works just fine. 100% optimized efficiency with ideal flow rates? Maybe not.. but it works and it is far better than a filter sock. I prefer to not layer it, as the GFO will clump and channel. When mixed relatively evenly, it does work well enough.

For my larger tank soon to go in. I will use separate reactors with more appropriate flow rates.

04/12/2011, 01:17 PM	#1
eg8r210 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ocoee, FL Posts: 1,876	Mix Phosban with Carbon I just received my TLF 550 phosban reactor and the directions state that I could mix phosban with carbon. How effective is the reactor mixing these two? Also, which goes in first the phosban or the carbon? Or do I mix them both up first and then put htem in?

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04/12/2011, 01:22 PM	#2
dwa_jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 94	I think mixing carbon and phosban would be a bad idea. first they need different flow rates to work effectively. The carbon needs a quicker flow rate than the phosban. Also phosban lasts much longer than carbon. Carbon should be replaced at least every 30 days, whereas phosban can easily go 60-90 days before it needs replacing. Finally if the carbon was tumbling with the phosban, it would likely grind the phosban down and send it out into your tank. I wouldn't do it. I usually run them in separate reactors and only run the carbon for a few days to polish the water if need be.

04/12/2011, 01:47 PM	#3
Remn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 115	What Dwa_jeff says is correct. I would run in seperate reactors if you wanted to use both Phosban and Carbon. Thats not to say it hasn't been done, but its a bad idea.

04/12/2011, 02:54 PM	#4
gweston Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gardner, MA Posts: 961	I mix both in a single reactor on my small 29g tank. It works just fine. 100% optimized efficiency with ideal flow rates? Maybe not.. but it works and it is far better than a filter sock. I prefer to not layer it, as the GFO will clump and channel. When mixed relatively evenly, it does work well enough. For my larger tank soon to go in. I will use separate reactors with more appropriate flow rates.