Phosphate Reactors

[jlneng]

Does anyone have any comments; pro & con on using a phosphate reactor with GFH media on a 125G Reef tank? I was hoping using same might help some of my SPS corals to brighten up.....Thanks!

 

[CG1]

I am not familiar with GFH Media, but the phosban reactor is a great all purpose canister to use. It's cheap and effective.

If the media is too granular you will need to use a bag and fill in any open spaces with filter floss. Brighten up your SPS? I'll need to go google GFH and see what you are looking to do -- in the meanwhile I am sure someone else will respond.

 

[jlneng]

granular ferric hydroxide phosban media

 

[CG1]

OK, I looked it up - I personally don't like it. The instructions state "use it until your phosphates begin to increase" personally I don't want to use a phosphate absorber that’s going to have the ability to release back into my system. Look into Rowaphos and do a comparison. I run this through a phosban reactor for 6 months at a clip. You can always find Rowaphos, Chemipure and purigen on my system --- but understand, everyone has their favorites for different reasons. For me these three seem to be the most ideal mix that works well for me. Remember, this is just an opinion – you may want to try them both and see what works best for you. Do you currently have high phosphates?

 

[ChrisRD]

I don't think Phosban releases phosphate back into the water. I think the manufacturer is referring to the idea that phosphate levels will start to rise again once the media is exhausted (because it's no longer taking the accumulating phosphates out of the system).

At any rate, IME visual cues are more useful for determing phosphate levels. Nuisance algaes will start showing up before you're showing a phosphate reading on most hobby test kits. There are good, very low range kits out there that will give you a reading, but they're pricey.

As for the original questions - plenty of folks use GFO media in a reactor to drive phosphate levels down, just tread with caution. Dropping phosphate levels too much too fast can harm corals. GFOs also seem to have a tendency to drop Alk levels too. Personally, I think I would start with half the recommended dose and work from there.

JMO...

 

[jlneng]

I don't have an expensive or accurate PHO3 test kit, but I don't really have any nuisance algae either. I read that removing low levels of phosphate can increase coloration in SPS animals. I think that I will hold off adding GFH/reactor to my system. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! The only piece of Acropora that I have not had success with was 5" piece of tabletop with blue tips that bleached and died. All of my other SPS corals are growing and maintaining good coloration. I have one large piece of Montipora that is growing but not very colorful since initially fading when put in the tank. I was hoping to accelerate its recovery. Thanks for the help.

 

[ChrisRD]

It's definitely possible to increase coloration in some corals by further driving down the phosphate levels, but you just need to take some precautions doing so with something like Phosban.

If your corals were mostly brown and/or you were having persistent nuisance algae problems the phosphate reactor would be one possible option for improving water quality. In your case, it sounds like most of your corals are colorful and growing, so I tend to agree that's it's probably best to leave things alone.

Not every coral will do well in every tank and personally, if other stuff is thriving I wouldn't mess with the whole system to improve one coral.

That's JMO of course...

 

[edmund36]

Id there a big difference placing the phosphate media in a reactor type device vs. just placing it in a mesh bag in the sump?

Ed

 

[ChrisRD]

Yes, using carbon or phosphate media "actively" in a chamber/reactor is more effective than using it "passively" (ie. mesh bag in sump).

BTW, :welcome:

 

[cjsrch]

chemipure now makes a carbon replacement that also have gfh