Chemical Filtration! Whats in YOUR reactors?

[ralphie16]

What kinds of media do you guys use in your reactors for chemical filtration? What amounts do you use and how long do you keep it in?

I have three reactors made by Phosban.

I use one for "Phosban" (phosphate removal media). I usually keep it in for 6 weeks before I change it out. I fill the reactor a little less then halfway full. I use phosban brand now but will be switching out for twopartsolutions's stuff. had great success with phosban but its hurting my wallet.

I use another for activated carbon. I always used black diamond in the past but now I will be trying out the media twopartsolution offers. Anyone use this and what are your comments? I fill up my reactor about halfway, run it for a week and then turn it off for 3 weeks.

My third reactor I have not used yet but I just order Purigen for it. Its apparently made to remove protein and other organic aquarium pollutants. Says it can be removed but we will see about that. Any thought on this media?

So what do you guys use and tell us how long and how much and if you noticed any differences!

[honda2sk]

man not one response. why is chemical filtration so under-rated? everybody spends countless hundreds and even thousands of dollars on skimmers but we have these amazing chemical filters at our disposal. maybe its not as sexy as a new skimmer but it certainly has great uses!

[landlord]

I run a kilo of carbon through two filters and 400 ml of Phosar HC through another. I am pleased with this arrangment to date.

FWIW --landlord

[reeferhabit]

I currently have just one Phosban reactor and I am running both black diamond carbon as well as Phosban in there. I have about 1/4 filled with the phosban and about 1/2 filled with carbon.

I just bought this two weeks ago, and I plan on changing both out once a month.

What doyou think about running both in the same reactor. This was reccommended by my "knowledgeable" LFS, so I am somewhat skeptical.

[honda2sk]

I just got each media its own reactor. The phosphate seems much slower to deplete (weeks) while the carbon seems to deplete in a matter of days.

[landlord]

The reason I do not is because I change the carbon more than the GFO. It avoids the mess, or potential mess.

FWIW --landlord