Who runs a phosphate reactor?

[All Delight]

Could you give me some feedback on your impressions?

[CorkPullerPHL]

I run Carbon and GFO in my TLF reactor. It has improved water quality quite a bit.

I find with two cups of carbon and 3 TBS of GFO on a 28 gallon tank, i only have to change the media out once a month. It's easy and the water is crystal clear.

I guess I'm a fan!!!

[Jadams]

I run a Kent Marine Nautilus Reactor on my 24g nano cube.

As far as media goes, inside I have Kent Marine Nitrate sponge on the bottom, then PHoSAR phosphate media on top of the nitrate sponge.

Works Great IMO. Crystal clear water, 0 Nitrates & 0 Phosphates

[mnml]

I've been running the TLF reactor for about 6 months with HC GFO from BulkReefSupply. It works well for me, I hardly have to clean the glass on my tank. I only use 24 grams (3 tablespoons) at a time and I switch it out every 5 weeks.

I use to run carbon in the same reactor but now I run the carbon in a media bag. Reason is I replace my carbon every 3 weeks so separating the two makes it easier to maintain.

FWIW, I use to run ROWAPhos but I've found that it actually created more algae. Maybe I was using too much of it but since I've switched to the BRS media everything has been nice.

[tinky]

Anyone have pictures of their setup?

[All Delight]

Great input so far, I love it. I have a 24 gallon and controlling algae has been somewhat a battle.

I run a skimmer and chemipure elite.

[GaryR1984]

I run two TLF Reactors on my 45. Love them :D

I'll end up buying some for my 24g AP.

[jun_18T]

im also interested in putting one on my BC29. can you guys post pics of your setup? and also some steps on how to go about doing this.

thanks!

[JazzZero]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14117207#post14117207 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jun_18T
im also interested in putting one on my BC29. can you guys post pics of your setup? and also some steps on how to go about doing this.

thanks!

Me too anyone with a pic or the setup?

[Jadams]

Here is a pic of my set up...

The Reator's intake pump and return line are both in the 1st chamber of my nano cube. Tunze 9002 Skimmer in the 2nd chamber. And my "chiller" aka fan mounted on the wall behind tank :D

<img src="http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq255/jadams8998/Tank111908004.jpg">

[Jadams]

JazzZero - What kind of fish is that in your avatar? Very COOL!!! :thumbsup:

[mnml]

I was battling a hair algae in the past and adding a phosphate reactor definitley helped. Some of the other things I did to win the battle was increase my mag to 1500 and changed my old MH bulb for a new. Within weeks of doing these 3 things, the HA was disappearing quite fast. I've also stopped using Chemipure Elite as well. *Note: I feed every other day and do 10% weekly water change with RO/DI (0 tds).


I'll post pics of my set up when I get home.

[gas4544]

I ordered a BRS "DUAL" GFO and Carbon Reactor from Bulk Reef Supply:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Carbon-and-Phosphate-Remover-GFO-Media-Bags-&-Reactors/c109_85/p679/BRS-%22DUAL%22-GFO-and-Carbon-Reactor/product_info.html

That way I can run carbon in one cannister and GFO in the other.

[mnml]

Here's a pic of my setup:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/Zenit/IMG_4772.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/Zenit/IMG_4773.jpg

gas4544 - that's a sweet setup. let us know how it performs.

[JazzZero]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14118382#post14118382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jadams
JazzZero - What kind of fish is that in your avatar? Very COOL!!! :thumbsup:

Its a baby bandit angelfish and ya it is cool wish i had one xD

[Mojo Jojo]

Go for it :thumbsup:

[All Delight]

So I read that someone says the TLF reactor had issues with it leaking? How likely is that?

Comparing that to the BRS "DUAL" GFO and Carbon Reactor from Bulk Reef Supply that gas4544 was referring to I like the BRS one better.

Any feedback on this unit?

Thanks for all the input so far, very informative.

[E.intheC]

I like the looks of the "dual" one from Bulk Reef Supply.. looks good to me. Not too expensive either

[GaryR1984]

never had a problem with my TLF and never heard of it leaking.

[NanoReefWanabe]

my TLF reactor leaks all the time if i dont get the top on tight enough, make sure all the connections on top are still tight after taking the unit apart, and most importantly make sure the "O" ring isnt folded or kinked in any way when i try to reinstall the top...

other then that i love it...i run 3 tblspns of PHOSLOC in mine...seems a little ridiculous to run such a tiny amount of media in such a huge vessel...

[burtbollinger]

i want one....but for real, what is the differnce in just putting some in a media bag in a hi flow area?

[truthdesigns]

I have a TLF Its never leaked and I love it!

[hebygb]

I run both TLF and Kent reactors... On my 65 I run one with Carbon, the other with PhosBan... I love the way they work. Mine are connected in series, PhosBan then carbon... Yes, sometimes they leak (but usually at the hosing)... that is why they hang inside my sump.

[All Delight]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14137687#post14137687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hebygb
I run both TLF and Kent reactors... On my 65 I run one with Carbon, the other with PhosBan... I love the way they work. Mine are connected in series, PhosBan then carbon... Yes, sometimes they leak (but usually at the hosing)... that is why they hang inside my sump.

I wish I had a sump. I have a 24 jbj, so it'll be outside the tank. Thats why I'm so concerned about it leaking.

[Chymos45]

I run 2 from TLF on my 185G and have them both mounted in the sump, although they have never leaked in the past. One runs carbon at a pretty high rate, and the other runs phosban at the "slow boil" rate recommended so as to not pulverize the media.

[s2k]

I am interested as well. How does the BRS unit hang to the back? Anyone with photos to share?

[jim.l]

The original TLF design sealed with plastic screws and an o-ring. They leak badly when the media starts to solidify, and were a pain to change the media in. I threw mine in the garbage. True POS design. The new ones appear to be designed differently. But, if I were to buy a new reactor I would go with the BRS unit.

[burtbollinger]

theres a video at BRS that shows mounting options....I want one the 2 chamber one....wanna squeeze a bag of chemi pure elite in one, and some purigen in the other side...

[All Delight]

I like the 2 chamber unit as well.

[All Delight]

I ordered the BRS unit. Can't wait to try it out.

[Reefer08]

All Delight, I just wanted to say it shouldn't leak as long as everything is tight. Carbon is a must for any reef tank while phosphate media is totally optional.

Just wanted to mention that Chemipure elite is basically carbon with a lil GFO media in it. Throw it away after a month, don't listen to the box that claims it lasts 3 months lol.

[All Delight]

reefer08 -

Thanks. Yah I usually leave the chemipure in there for 3 months. Others have said to replace it within a month or 2, like you have. Its just so expensive.

[mnml]

all delight - let me know how your BRS unit works out. i'm very tempted to switch to this one. i like the ease of switching out the carbon w/out having to mess w/ the GFO.

[gas4544]

I received my BRS Dual Reactor yesterday. It is very well built and comes with all you need except for a supply pump. As shown on the Bulk Reef Supply website, a MaxiJet attaches easily to the supply line.

I followed the loading instructions provided by BRS. You do not need very much GFO and carbon, certainly less than most people would think.

I have an old MaxiJet 1200 that I hooked up as my supply pump. The impeller shroud on the pump is not tight, so I get some leakage around the periphery of the shroud. This results in not getting the maximum flow from the pump directed into the supply line.

I am looking to get another pump to replaced the old MaxiJet. I am thinking of either a Quiet One 1200 or an Eheim 1250. The Eheim is not cheap, and not small, but it is quiet and reliable. Another option is using a Mag 3 pump. I could also buy a new MaxiJet pump. Right now I am weighing my options.

I am impressed with the unit. I also purchased the High Capacity GFO and Rox carbon from BRS.

Gary

[Tremont]

I run two, for carbon and phosban (carbon on my return line, phosban on it's own line routed to a filter sock). I also run a fuge in the middle chamber. I also dose 1 ml vodka per day. I also do a 5 g water change every week (in a 34 gallon system).

I feed quite a bit but I have zero issues with Nitrates or Phosphates (but I do everything I can to get there!).

-Tre