The Puffer Forum

Hi Everyone,
Can some one tell me what a phosban reactor is? What it does and how? The best one to buy and how i work out what size i need? I have a 350ltr tank buy upgrading to a 600ltr next week so need one big enough for that.
I have some brown algae growing and my friend said get one!
I brought a few hermits to try and keep things clean etc but think i need something else?
Thanks Emma

These are devices to hold phosphate and dissolved silicates from water. Dissolved silicates are vitally important to diatom algae, they requite it for their their tests (~shells). Removal of the silicates blocks multiplication of diatoms.

I never use such directly on tanks, only on water itself before it is added to the tank(s) requiring such. I do it this way because the phosphate removal may be harmful to tank inhabitants and you cannot supplement that in-tank while operating the removal resins.

I have used commercial small external canisters for such use, but I do know that specialized devices are available even though I have never used them. I have a collection of canisters, and the smallest are used much more for such extractions or water modifications before adding it to the tank, more than any other uses. I use the small Eheims.

HTH

Phosban is the brand name, its rather expensive. You can get a much better deal with bulk reef supply's GFO. It works great and I have never seen a tank which has had adverse reactions. Virtually everyone in the local reef clubs use them. You will defiantly notice a difference in a few weeks after use.

This should be a large enough reactor:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/pro ... actor.html

and here is a link to the media:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/pro ... te-remover

RTR wrote:I never use such directly on tanks, only on water itself before it is added to the tank(s) requiring such.

If you use RO/DI (which should be the 1st step in nutrient control) then you wouldn't have phosphates in the new water.