Need some opinions on Phosphate
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Topic: Need some opinions on Phosphate
Posted By: love2skiutah
Subject: Need some opinions on Phosphate
Date Posted: March 21 2013 at 10:15pm
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As some of you know, I'm in the middle of a 400 gallon mixed reef build. Currently, I have a 120 and right now I use phosban in a bag and just place it in my sump. It's worked fine, but I don't have much of a bio load either. Of course with this new build, I have been doing lots of research on phosphate reactors. The gentleman who is helping me build the tank, told me that I would be much better off doing the bags again and placing them in a spot he specifically designed for the bags to sit in the sump. He said that I will get more water flow over the bags, than if I run a phosphate reactor. He told me that 90% of the water that runs through my sump will cross over the bags. Theoretically in my mind, I guess it makes sense, but I would love some opinions on this. He could easily be trying to sell me a reactor and he's not. He's pushing me into this idea, so I kind of feel like he knows what he is talking about, but I still feel very hesitant on this one. Thanks
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Replies:
Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: March 21 2013 at 10:25pm
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id go with the reactor when you have the phosphate in check you can dial it back and your set. over time the other method will clog up and possible flood that chamber or even the sump and become less efficient and more of a head ache then its worth imo ------------- http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60612&title=kody72-fishroom" rel="nofollow - KODY72 FISHROOM BUILD 281g DT 187g Rimless Frag ATI PM lighting SRO DSCR-300ext 8013908179 |
Posted By: love2skiutah
Date Posted: March 21 2013 at 10:33pm
hmm... That makes sense.
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kody72 wrote:Posted By: laynframe
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 6:59am
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Reactor. Put a 200 gph pump on it and that forces your total volume through it every 2 to 3 hours. I think a reactor Is better because your pushing the water through the media and I think your media with remove more phosphates do to better contact time with your media. Just throwing a bag in a high flow area just doesn't cut it for me. ------------- The time we enjoy wasting isn't wasted time!!!! |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 7:27am
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I also believe phosphate media is best run in a reactor. I'd run GFO (other media works too) in a reactor with about 200gph flow through it. As laynframe said, this was you can dial in the flow to what is best for the media and adjust as necessary as time passes. I also agree that putting the bags in the sump is a risky move because of flooding. If 90% of the water is flowing through there and that chamber is clogged, then a lot of water has no where to go except out of the sump. It just seems like a mix for disaster to me if you're not very careful. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: JohnnyHeavens
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 8:04am
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I'd love to see the sump design incorporating the GFO as part of the plan. It sounds great if you don't have the room/cash for a reactor. I'm not sure how real the "90%" part is but if you were getting even most of your water to run through GFO all the time then I'll bet that's just as good as a reactor treating only 200-400gph. As to the flood, I'm sure it can be done without causing an overflow (we do it with filter socks don't we?) but my understanding is that there is generally much better media exposure in a reactor as it will gently tumbles/rotates the media when setup correctly. I've only recently brought my GFO and Carbon reactors online. Before I was using a couple long mesh socks laying inline of my water flow on top of foam blocks. When I'd replace the media there was always some at the center that seemed "cleaner" and from looking at it I assume it wasn't fully spent when I tossed it out. The cost of GFO isn't a deal breaker but if it's in the system then I'd like it to be doing it's job. ------------- @Home 300g System 150g-Cube Reef+60g Frag+WaterChange 150g Tall FOWLR RIP @Work RSM 130D w/LEDs txt anytime @ eightO1-seven5five-eighteen99 Scuba! PADI Pro DM/AI/TecDeep NSS/CDS-Full Cave Diver |
Posted By: love2skiutah
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 8:25am
Thinking about it, it makes more sense in my mind to force the media to tumble. The cost of the reactors is nothing compared to what I'm spending on this build, so to me it's about the most effective way. Thanks for the response. |
Posted By: Aquatic Evolution
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 2:59pm
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Read the second to latest Coral magazine, "Old tank Syndrome' article. Then decide... GFO is not the best option IMO. I've preached this for years, so it is nice to see it in print finally. Do use reactor, but don't tumble it. It will grind away.. Not all reactors are created equal though Free online to read it ------------- 
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Posted By: Aquatic Evolution
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 3:12pm
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Breeding Arts Issue Volume 10 #1
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Posted By: Bryce
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 3:12pm
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seems like they want $10 to read old issues ------------- 65g Reef |
Posted By: Aquatic Evolution
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 3:17pm
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Here is the link http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/reef_to_rainforest.aspx?eid=058f9bcf-d96a-43b2-aec2-92b1fce301f5" rel="nofollow - http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/reef_to_rainforest.aspx?eid=058f9bcf-d96a-43b2-aec2-92b1fce301f5 -------------
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Posted By: Bryce
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 3:18pm
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That issue has an article on phosphate build "old tank syndrome" up but after talking to you at the shop I think you were referring to the article in the Giant clam issue on "phosphate binders" on page 114 http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/reef_to_rainforest.aspx?eid=c146e526-7395-4a3d-acb1-20467af8d642" rel="nofollow - http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/reef_to_rainforest.aspx?eid=c146e526-7395-4a3d-acb1-20467af8d642
------------- 65g Reef |
Posted By: Bryce
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 3:18pm
haha im slow  ------------- 65g Reef |
Posted By: Aquatic Evolution
Date Posted: March 22 2013 at 3:21pm
Admitting it is the first step to getting over it.
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Posted By: laynframe
Date Posted: March 24 2013 at 8:05pm
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Ive actually talked with tyler at elite about building a sump with built in reactors for different things, but he has to build for a mass market and a sump with built in reactors is a tiny market. He did build a sump with a built in calcium reactor that was way cool. ------------- The time we enjoy wasting isn't wasted time!!!! |
Posted By: JohnnyHeavens
Date Posted: March 26 2013 at 9:14am
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Both articles are good reads. ------------- @Home 300g System 150g-Cube Reef+60g Frag+WaterChange 150g Tall FOWLR RIP @Work RSM 130D w/LEDs txt anytime @ eightO1-seven5five-eighteen99 Scuba! PADI Pro DM/AI/TecDeep NSS/CDS-Full Cave Diver |