PhosPhate Reactor Media?

[SprMario]

Group, I am setting up a NextReef MR1 ractor and am trying to find out what media is best to use. I have a 90gal reef setup. I have seen a ton of different options including kent, TLF and SeaChem but am not sure what most are using. Can anyone recommend what is best? or if they all work the same. Thanks again!

 

[ryangrieder]

Well, what do you want to use it for? Clear up water? Kill algae? I traduce more bacteria? There are 3 main medias out there. Carbon, GFO & bio pellets.

 

[SprMario]

Mainly to get rid of some Algea that i am starting to get, so some sort of GFO. Thanks!

 

[ryangrieder]

Well, if your getting a nextreef mr1 reactor (great reactor, have the 2 shortys myself) id get either some phosban or go onto bulk reef supply and order some GFO. Do you have a pump already too? I like the marineland euro pumps. I run the euro 400 for my phosban.

 

[SprMario]

I was thinking about getting the Shorty version, good up to 100gal if I am not mistaken. But I want to upgrade my tank from a 90 to 180 within a few years. My thought is when I buy items for this tank, keep my upgrade in mind so i can re-use some of the items. So i am going with the next size up. Does that logic make sense?

I might get the phosban for now and see how that works..if I need some more, i'll get the HC GFO from BRS.com..

Thanks for the input.

 

[ryangrieder]

thats is smart. always think ahead.if you did not get it already, i get all my reactors and media from www.saltwatercritters.com . they carry nextreef and your phosban, and delivered to your house next day always...

 

[Imbarrie]

I always find Phosban has a much lower flow tolerance than other GFOs.
Whenever I use Phosban I an in the 40-50 GPH range but others I can get up to 70-80 GPH.
All other things being equal, the higher the flow the more efficient the GFO, also the faster it will require changing.

Has anyone else noticed the same?

If you are trying to prevent algae, have you looked into Special Blend?

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Rowaphos is a great brand.

 

[skene]

I use Tunze QuickPhos great for reducing phosphate quickly. Once you reduce your phosphates... then switch over to something like GFO, as that will continue maintaining lower phosphates vs the quicker reduction using the ceramic Phosban media.

 

[beerfish]

I'll probably get flamed for saying this, but GFO is GFO. Yeah, the density of one or another may allow for more or less flow, the purity of one may be 0.001% better with X brand over Y brand, but for the most part it's all the same.

Watch out for "instant fix" products, but actual Granular Ferric Oxide is iron and oxygen in a granular (grainy) form... it is what it is.

 

[ryangrieder]

I'll probably get flamed for saying this, but GFO is GFO. Yeah, the density of one or another may allow for more or less flow, the purity of one may be 0.001% better with X brand over Y brand, but for the most part it's all the same.

Watch out for "instant fix" products, but actual Granular Ferric Oxide is iron and oxygen in a granular (grainy) form... it is what it is.

I agree, no flaming lol. I feel GFO is GFO. Same as bio pellets are bio pellets, and on and on with most other brands. I feel it's all the same. More importantly is the flow rate...

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

What should the phosban look like just boiling correct? I just ordered it from BRS

 

[ryangrieder]

What should the phosban look like just boiling correct? I just ordered it from BRS

Check out YouTube, they have a bunch of videos with phosban reactors running GFO tumbling around correctly...

Carbon is one of the only medias that should not tumble.

 

[nycmat]

my experience- rowaphos is excellent. phosban is quickest or fastest acting.