I don't think you need to go that often, unless you have high Phosphate when tested with the hanna meter:lol2:
Phosphate Remover
- Thread starter meschaefer
- Start date
I don't think you need to go that often, unless you have high Phosphate when tested with the hanna meter:lol2:
Matt, buy one of these before you spend the $ on the reactor..
Yeah..that's the ticket....$179 just to determine with lab grade accuracy, whether it is worth it to spend the $60 to get up and running with the phosban reactor....wait..... did I say "lab grade"...:Hydrogen:
Can anyone answer chief's question? I'm interested in the answer as well since I don't have room for anything else in my sump.
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Someone with more experience may chime in on this one, but I will give it my best shot.
The phosphate reactor is more efficient as it forces water through the medium, this is called active filitration. When you are using a pad, the water is just as likely to flow around the media as opposed to through it, this is called passive filitration. When the water is flowing around the media, as opposed to through the media, the water is only coming into contact with the surface media. The same things goes for carbon, there is a good artilce out there that discusses in detail the difference between active and passive filitration. If I can find it I will post a link in this thread.
Picked up phosban reactor this weekend and have it up and running in my system. Picked it from Anthony at Reef Exotics (MR Sponsor), who sells a "package" with the reactor and 150g of media, also picked up a maxijet 400 to run it.
I was going to pick up a second one to run carbon, but instead for $6 in pvc peices, I was able to fashion a reaction chamber. I basicly used a 12 inch long peice of 2 inch pvc. On one end I placed a cap, and used a threaded cap on the other. There are two hose barbs coming out of the sides at the top. ONe of them is connected to an elbow, that runs a smaller piece of PVC tubing to the bottom of the chamber, allowing the water to then run across the carbon, as it travels back to the top to run out of the other hose barb.
With the right tools (Miter saw, drill press, appropriately sized bits, and a vise to hold the pvc in the drill press) it was really easy to put together, took me no more than a half an hour to make two of them. More than adequate for carbon, but I wouldn't use it to run the phosban due to the fact that in order to get the fludized bed action, the water needs to be evenly diffused through the media.
I was going to pick up a second one to run carbon, but instead for $6 in pvc peices, I was able to fashion a reaction chamber. I basicly used a 12 inch long peice of 2 inch pvc. On one end I placed a cap, and used a threaded cap on the other. There are two hose barbs coming out of the sides at the top. ONe of them is connected to an elbow, that runs a smaller piece of PVC tubing to the bottom of the chamber, allowing the water to then run across the carbon, as it travels back to the top to run out of the other hose barb.
With the right tools (Miter saw, drill press, appropriately sized bits, and a vise to hold the pvc in the drill press) it was really easy to put together, took me no more than a half an hour to make two of them. More than adequate for carbon, but I wouldn't use it to run the phosban due to the fact that in order to get the fludized bed action, the water needs to be evenly diffused through the media.
scarf_ace1981
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- San Juan, PR
so matt where are the pics of carbon reactor?
i'm interested in knowing the difference between phosban and phosguard...besides the price.
i'm interested in knowing the difference between phosban and phosguard...besides the price.
scarf_ace1981
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- San Juan, PR
cool Al. i was just wondering why phosban is so popular.
because Randy Holmes Farley doesnt like it. He and others claim that it leaches aluminum into the water. seachem however claims that if rinsed properly before use (rinsed VERY VERY well) that it does not leach any aluminum. In my personal experiences with phosguard (i always rinse it very well) and never had a problem with it - one of the most obvious signs would be leathers closing up.
That may explain why it is not as popular as people have been advised against it by one of the more popular chemists on RC.
That may explain why it is not as popular as people have been advised against it by one of the more popular chemists on RC.
phosguard is an aluminum based that is placed in a media bag and dropped in the sump, tank, etc.
phosban is a GFO that is usually used in a reactor.
like said above RHF doesn't like phosguard and claims it leaches aluminum into the tank...I have used it in the past w/ good results...You basically rinse it really well and place it in the sump and remove after 4 days...You repeat this process until you bring down the phosphate to appropriate levels.
If the Seachem directions are carefully followed i think the aluminum leaching is a non issue. However, using a GFO requires less maintenance and can running in a reactor full time. It probably works better also but i havn't used GFO...
I use Ultralith and have no need for phos removers anymore.
phosban is a GFO that is usually used in a reactor.
like said above RHF doesn't like phosguard and claims it leaches aluminum into the tank...I have used it in the past w/ good results...You basically rinse it really well and place it in the sump and remove after 4 days...You repeat this process until you bring down the phosphate to appropriate levels.
If the Seachem directions are carefully followed i think the aluminum leaching is a non issue. However, using a GFO requires less maintenance and can running in a reactor full time. It probably works better also but i havn't used GFO...
I use Ultralith and have no need for phos removers anymore.
scarf_ace1981
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- Location
- San Juan, PR
thanks for clearing that up.
IME Phosguard dosen't remove Phosphate nearly as effecitve as Phosban.
Albert, have you tried phosban? If not, once you did, I don't think you would go back to phosguard
I heard good things about the Deltec phosphate kit. I would love to hear you're opinion.
thanks!
Albert, have you tried phosban? If not, once you did, I don't think you would go back to phosguard
I heard good things about the Deltec phosphate kit. I would love to hear you're opinion.
thanks!
i have not yet tried phosban (i have the sample that came with the phosban reactor) but i did buy a liter of RowaPhos to try - i suspect i might like it better, but i still want to finish using up my phosguard. I am not saying which is more effective or more economical to use, but i just wanted to clarify the reason people tend to avoid phosguard (again, i personally never had a problem with it).
regarding Deltec's Phosphate test kit, i must admit that is it MUCH better than the salifert kit i've used in the past (which to me, never showed anything). It comes with two vials, the test one is placed on a white background and the other vial is filled only with the sample (no reagents)and placed over the color chart - they are read by looking from above. each uses 20ml of sample and the dropper is very clean/easy to use. It is fairly easy to compare the colors, especially since you are looking at both via 20ml of water. while it is an expensive kit, it is the only one i would use at this point (other than a hana photometer).
(rich, you are of course welcome to come by and try it out if you like before buying one)
regarding Deltec's Phosphate test kit, i must admit that is it MUCH better than the salifert kit i've used in the past (which to me, never showed anything). It comes with two vials, the test one is placed on a white background and the other vial is filled only with the sample (no reagents)and placed over the color chart - they are read by looking from above. each uses 20ml of sample and the dropper is very clean/easy to use. It is fairly easy to compare the colors, especially since you are looking at both via 20ml of water. while it is an expensive kit, it is the only one i would use at this point (other than a hana photometer).
(rich, you are of course welcome to come by and try it out if you like before buying one)
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