GFO (PhosBan) - Just How Good Is It? - Page 12

av8 · #**276** 10/02/2007, 06:20 PM

Hi folks.

Thanks for a really good discussion on my biggest problem (at this time!!). I am wondering about the need for a reactor. I figure by the time I buy (F&S) a Phosban reactor, a pump, tubing, valves, intake & return lines, etc. I will have quite a bit of money in it. What is your opinion of using just another Eheim canister filter (F&S approx. $65 with all the accessories) dedicated to just Phosban? Sure, it will not look as cool as fluidized media, but does it really make any difference? Water flow through the media seems to be the only "necessary" condition. Thoughts and ideas? (yes, I try to go cheap, too many hobbies to support).

Thanks
john

sabbath · #**277** 10/02/2007, 06:26 PM

A reactor will move the water up throughout the media. Lifting it up a little as it goes. The GFO gets a evener flow of water all through it.

gary faulkner · #**278** 10/02/2007, 06:28 PM

How about the purchase of the tester that Jetcat uses?

Is it worth the expense or should we just change out the media on a regular basis?

What say you?

cham · #**279** 10/02/2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gary faulkner
How about the purchase of the tester that Jetcat uses?

Is it worth the expense or should we just change out the media on a regular basis?

What say you?

I found a low tech test recently. Might not be the best but after finding all but the most expensive tests useless I kinda liked this concept.

I tripped across this by pure accident. My intake and exit lines are the transparent 1/2" tubes you get from your local hardware store. The exit line I ran right in front of my refugium light, not directly under it but close enough to get plenty of light. For weeks the intake tube was covered in algea but the exit tube stayed clean as a wistle.

Finally after about 6 weeks I saw a little bit of algea just starting to grow in the exit tube. That tells me there is phosphate getting through the GFO & its time to change it out.

After changing it out I noticed the algea dissapear after a few days.

Time will tell if this will work or not.

King-Kong · #**280** 10/02/2007, 07:09 PM

Cham: that's actually really smart

I like that..

gary faulkner · #**281** 10/02/2007, 07:13 PM

cham
I noticed the same thing and didn't put 2 and 2 together.

I think this WILL work. Seems like the obvious answer eludes us.

Thanks

Mavrk · #**282** 10/02/2007, 07:29 PM

I was wondering what size pump should be used for the TLF 150. I have a maxijet 400 I could use, but it looks like it may be too much. Or should I just get a minijet 404?

Thanks. This thread is great. I have been putting off getting a phosban reactor, but now I am planning on getting one (and the Drs F&S brand PhosPure).

sabbath · #**283** 10/02/2007, 07:51 PM

I use the mj400. It works fine but it is turned down a lot. 404 might be all someone needs.

JetCat USA · #**284** 10/02/2007, 07:55 PM

the 404 is plenty, you'll even have to valve it back some.

Craig Lambert · #**285** 10/02/2007, 07:55 PM

So glad I saw this thread! My reactor arrives tomorrow and I was wondering how much media people start off with in an established tank. After reading this thread I think I'll start with 25% of the recommended amount, and move up to 50%, 75% and finally 100% over a 2 week period. Thanks JetCat!!

jmait769 · #**286** 10/02/2007, 09:52 PM

JetCat USA – Well, not my ALK test kit. Both (an older one and a new one from Salfart) tested within .4, 8.6 for the old and 9.0 dKH for the new one. Calcium is 400 and all other test are normal. Tank is fine with clear water and excellent coral growth. I think I will try the pellets from TwoPartSolution next.

Red is from the acid and not the media. Took over an hour to get this out. Would make a fine mallet!

Jay

JetCat USA · #**287** 10/02/2007, 10:07 PM

Jay

I've never had it clump anything like that in a reactor. worst I've had sense i started using reactors a couple yrs ago was about 1/2" in the very bottom of the reactor at the sponge and it never turned that gray.

av8 · #**288** 10/06/2007, 06:29 PM

JetCat

It has been a while since the last post in this excellent thread. Do you have any follow up info or thoughts after things have had a chance to settle in?

P.S. I ordered a reactor, and have hopes that it will be a solution to GHA problem. I have been using Phosban in a bag in an Eheim canister but it is not enough to control GHA problem.

Again, thanks for the research and reporting your data & findings.

john

JetCat USA · #**289** 10/06/2007, 07:09 PM

av8 it seams you didn't read the entire thread, the tank was taken down and when remodeling is finished it'll go back up, the contents of the tank are now in a 90, two 75s, a 55 and a 14.

poppin_fresh · #**290** 10/06/2007, 07:20 PM

any one tried the Phosphat product from Brightwell Aquatics? Its supposedly a PO4 removing resin that can be regenerated a few times with another product they sell. They claim its more cost effective than GFO removers, but I dont know what the Phosphat and regenerator costs.

http://www.brightwellaquatics.com/

JetCat USA · #**291** 10/06/2007, 07:34 PM

you can get it from Champion Lighting, about 40 bucks IIRC and the few people i know who've used it said it was more trouble then it's worth.

poppin_fresh · #**292** 10/06/2007, 07:44 PM

Thats what I was wondering. I was hoping it really was more economical than good 'ol Phosban.

We need to find a bulk GFO supplier. I get it for about $19 for 150g locally, but even that will get expensive for the amount I will need to straighten out my tank!

JetCat USA · #**293** 10/06/2007, 07:46 PM

twopartsolution.com

poppin_fresh · #**294** 10/06/2007, 08:00 PM

Cool! Thats only about 75% less than I pay now.

burris · #**295** 10/18/2007, 05:35 PM

I wonder how many Hanna testers have been sold due to this thread? I know they have been moving due to changing stock status for the tester and reagents at more than one online retailer. If the manufacturers were smart they'd send more demo product to prominent RC'ers. Maybe that would upset the commercial/non-commercial balance here.

sabbath · #**296** 10/18/2007, 05:44 PM

After reading this thread I think that I do not need one. Now I know how the GFO works. Thanks guys.

JetCat USA · #**297** 10/18/2007, 05:54 PM

word of mouth is the best advertisement there is for any manufacture, and best of all, it's free. the catch to most MFGs is that if you have a poor quality product the word gets out there allot faster then if you have a good one

i always say, it only takes one 'Oh $%$@!!!' to wipe out a whole lot of 'atta boys'

OliverM3 · #**298** 10/18/2007, 06:01 PM

PO4 testers and Reactors must be flying off the shelves.
I picked up two reactors and a tester after reading about all the good results on here.

Always considered Nitrate/Phosphate reactors a gimmick till I started reading about them on the forum.

gary faulkner · #**299** 10/18/2007, 06:10 PM

Look for the prices to go up also. Seems like every time demand goes up so does price. But that is how it's supposed to work I guess.

I'm done now. 8 > )

JetCat USA · #**300** 10/18/2007, 06:23 PM

i see more wanted to buy PO4 reactor threads then any other kind out there