Phosphate Reactors.

Palster · #1 10-27-2006, 06:31 PM

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.

danny zubot · #2 10-27-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

I have read that they can have adverse effects on some corals.

I don't have the information to back this up anymore but I heard a reason for this a couple of years ago.

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.

Palster · #3 10-27-2006, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny zubot

I don't have the information to back this up anymore but I heard a reason for this a couple of years ago.

If you click on the link that Christy has posted above in this thread there is some good information on some of the side effects of using a Phosphate binding media. For me the benefits have far outweighed the risks.

i have crabs · #4 10-27-2006, 07:43 PM

its the type of material in the reactor that has effects on corals. if its iron based and you dont rinse it well leathers and some lps i believe dont like it.
http://www.reefcast.com/downloads4.php
lisen to episode 1

as far as the reactors they work great i have 2 running of a mj1200 1 full of phosguard and one full of carbon and its made a noticable improvement since i started.

reeferaddict · #5 10-27-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palster

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.

I have run both Rhowaphos and Phosban through my reactor and had better results with the Phosban... just my own experience... but it DOES completely eliminate phosphates... as for nitrates, water changes were leaving me hungry until I got my Biodenitrator which keeps my heavily stocked and fed system's nitrates at ZERO while cutting my water changes down by 75%...

OCDP · #6 10-27-2006, 07:43 PM

Cool, thanks for the input everyone.

I am definitely going to look into this further. Thanks for the link Christy, sorry I never thought to check that out... all that hard work in making a reference library and what not.. so thanks again.

What I am hoping to see , with continued water changes and sandbed cleaning, while running a reactor, is to eliminate the bits of unwanted algae. Lots of it is macro algae, which is good.. but others is bits of hair algae growing within the macro, so it doesn't look so nice.

Based on some readings though, the reactor does seem to be quite effective in removing unwanted algae.

I'll keep the thread updated and what not.. but keep posting if you have input and what not.

Thanks again to all.

demon666 · #7 10-28-2006, 04:03 AM

what type of affects will it have on a system runnin a fudge with micro ???? will it kill off the micro as well?