What to run in Phosban reactor
- Thread starter dmann
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The Kahnasaur
Active Member
You can run purigen in it. Also GFO, carbon, biopellets, filter floss....almost anything. You just need a strong enough pump or to restrict the flow depending on what you use.
prime8reef
Active Member
I run bio pellets. Have been for about 7-8mos. I have another that I run carbon and GFO.
The bio pellets require a bit of modification to the reactor to get more flow through.
Basically don't use the foam pads that come with the reactor, toss them.
U can do one of two mods:
1) replace the sponges with mesh screen bought from any hobby or fabric store. It's a plastic mesh that comes in 11"x18" sheets that is used for needle work. Just cut two circles the same size of the dispersion plates and put one on the top plate to keep any pellets from exiting the reactor and one on the bottom plate for same purpose.
2) remove the bottom dispersion plate all together. This will give you mad flow and tumble the media twice as much as with the plate in place. Only thing to remember, if you remove the bottom plate, is to close the valve on the pump line before unplugging the pump. The back flow from when pump is turned off will create a siphon that will suck the bio pellets into the pump. No harm because the pump will be off, but it is a pain to take apart the pump and fetch out the bio pellets.
I did number two and the tumbling of the media is awesome, not to mention that you will NEVER have to worry about 'channeling' of the media(flow is disrupted by pellets clumping and causing water to flow around instead of through the media).
Both mods work but number two is far superior in my opinion
The bio pellets require a bit of modification to the reactor to get more flow through.
Basically don't use the foam pads that come with the reactor, toss them.
U can do one of two mods:
1) replace the sponges with mesh screen bought from any hobby or fabric store. It's a plastic mesh that comes in 11"x18" sheets that is used for needle work. Just cut two circles the same size of the dispersion plates and put one on the top plate to keep any pellets from exiting the reactor and one on the bottom plate for same purpose.
2) remove the bottom dispersion plate all together. This will give you mad flow and tumble the media twice as much as with the plate in place. Only thing to remember, if you remove the bottom plate, is to close the valve on the pump line before unplugging the pump. The back flow from when pump is turned off will create a siphon that will suck the bio pellets into the pump. No harm because the pump will be off, but it is a pain to take apart the pump and fetch out the bio pellets.
I did number two and the tumbling of the media is awesome, not to mention that you will NEVER have to worry about 'channeling' of the media(flow is disrupted by pellets clumping and causing water to flow around instead of through the media).
Both mods work but number two is far superior in my opinion
Last edited:
leadsinker
Community Member
Prozium
Active Member
Purigen and phosguard do two totally different things.
"Purigen is a macro-porous, synthetic polymer that removes proteins and a broad spectrum of organics..."
"Seachem PhosGuard rapidly removes inorganic and organic phosphate and prevents buildup in your aquarium."
Both are good products, IMO
To the OP the answer to you question is a question... What do you need?
Having a problem with phosphate or the control of it? GFO, PhosGuard, Rowa, phosban (pic which ever you like... GFO will likely be cheapest.) If you go this route, buy an extra sponge and run carbon or purigen in it as well.
have a nitrate problem? start bio pellets. you will need to make a change as mentioned earlier in the thread. (swapping out the sponges for Screens, twolittlefisheies has them for sale.) if you start bio pellets start slow and add pellets over time to get it up to the recommended dosage. they will help with phosphates a little bit as well.
I run 2 of the Phosban Reactor 150's, one with NPXbioplastics and one with Phosgard on my 150g display set-up.
