carbon in 1st or second phosphate reactor

[izzie]

Im getting 2 phosphate reactors and they will run in series. One after another. I know carbon leaches some phosphates into the water. Due to this should i put my carbon in the first reactor and the phosphate remover in second reactor. Thanks.
Izzie

[ccorpse27]

I'm not sure how to answer that but I do know people combine carbon and the gfo in the same reactor. Maybe you can do the same and save money by buying just one reactor instead of two.

[izzie]

It was buy 1 get 1 free.

[reeformadness]

Don't they have phosphate free carbon? If they do, I'm gonna guess and say carbon in the first because carbon is cheaper. Let the cleaner water go to the phos reactor to put less of a load on it. Just a shot in the dark.

[JGross4]

I am running two phosban reactors on my new tank. You want higher flow through the carbon than you do the phosban. I decided to run two small pumps (MJ 606 on carbon and MJ 404 on phosban) for this reason instead of one like i was originally planning. If you are going to run one, i would put the carbon first and phosban second like stated above. The only problem is you may not be using the carbon efficiently because you are going to need to keep the flow rate low so you do not pulverize or tumble the phosban.

[funkyman]

Who's having a buy one, get one?

[ATP]

I have three on each of my tanks, 150g and 180g. I constructed input and output manifolds, so that each reactor's flow could be controlled with a valve. I have carbon in two of the reactors, and ROWAphos in the third. The flow for the phosphate removal media is set much lower then the carbon. There should be pictures of similar set ups if you do a search, or I can detail how I made mine. If you are interested. However, if you are going to have the reactors in series, then I would put the carbon in the first reactor.

Another option: put a tee in the output line from the first reactor to the second, with a valve to control the flow to the phosphate media. Run the other line from the tee back to your tank for the excess flow. HTH

[jbarone]

Originally posted by funkyman
Who's having a buy one, get one?

I sure would like to know as well.

[moumda]

I think if you check the chemistry forum (do a search) you'll find that most activated carbon do not leach phospates. Check with boomer in that forum. Else I agree with the recommendations already stated.

[corals b 4 bills]

Anyone have problems with the "two little fishes" reactor barbs breaking off? I just bought my second one and within a month that one just snaped off two.

[Lubu]

Originally posted by jbarone
I sure would like to know as well.

Ditto, please send me a PM if you don't want to post in public.
Thanks!

[izzie]

A local LFS here in my city. Still more then all you would pay in the states for 2 tho but its the cheapest i can do here in canada.

[izzie]

there $164 CND plus 13% tax so not sure what the total is. If thats cheaper then what u can do down there and u would like them i can always get them shipped out to you. Its a maxi jet 400, 1 litre of carbon, 1 litre of a high end phosphate remover forget the actual name at work right now so cant check, 2 two little fishies reactors and then tubing.
Izzie

[ATP]

[Anyone have problems with the "two little fishes" reactor barbs breaking off? I just bought my second one and within a month that one just snaped off two.]

No. I have not had any problems with any of them. I have had three running for 9-10 months, and the other three for 6 months or so.

[ghostrida3]

i installed one of these last night and tried to put the carbon on the bottom and the phosban on the top but when i turned the pump on the carbon rose to the top and the phosban sunk to the bottom. they just kind of switched places.

[rockindacheeks]

you gotta put a sponge or someting between them.

[kasper4lyf]

you don't have to run PhosBan in the PhosBan reactor, I run carbon in the first and seachem phosphate remover balls in the second. Because the seachem is Aluminum Oxide instead of Ferris Oxide you can run it a full bore. I use an MJ1200 on mine. The key is to stay away from the Ferris Oxide because it needs a slow water flow.

[HBtank]

Originally posted by kasper4lyf
you don't have to run PhosBan in the PhosBan reactor, I run carbon in the first and seachem phosphate remover balls in the second. Because the seachem is Aluminum Oxide instead of Ferris Oxide you can run it a full bore. I use an MJ1200 on mine. The key is to stay away from the Ferris Oxide because it needs a slow water flow.

The key is to stay away from the Aluminum Oxide because it slowly leeches Aluminum into the water, and is not as effective. At least that is the general consensus.