Unconventional use of Phosban

[fritz]

I've seen lots of people running carbon in old canister filters and it got me wondering if I could run phosban or a phos removing product in a similar way. I haven't used phosban but as I understand it, it has a small partical size. Could I run phosban in fine mesh netting in an old aquaclear HOB filter? Has anyone tried running phosban in an unconventional (non-reactor) manner? How'd it work?

I want to try carbon and a phos removing product in an Aquaclear 150 set to "low". Just wondering if I'd be wasting time.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

it should work. that's what a lot of people do in their nano set ups. that's what i did for my 10g

 

[nycmat]

it will work with a slow flow of water

 

[cali_reef]

Those who use phosban in bags: doesn't your media clumps together after a week or so?

 

[aaron23]

it will work fine just have flow through it.

 

[prattreef]

I agree with Cali, the problem is not that the media won't "work" in this kind of setup, but that when it is not fluidized it becomes calcified very quickly and turns to a solid mass thereby eliminating most of the surface area negating its efficacy. This has been my experience, particularly in a HOB filter.

Randy

 

[cali_reef]

I agree with Cali, the problem is not that the media won't "work" in this kind of setup, but that when it is not fluidized it becomes calcified very quickly and turns to a solid mass thereby eliminating most of the surface area negating its efficacy. This has been my experience, particularly in a HOB filter.

Randy

I think the efficiency will become 0 when the media turns into a solid mass and water will no longer flow thru the media.

Just my experience, but I am sure those who says it is fine knows something I haven't figure out yet.

 

[fritz]

to those who say it's fine....
Do you place it on the bottom of the HOB to ensure flow through it? I would think that if I placed it on top it would calcify quicker then on the bottom or middle, but then again I've never used it so what do I know...

 

[fritz]

According to the directions on the back it would seem they aniticpated people using it in regular filters more then with their reactor. I placed it in an Aquaclear 30 set to low setup as follows:

-top-
carbon
phos-pad
PhosBan in stocking
Aquaclear sponge
-bottom-

Hopefully being sandwiched between the two pads and next to the side outflow it will not calcify. I'll let everyone know how it goes. Even if it doesn't work out I think I'll keep running the HOB with a plain Phospad and carbon.

*** According to the directions you must limit the flow in the reactor to prevent tumbling. This implies that if it is "tightly packed in a sock" as the directions state you could run more volume through it when in a HOB.

 

[aaron23]

they're probably right:scratchch , I mean if it starts clumping = no flow = useless ;\

 

[masterswimmer]

I agree wholeheartedly with Randy and Cali. The efficacy of the Phosban should last 2 -3 months. Once it is compacted in the media bag and then sandwiched between other types of media it doesn't allow for it to LIGHTLY tumble.

In a Phosban Reactor (or any fluidized media chamber), the intent is not to vigorously agitate the Phosban. The correct flow should just allow the 'top layer' of Phosban to lightly tumble, thereby utilizing the greatest amount of surface area possible.

Once it becomes compact the water will find the path of least resistance and flow primarily through that path, basically rendering the Phosban useless. The clumping in a media bag, layered, I would think would happen very quickly.

ms

 

[Tonyscoots84]

I think the efficiency will become 0 when the media turns into a solid mass and water will no longer flow thru the media.

Just my experience, but I am sure those who says it is fine knows something I haven't figure out yet.

i agree with cali-reef. just stating my experience with it i used it in a aquaclear and it did clump actually a lil less then a week..

 

[glipper69]

I used rowaphos that way in the same filter about 4 years ago. it clumped all the time so I went to the phosreactor. actually I think I might be the first one to use it that way. I actually started using the phosreactor before it was even called that. its was a fluidised filter that was made by coralife. Okay I strayed a little. Moral of the story spend the extra money and get the reactor.

Frank