Phosban or Carbon ?

[peterm]

To date I do not run carbon and only use phosban inside a net placed in the sump. I've started to dip my toes into reef with a few mushrooms and polyps. I'm thinking of adding a reactor and not sure whether carbon or phosban should be a priority. Or can I run both in a single reactor ?

Thanks
-Peter

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I would place a bag of carbon or even better chemi pure in the sump in a high flow area and add a phosban reactor if you have high phosphate levels.

 

[fritz]

You can't run both in the same reactor, well you could but it would be a bad idea. As chief mentioned if it aint broke, don't fix it. For the corals that you plan on keeping it isn't really necessary. Mushrooms and polyps come from areas that typically have the things that carbon and phosban would remove. I'd leave it alone. As chief mentioned if down the road you begin to have problems then perhaps look at these as a solution but until then, enjoy.

 

[Wes]

You can't run both in the same reactor, well you could but it would be a bad idea.

I run both carbon and phosar in a reactor...I only use 1-2 tablespoons of phosar w/ carbon and change it about every 3-4 weeks.

works well for me...

i sandwich the layer of GFO between 2 layers of carbon.

 

[peterm]

Thanks all. My phos/nitrate levels read zero but the presence of cyano (although getting better) leads me to believe different. I'll try moving the phosban into a reactor to see if I get better results. (I feed frozen food that's been rinsed and use RO/DI water)

 

[Wes]

how are you measuring your P04? Chances are your test kit is not acurate enough.

 

[peterm]

Unlike all my other testkits (Nitrate/PH/Alk/Calc) which are Salifert, I use RedSea for phosphate. i didn't bother getting a better one as I didn't see the use. I've read so much about PO4 not showing up in test kits that it hardly seems worth testing for. If I have cyano it must be present.

 

[Wes]

yeah none of the test kits will tell you much, the hanna colorimeter is one of my favorite investments.

 

[House of Laughter]

yeah none of the test kits will tell you much, the hanna colorimeter is one of my favorite investments.

I am with you Wes - one of the best investments for the reef. Even with our wholesale accounts, we couldn't touch the price that Drs Foster and Smith had them for a couple months ago - I got mine for $178 shipped with 100 reagents.

House

 

[crox99]

Unlike all my other testkits (Nitrate/PH/Alk/Calc) which are Salifert, I use RedSea for phosphate. i didn't bother getting a better one as I didn't see the use. I've read so much about PO4 not showing up in test kits that it hardly seems worth testing for. If I have cyano it must be present.

Red Seat test kits are the worst. If you are around I can test your water with my Hanna. LMK