When to change phosphate media?

[jkf1983]

Question... I had a hair algae outbreak, so I bought and set up the TLF Reactor with the twopartsol phosphate media pellets. Which has been running for about 2 weeks now but I havent seen the hair algae die or change.

How often should I change the media? I have a 75 gal reef tank.

[poo-tang]

i've read 3-6 months, i think my gfo...sea chem claims 6 months. i test for phosphate and if i see it rise i change.

[clopez]

the first batch usually only lasts a few days.

[BenjieC]

I just use a small amount and change it every 2 weeks w/ my carbon. I may be wasting some, but it gives me peace of mind b/c I don't have a high dollar phosphate tester.

[Sara B]

I change it once a month along with the carbon.

[jkf1983]

Do most of you have a reactor for the phosphate and one for the carbon? or do you mix it together?

[Sara B]

I have a reactor for each.

[Aquaticman74]

I never use carbon for more then a week, but that's just me.

If you're running phosphate remover in a reactor it is good until you can no longer get a reading of zero phosphates on the effluent. If you're running it in a bag, I have no idea.

[jkf1983]

I have it in the new reactor I just bought, but just didnt know how long the first batch lasted.

[ataylo13]

Not to go to far off topic... but I thought that the carbon media can last for 3-6 months. or does it depend on the size of the tank?

[poo-tang]

ataylo13, i think it depends on a lot of factors with the biggest being total dissolved organic compounds along with particulate matter. i'm like aquatic man...i run mine periocally for like a week. usually every couple weeks. i usually run it twice. honestly i'd don't know if i am doing it right, just they way i run carbon.

[Flint&Eric]

each tank is different so there is no generalization that will really work. the only sure way is to measure the effluent with a hanna or D&D kit, almost every other kit out there does not have the reolution needed.

with that said i'd change it more frequently at the start as the higher nutrients will exhaust it quicker.



poo-tang, are you sure its iron based? i could be wrong, but i though seachem only made aluminum based po4 removers?

cheers,
eric

[goreefer]

Have you tested your water for phosphates?
I have an Hanna Low range phosphate photometer to test my tank with. When I see the phosphates increasing I change out the media.

[jkf1983]

I tested, It said zero, but it said zero before the reactor was put in and I had hair algae... so obviously it was above zero.

A hanna meter is too expensive. But what is a DD kit?

[PSam]

D&D Deltec / Merck kit

[Flint&Eric]

besides hanna and D&D/merck others tests are worthless...tropic marin and elos may have potential, but have yet to be proven.

like you said, if you have algae you have po4....

[poo-tang]

yeah flintanderic you're prolly right...i got it free from a friend who got it with an e-bay purschase, lol, so actualy i've been changing monthly, tho i will slow that down now, i've always tested very low with my phosphate test, but as you mention it prolly ain't worth a damn...red sea..ugh i typically don't trust any tests.

[Flint&Eric]

poo-tang, its probably alumina based (phos-guard) they expire very quickly. i would use it for a day or two and pull it out.

when the media rubs, you risk aluminum particles entering your tank and irritating corals. hth.

[sasscuba]

I have mine in a reactor and change it every 4 months. No algae problems in my 125 for over 1.5 years now.

[poo-tang]

yeah i went and checked it and it did not specify...it is sea guard by sea chem, but i do test and it stays low...gfo's are better then alumina based? is that what you are saying...when i run out of this stuff i was planning on buying in bulk from 2part.