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11-16-2006, 11:11 AM
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#1
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To boldy reef ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryville, TN
Posts: 1,242
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Phosban reactor
I've been reading alot about the Phosban reactor here on TRT, and was wondering if people felt it was a good option for controlling/removing phosphate from a system?
I am thinking of suckering off for one and wanted to get opinions and advice as to setup, running it, any pitfalls to watch out for?
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__________________
They have two settings .... stun and kill ... It'd be best not to confuse them!
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11-16-2006, 11:46 AM
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#2
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 13,402
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I bought three when they first cme out, but I don't know if I wil continue to use them when the time comes to change media next month. They are really good for carbon though, I am just not sure that I will continue to use phosban in them, and if I do, it will be nowhere near the recmmended amount of GFO...
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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11-16-2006, 12:19 PM
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#3
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To boldy reef ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryville, TN
Posts: 1,242
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Do they seem to have an effect on phosphate? Why are you thinking of not using phoban anymore?
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They have two settings .... stun and kill ... It'd be best not to confuse them!
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11-16-2006, 12:24 PM
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#4
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King of the Niblonians!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Elkhart, Indiana
Posts: 822
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I've been thinking about building one 2, I havent been able to find any info on them.
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11-16-2006, 12:29 PM
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#5
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 10,932
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I did some damage to some stoney corals last week using one.........
I think im done using it for phosphate reduction as well. However...i think they are great to have around for running carbon periodically OR more importantly....to have arouond in the event that you NEED to run some carbon to clean out any accidiental toxins that may be introduced to your water.....
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Zoa and paly pics HERE
SPS pics HERE
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11-16-2006, 12:31 PM
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#6
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King of the Niblonians!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Elkhart, Indiana
Posts: 822
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So your sayn it would be just better to use carbon If your load isnt that great?
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11-16-2006, 12:31 PM
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#7
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 620
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very basic question here - but do you run carbon in a sock within the reactor or just loose?? I have ordered mine for carbon purposes and waiting to try it out.... 
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Don't Panic!!
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11-16-2006, 12:35 PM
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#8
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King of the Niblonians!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Elkhart, Indiana
Posts: 822
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sambo
very basic question here - but do you run carbon in a sock within the reactor or just loose?? I have ordered mine for carbon purposes and waiting to try it out.... |
If it had no way to go back into the tank let it free float.
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11-16-2006, 12:52 PM
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#9
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 10,932
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To be sure.......the damage i had occurred in my new BB tank. I have used it(phosban or rowa) often in the past on my dsb systems with no issues and i though i was getting benefit out of them.
BUT, the fact that the tiny amount i used in my bb system hurt my corals, it made me wonder how close it was to doing the same damage in my dsb tanks in the past, but just not enough to actually notice as the dsb absorbed the iron that i believe caused the damage.....
regardless.........im thinking Spanky saying "pick your poison" in concern to aluminum based vs. iron based phosphate removers, was a lot more serious than i took it for at first..........
just my experience.........
__________________
I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Zoa and paly pics HERE
SPS pics HERE
Last edited by Fly Guy; 11-16-2006 at 01:14 PM.
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11-16-2006, 01:15 PM
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#10
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 13,402
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I am with Bill, they are of some use in systems where there is ton of phophate, as it is a means of captruing whatever free phsphate DOES appear in the water, but the issue with the iron affecting stonies at recommended doses in closed systems (especially BB systems) makes me a little apprehensive. This is not to say there is no use for these devices with Granular Ferrous Oxides, but that continuous long-term use of heavy doses might cause some issues with stony coral bleaching related to the elevation of iron levels... I am not so sure not when looking back in my notes that some specimen bleaching I had attributed to high temp spikes during the summer might not have been coincidental with the temps and possibly more due to the use of fresh new GFO. 
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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11-16-2006, 01:38 PM
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#11
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To boldy reef ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryville, TN
Posts: 1,242
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Did I hear or read somewhere that the best time to measure phosphate was first thing in the morning before the lights come on ... or am I just making that up?
__________________
They have two settings .... stun and kill ... It'd be best not to confuse them!
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11-16-2006, 01:42 PM
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#12
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 10,932
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drdude05
Did I hear or read somewhere that the best time to measure phosphate was first thing in the morning before the lights come on ... or am I just making that up?
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phosphates arent really measurable anyway. If your salifert test kit picks ANYTHING up......youve got a TON and need to evaluate your entire system from nutrient export to water source and fix it.
When i used to use phosphate remover all the time it wast becasue i could measure phosphates in my tank water......it was becasue i was trying to get the phosphates that couldnt be measured out.
__________________
I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Zoa and paly pics HERE
SPS pics HERE
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11-16-2006, 02:00 PM
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#13
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ΤΏΤ
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cottage Grove, Oregon
Posts: 834
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Interesting finding Fly. When I get ready to change out my current media I will turn it off and see if I get any difference. I run a very small amount in my reactor and it seems to help... but skimming nice and wet should do the same thing. I may drill out my asm skimmer cup to a resivoir and run wetter to see if there is any changes in my SPS. I skimm so wet now the cup is full in 48 hours and the skinmate is medium brown (watery) in attempts to get out any contaminants, not tjust the really bad stuff. |
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11-16-2006, 02:04 PM
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#14
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To boldy reef ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryville, TN
Posts: 1,242
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One issue I am having with my phophate measurement is that I am using a SeaChem test that is at least 2 years old. May not be reliable anymore. I did a water change the other day and the test went from barely detecting anything to PO4 of 0.6. And there are no PO4 in my RO/DI water I checked already.
__________________
They have two settings .... stun and kill ... It'd be best not to confuse them!
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