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Phosphate Reactors.
I want to add a phosphate reactor to my tank... yes, it's a small tank it may look silly, but whatever.. that doesn't bother me.I understand they can be ran HOB , so that's good.
Just want to know how effective they are?? Moreso than running some phosphate remover through a filter? I still haven't quite understood the whole concept of a reactor.. but would like to. I have been thinking of removing my sandbed, and upgrading, and I've come to the final conclusion that it's just not happening, or at least not anytime soon .. so I'll learn to accept that haha. Adding a phosphate reactor sounds nice.. I do have bits of unwanted algae, and with that sandbed.. the nutrients are buidling up. If someone would care to enlighten me on how they work, and if this would be something worth adding then feel free to post. Thanks |
i too am interested in adding one to my system so any info would be great
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http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=21978
The phosphate reactors I've seen are basically just an upweller system whereby water is forced through a small column in the middle of a larger tube and expelled through the bottom into the main tube which contains the phosphate remover and then flows upwards through the media and out the top. IMO they're much more efficient than placing a bag of phosphate remover in a high flow area as greater flow reaches more surface area of the phosphate remover. Seems that way to me anyways, I've had more success with the reactor than just putting a bag of it in my sump. It kicks ass for carbon as well. |
Reactors for phosphate removal are fluidized reactors, just like fluidized bed sand filters.
Fluidisation will greatly increase the life and effectiveness of phosphate media (eg. Rowaphos) as it allows a larger surface area for reaction with the water and prevents channels from forming through the media. They also work great for carbon. Water is fed in to the reactor with a small pump or fed off return pump and adjusted so the media is suspended but not so much that it is returning to the aquarium. They are unlike most calcium reactors where the media isn't moving in the chamber and water percolates up through it. When the output water no longer measures lower in phosphate than the tank water it's time to replace the media. |
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I have used a reactor now for about a year. Very good investment. the flow through the chamber is very slow. Thats the key!!! I have never had any algae other than the typical film on the glass every couple days nothing my MagFloat cant simply wipe away. My sandbed is clean and Never seen HA in my tank. They are cheap to buy and media lasts 3 months if the flow is set right. Meaning a 22 dollar container will last you 6 months and the reactors are only around 50 bucks, Sound worth it to you? Buy one. OA has em!!
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I just installed one on a 90 gallon tank and was able to bring my Phosphates down from about 1 ppm to about 0.03 ppm in less than a week (I didn't test the water every day). You can actually see the Hair Algae dying off on the live rock now. Overall I am very pleased with the results however I have read that they can have adverse effects on some corals. Now if I can only get my Nitrate levels down a little bit more.
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Some PO4 media use various elelments as a base which aren't good for marine aquariums. I read that some use a Mg base which can throw your other levels off, while others use various heavy metals that would only be suitable for freash water use. Sorry I can't back up this claim at this time, just offering a plausable explaination. |
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