Nitrate sponge in a reactor?

[JLAudio]

I was contemplating hooking up a phosreactor w/ phosban and a conjoined reactor w/ nitrate sponge product for my fowlr. Id rather not use a fuge, but would like to keep algae levels minimal and have decent light (320 watts from VHO's)

Possible even using an old canister filter and put both products in it seperated by divider?

Any thoughts on reactors, or canister?

 

[Killerdrgn]

I have that going right now, self built. the nitrate reactors usually need a slower gph than the phosban reactor so i had to split the water line out of the phosphate reactor. I do notice less algae growth but it's still there.

 

[JLAudio]

But if its a second conection and you slow the flow down a bit on on the original pump through the phosphates and keep em both slow maybe I could get rid of some of the excess nutrients like that

 

[Killerdrgn]

wait do you mean you want to hook up the reactors in parallel or seriel? when i had the nitrate in seriel the output rate from the phosphate reactor was the same as the output from the phosphate and nitrate together. i put in 2 nitrate reactors to the 1 phosphate reactor.

 

[JLAudio]

Distinction between paralell and serial?

I was thinking 2 seperate reactors, one phos, one nitrate sponge, the return from phos go's to the nitrate intake and then out to sump

 

[Killerdrgn]

that would mean serial.
Bad assumption that you name is jlaudio so i thought you might know some electronics lingo.
Parallel would mean your running both simultaneously on the same pump. pump to both nitrate and phosphate reactor by way of tee or something.
But back to topic on hand. I think phosphate reactors do well in 100 gph streams and nitrates are usually 50 gph and under. So to maximize the usefulness i have the pump at about 80 gph going into the phosphate reactor and then the output of that tees off to 2 nitrate filters. each about ~40 gph.

 

[JLAudio]

Thanks Killer, JLaudio is actually a nickname because of my initials I didnt know it was a car audio system till I saw it on some one car front windshield lol.

As for the reactors I think I will copy your design, but how do you know the gph (do you have one of those gph meters?) or is it just a rough estimate

 

[Killerdrgn]

they are rough estimates, i just took a 5 gallon bucket and timed how long the output would take to fill the bucket. Took about 4 minutes so it means the gph is around 80gph. and when i added on the 2 nitrate filters they both took about 9-10 minutes to fill a bucket.

 

[JLAudio]

Thanks killer, thanks for great info

 

[h20 freak]

Do those sponges actually work?My nitrates(undetectable) are fine but my phosphates must be bad from the algae growth in my tank I have no idea where they come from since I use RO water and the only feeding I do is nori a few times a week and a little bit of flake like once a week so I know the shrimp aren't starving.I was always skeptical of those things like Phosban and Purigen.

 

[JLAudio]

H20 Freak, Rowaphos got my phosphates almost endetectable in a cpl days, I think for the money its a great investment.

Im personally contemplating if I can get away with using just one canister filter for both medias. Ive heard of it being done with carbon and others but never nitrate sponge and phos sponge.