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cdcq12
02/27/2008, 03:50 PM
I have th Phosban 150 and bought a container of phosban media too. Should I put the entire container in the reactor or just 50g? I read the instructions but I'm a bit confused. =)

cdcq12
02/27/2008, 09:05 PM
^

psteeleb
02/27/2008, 11:44 PM
there are a couple recent posts on this that can provide more information but I fill mine about 1/3 full and keep a slow flow on it

by slow flow I run just enough water to keep the media on the surface tumbling a little. too much flow and it can breakdown and enter your system

johnyjo
02/28/2008, 02:40 AM
slow slow flow

you just wanthe surface of the media 'boiling' basically if that makes sense.
more of a slow simmer. lol

cdcq12
02/28/2008, 06:36 AM
which if i go and buy a small pump, about how many gph would that be? under a 100?

jc9394
02/28/2008, 08:19 AM
A Maxijet 900 or 1200 will be fine, but make sure to use a valve to control the flow.

eaglesrx
02/28/2008, 09:00 AM
quick question. I just started my phosban reactor also. Mine's "slow boiling" only in a couple of spots at the surface. For example, only in a couple of spots on the surface of the media is it "jumping up and down" a little.

So, should the entire surface area be "slow boiling"?

thanks,

tankman10000
02/28/2008, 09:16 AM
my entire surface slow boils

jc9394
02/28/2008, 09:45 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11964550#post11964550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tankman10000
my entire surface slow boils

x2

Waxxiemann
02/28/2008, 09:57 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11964245#post11964245 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jc9394
A Maxijet 900 or 1200 will be fine, but make sure to use a valve to control the flow.

A MJ400 is more than enough to get the desired effect.

eaglesrx
02/28/2008, 10:22 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11964757#post11964757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jc9394
x2

Okay, thanks guys! I'll increase my flow then.

willewonka
02/28/2008, 11:11 AM
I fill mine 1/3 full too.

tunfeer
02/28/2008, 11:18 AM
How often do you change your phosban? I have two phosban reactors connected together one for carbon the other for Phosban, does anyone see a problem with this set up?

FEEDERFISH
02/28/2008, 11:40 AM
You want very low flow "boil" like mentioned, if the flow is to low the Phosban media will clump causing it to form a rust ball which is uselss, you can mix in a small amount of carbon to reduce clumping, but do to media hardness one media will break up the other to dust if flow is to high

cdcq12
02/28/2008, 02:10 PM
can you use phosban reactors for carbon filtration? hmmm

psteeleb
02/28/2008, 02:33 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11966908#post11966908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cdcq12
can you use phosban reactors for carbon filtration? hmmm

I do - it's an excellent choice in my oppinion

I run 3 TLF reactors; one for carbon and two for phosban

the carbon gets changed monthly if not more often

the phosban gets changed every 4 months but on alternating cycles to prevent phosphate shock. I'm always undetectable on the test kits, but I know I have some and I want some for my clams to be happy, just not enough to bother my sps.

cdcq12
02/28/2008, 02:41 PM
how much carbon do you put in the reactor?

jc9394
02/28/2008, 02:54 PM
1/3 to 1/2 filled.

karsco
02/28/2008, 03:45 PM
cdcq12,

Be careful when you first start your phosphate reactor especially if you have SPS corals. The phosban media has the potential to drop your alkalinity fast thus causing the SPS to rtn. When I started dosing again recently I started with about a 1 inch depth of media then the next week I changed out the media and added 2" and so on...

I made the mistake a couple of years ago adding half a container of phosban directly to the reactor. Causing my Alk to drop fast and some of my SPS to bleach. Just my 2 cents...

cdcq12
02/28/2008, 04:26 PM
thanks. this is a new tank, so would i just be ok with going with 1/3 of the container? I don't have any organisms in there right now. Let it cycle and the alkalinity should stabilize right?

D-Rod
02/28/2008, 04:41 PM
Would this pump work with the reactor?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4585+14665&pcatid=14665

BlakDuc
02/28/2008, 04:51 PM
Yes, but you are better off just putting a small ball valve inline the input line.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10090+7900+8016&pcatid=8016

cdcq12
02/28/2008, 05:52 PM
that is the exact pump that i was looking it. It has an adjustable flow rate i believe.... i really don't want to have to buy a flow valve now and pay for more shipping... lol =)

D-Rod
02/28/2008, 06:06 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11968698#post11968698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cdcq12
that is the exact pump that i was looking it. It has an adjustable flow rate i believe.... i really don't want to have to buy a flow valve now and pay for more shipping... lol =)


It is adjustable...atleast thats what the info says.

emoore
02/28/2008, 06:34 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11968698#post11968698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cdcq12
that is the exact pump that i was looking it. It has an adjustable flow rate i believe.... i really don't want to have to buy a flow valve now and pay for more shipping... lol =)

I am using the same pump for my phosphate reactor. I don't turn down the flow on the pump. I am using the TLF reactor and it comes with a ball valve. I use that to limit the flow.

cdcq12
02/28/2008, 07:29 PM
ok, as i said earlier in the thread, will i have issues if its a new tank? there won't be any organisms.... except for live rock

karsco
02/28/2008, 10:00 PM
cdcq12,

I would start with the cylinder at a a quarter full and work you way up. In the early stages of your tank you need to be more worried about amonia & nitrates and doing water changes. Once your tank stabalizes, and you add fish, corals etc. you will have to start worrying about your nitrates, phosphates & alkalinity. Just take building the levels of phosphate media slowly & you should be alright. Somoene once said, nothing good comes fast in this hobby, and they were right...

jefft321
02/28/2008, 11:08 PM
I was trying to figure out just the right boil also, it seems that either 1/2 - 3/4 is boiling, or it's all boiling and looks like too much? I would love to see a you-tube video of this! :)

eaglesrx
02/29/2008, 07:11 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11971485#post11971485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jefft321
I was trying to figure out just the right boil also, it seems that either 1/2 - 3/4 is boiling, or it's all boiling and looks like too much? I would love to see a you-tube video of this! :)

me too. I've increased my flow, but, probably only about 1/2 is boiling. I'm hesitant about having too much flow at this point. I figured I'll take it slow until i find more info about this.

thanks!

D-Rod
02/29/2008, 01:12 PM
On the TLF reactor Dr. F & S mentions an extension kit to purchase, is it needed?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11586

cdcq12
02/29/2008, 01:18 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11975286#post11975286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by D-Rod
On the TLF reactor Dr. F & S mentions an extension kit to purchase, is it needed?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11586

I bought it from them too. Not in my case, and I am just hanging it on the side of the tank. Seems to work ok for me, though I haven't actually started it yet. =)

Lightsluvr
02/29/2008, 01:26 PM
Does anyone put phosban and carbon in the same reactor? Will this work? Any tricks to make it work?

Thanks.

LL

DarG
02/29/2008, 01:43 PM
Guys, this is not rocket science. It isnt going to make the difference between the GFO working and not working if 1/2 the top surface of the GFO is dancing or if the entire surface is dancing. The difference in how much of the surface is boiling is only going the mean a slightly lower or higher turnover rate for your system. As long as some of the surface is slightly dancing or boiling or whatever you want to refer to it as, the media is getting enough flow. It isnt likely to clump up and it will work effectively to help keep the phosphates in check.

There are plenty of things to obsess about related to our tanks. How much of the GFO is boiling isnt one of them. ;)

eaglesrx
02/29/2008, 04:09 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11975540#post11975540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DarG
Guys, this is not rocket science. It isnt going to make the difference between the GFO working and not working if 1/2 the top surface of the GFO is dancing or if the entire surface is dancing. The difference in how much of the surface is boiling is only going the mean a slightly lower or higher turnover rate for your system. As long as some of the surface is slightly dancing or boiling or whatever you want to refer to it as, the media is getting enough flow. It isnt likely to clump up and it will work effectively to help keep the phosphates in check.

There are plenty of things to obsess about related to our tanks. How much of the GFO is boiling isnt one of them. ;)

thanks for the clarification! I know, I'm a little obsessive compulsive about everything. Good to know!

Lightsluvr
03/01/2008, 10:23 AM
Carbon in same reactor... like a layer of Phosban and a layer of carbon? Will that work?

LL

emoore
03/01/2008, 03:36 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11982235#post11982235 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
Carbon in same reactor... like a layer of Phosban and a layer of carbon? Will that work?

LL

Some people do have it set up that way. You need to make sure the carbon and the GFO don't mix since you would change the carbon more often than the GFO. I have two reactors, one for GFO and one for carbon. They are in series running off the same pump.

cdcq12
03/01/2008, 04:31 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11984115#post11984115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by emoore
Some people do have it set up that way. You need to make sure the carbon and the GFO don't mix since you would change the carbon more often than the GFO. I have two reactors, one for GFO and one for carbon. They are in series running off the same pump.

Are you using just one pump at the same GPH as you would for just one reactor? (only iwth two?) You don't increase the GPH when you are using two reactors do you? And which reactor do you have first? :)

rishma
03/01/2008, 06:10 PM
put the carbon reactor first because many carbons release phosphate and the GFO will pick it up

cdcq12
03/01/2008, 06:14 PM
awesome thanks