Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > New to the Hobby
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 06/18/2011, 05:33 PM   #1
jamest0o0
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,325
what should i put in my phosban reactor?

I'm going to set up my phosban reactor and I was wondering what the best media for it would be? With all of the different kinds it's hard to tell which route would be the best to take. Also how much of what should I add? This is for an 8g tank.


__________________
Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby
jamest0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/18/2011, 11:55 PM   #2
tchndie
Registered Member
 
tchndie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Angus,ON
Posts: 335
What are your level at? Phosphate?? What is in your tank? LPS SPS softies???? Need more info!!


__________________
Current Setting up
250G Mixed reef tank, 125G sump, Refugium, skimmer Bubbleking 200, I am using a aquactinics constellation 7 bulb fixture , 4 tunze 6105 power heads, barracuda pump. Everything is hooked up to my Neptune Apex.
Fish are ,mated pair oynx clowns, naso tang,Sohal Tang, Lieutenant Tang,Achilles tang, Powdwer blue tang, Horseshoe Tang, Indian ocean orange striped mimic tang, Magnificant foxface, fairy wrasse, cleaner wrasse, six line wrasse, carpenter flasher wrasse,10 green chromis, pistol shrimp, 12 cleaner shrimps, 1 blood shrimp,frog spawn, branching hammer, devils hand, colt coral, leather cabbage coral, leather kenea tree, 2 open brain, green plate coral, mushrooms, GSP, orange crush acan 50 heads,and 18 different sps frags and and a couple of SPS colonies. I am probably missing some corals lol!!
tchndie is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/19/2011, 12:03 AM   #3
Michael
NTTH Rookie Help
 
Michael's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Gloucester, England,UK
Posts: 7,808
Blog Entries: 6
as the tank is only 8 gallon, I would suggest water changes tbh, however if your determined to use the reactor, them rowaphos or phosban would be useful if you have a phosphate problem, as the tank is small just 3-4 spoonfuls will be fine IMO and you will need to control the flow as that small amount will get liquidised very quickly under pressure.


__________________
Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you
[For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name]

MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards ,
MIKE

Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)
Michael is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/19/2011, 10:58 AM   #4
jamest0o0
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,325
well I have the two little fishies reactor that has a valve on it to control flow, I can't imagine that'd be too big of an issue? Right now all I have is some zoas and lps which are doing fine, but I want to eventually keep some sps. I just want my water quality to be as best as possible. I'm getting a little bit of hair algae and cyano, but I keep up on water changes and don't overfeed so I think it may just be from "new-tank syndrome".


__________________
Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby
jamest0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/19/2011, 06:24 PM   #5
jamest0o0
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,325
I was going to get the high capacity gfo and ROX carbon and mix them in the phosban reactor, think this is a good idea? What about purigen, chemi-pure, etc or is GFO and carbon good enough?


__________________
Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby
jamest0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/19/2011, 06:40 PM   #6
WaterKeeper
Bogus Information Expert
 
WaterKeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 16,147
Well you might try using Phosban or some of the alternatives listed above. you need to have the reactor about 2/3's full.


__________________
"Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation"

Tom

Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29
WaterKeeper is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/19/2011, 09:18 PM   #7
WestChesterReef
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Chester OH
Posts: 109
When I installed my TLF 150 I was told not to mix carbon and GFO in the same container, and then TLF instuctions said to only fill it 1/3rd full of GFO, but maybe my info was bad???


WestChesterReef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/19/2011, 09:30 PM   #8
aquaman05
Registered Member
 
aquaman05's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: indiana
Posts: 722
I just got mine going today. Tlf with the phosban, I only put about 3 inches in the bottom, but let me say this, the say to rinse it real well and holy crap it took me about 1 hr to get it clear. Not sure if that's what your suppose to do since I'm new to it so someone please correct me if I'm doing it wrong!


aquaman05 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/19/2011, 09:30 PM   #9
WaterKeeper
Bogus Information Expert
 
WaterKeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 16,147
Not really West--

The problem with running a phosphate remover with carbon is that the carbon gets ladened with bacteria (and other nasty stuff) in a little over a week. The phosphate remover lasts far longer but if fouled by the growth on the carbon. It too will last only about a week or so if combined with the carbon. By running each is seperate chambers, phosphate remover first, carbon second, one greatly increases the life of the expensive phosphate remover,

I usually filled the phosphate camber 2/3's full but that is a matter for debate and I really don't know what level is best and most efficient,


__________________
"Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation"

Tom

Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29
WaterKeeper is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/19/2011, 11:58 PM   #10
Michael
NTTH Rookie Help
 
Michael's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Gloucester, England,UK
Posts: 7,808
Blog Entries: 6
the tank is so small you may be better off replacing water anyhow, if you do use the reactor the phos if any in the tank should clear quite quickly with the reactor.


__________________
Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you
[For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name]

MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards ,
MIKE

Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)
Michael is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 12:22 PM   #11
jamest0o0
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,325
So should I not mix the carbon and GFO? Is there a way to keep them separated in the same reactor?


__________________
Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby
jamest0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 12:43 PM   #12
WestChesterReef
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Chester OH
Posts: 109
Like Waterkeeper was saying, you'll use up the carbon quickly, and GFO will last alot longer, plus its not cheap. I now run two seperate reactors, The GFO lasts 4-6 months, but I change my carbon every other month and I'm running ROX in it. It was BRS that told me I couldn't run the two together, maybe for more sales, but I didn't antway.


WestChesterReef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 12:47 PM   #13
WestChesterReef
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Chester OH
Posts: 109
Sorry, and yes, carbon and GFO should be rinsed with RO water before hooking it up on the aquarium, it won't hurt but it does make it mucky if you don't but it will clear up.


WestChesterReef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 12:59 PM   #14
jamest0o0
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,325
Doesn't BRS say to use lignite carbon instead of ROX if you're going to be mixing it with GFO? I believe I saw that in one of their videos.


__________________
Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby
jamest0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 01:52 PM   #15
WaterKeeper
Bogus Information Expert
 
WaterKeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 16,147
Lignite is soft coal anf the most porus of the coals. Slightly less porus but harder is Bituminous coal and finely there is Antracite or hard coal. As far as heating value the harder the coal the more BTU's per unit weight. This is because hard coal has a higher carbon content.

For filtration value the softer the coal the more porous the structure. This is why the soft coals make them superior for filtration. The problem is the soft coals contain far more phosphorus than a hard coal and can leach this into the tank. Therefore soft coals for filtration are often acid washed to remove the phosphates.

Granular activated carbon is "pressure cooked" with a strong base. This vastly increases the pore structure. It is perferred for filtration but the activation process is costly and hence it is fairly expensive. FYI-activated carbon is rarely made from the othe coals but rather things like peanut or coconut shell. The type of base material determine how porus the final product will be.

The cheap, porus coals are often used in the hobby but look for a brand that claims low phosphate content. If you have the bucks, then op for GAC.

Thus endith the sermon.


__________________
"Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation"

Tom

Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29
WaterKeeper is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 03:54 PM   #16
jamest0o0
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,325
Alright so from what I gathered the best way to do this would be a layer of GFO with lignite carbon on top, run it through RO first to remove dust? I figure with such a small tank this should work well?


__________________
Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby
jamest0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 04:00 PM   #17
WaterKeeper
Bogus Information Expert
 
WaterKeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 16,147
Just remember. Carbon can be a nitrate factory when it is engulfed with bacteria. All those pores create a natural habitat for low oxgen loving bacteria. Remember to clean it about once a week to keep it from being colonized.


__________________
"Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation"

Tom

Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29
WaterKeeper is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 04:28 PM   #18
sporto0
Moved On
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Posts: 2,924
put a sponge between the media, gac on top & gfo/phosban etc. on the bottom. this will prevent the two from mixing, altho like previous posts have said, carbon won't last as long.


sporto0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 05:04 PM   #19
jamest0o0
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,325
When you say "clean" the carbon, what is the best way to do this? Rinse it? Or just replace it? Thanks a lot for the help!


__________________
Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby
jamest0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 06:06 PM   #20
WestChesterReef
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Chester OH
Posts: 109
BRS told me that the ROX carbon only took out the bad things and that regular carbon took out the bad and the good, is this correct Waterkeeper? I know it wasn't cheap.


WestChesterReef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/20/2011, 06:14 PM   #21
bnumair
Dr. Reef at ur service
 
bnumair's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA
Posts: 7,751
Blog Entries: 15
carbon and phos media SHOULD NOT be mixed togather in one reactor. they both require different water flow. carbon clogs as well more than phosban.


__________________
Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300

"Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16

Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE
bnumair is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/21/2011, 01:26 PM   #22
jamest0o0
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,325
Well I was going to separate them with a sponge like mentioned above. Any thoughts?


__________________
Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby
jamest0o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/21/2011, 03:10 PM   #23
WestChesterReef
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Chester OH
Posts: 109
JamestOoO
They have a video saying you can use a sponge on a small tank, check it out. Good luck. They told me I shouldn't, so maybe e mail them and ask, but here is thier video

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...bon-gfo-videos


WestChesterReef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/21/2011, 04:04 PM   #24
WaterKeeper
Bogus Information Expert
 
WaterKeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 16,147
Quote:
Originally Posted by WestChesterReef View Post
BRS told me that the ROX carbon only took out the bad things and that regular carbon took out the bad and the good, is this correct Waterkeeper? I know it wasn't cheap.
AC removes organic compounds. As far as I know all carbons remove about the same things but there is a slight difference because of pore size. Some carbons will remove lighter molecular weight compounds compared to others.


__________________
"Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation"

Tom

Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29
WaterKeeper is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06/21/2011, 04:46 PM   #25
WestChesterReef
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Chester OH
Posts: 109
Could have been for the high price, it says on it that it pharmaceutical grade? But then they told me not to mix the carbon and GFO together and then there is a video saying you could. L'm lost lol.


WestChesterReef is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Difference between TLF Phosban 550 and BRS Jumbo Reactor? aleonn Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment 3 10/27/2010 04:48 PM
Phosban Reactor Mod questions jereader Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment 4 10/06/2010 06:35 PM
phosban problem help!!! jj6072 Responsible Reefkeeping 10 03/23/2010 11:18 AM
How much rowaphos to put in my phosban reactor? adtravels Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment 12 10/29/2007 07:26 PM
Anybody put a DIY Phosban reactor together? reefgeek84 Do It Yourself 2 03/23/2006 03:15 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.