Do I need a phosphate/carbon reactor?

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Grant, Jan 12, 2010.

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  1. Grant

    Grant Feather Duster

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    thanks powerman
     
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  3. ryanwolf

    ryanwolf Skunk Shrimp

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    I have a similar problem with my tank. It's been ongoing for about 4 weeks. I believe my source is from overfeeding. I posted pics in one of my older threads if you want to cross-reference my situation to yours. The diatoms are fine brown dots on the sand and rocks. Since then I have added a phosban reactor to the mix. So far, I have noticed no real difference at one and a half weeks. I've been told by my LFS to expect about 4 weeks with the reactor along with weekly 10 gallon water changes and sand and rock cleaning. I will post if things work out. I definitely suggest curbing the feeding by just a bit. One cube a day is a lot... more than that may be overkill. I also feed my tang once a day... although all the fish eat that damn stuff! Good luck and keep me posted on what you do and whether or not it works.

    Best luck,
    Ryan
     
  4. Night-Rida

    Night-Rida Finback Whale

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    I use Fritz phosphate and silicates remover.. its not bad stuff. got it pretty cheap. I change out media every 30 days.
     
  5. Grant

    Grant Feather Duster

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    I'll let you know. I'm still debating what I should do. I've been running phosban in a media bag for over a week now and I do see an improvement. I just makes me think more that a full time reactor may be what I need. I'm kinda debating whether to get the BRS dual unit or the BRS single unit and run both carbon and phos media in it.

    I won't order anything until they get more 2 part dosers in stock. That's definitely on my list and would like to not pay for double shipping with 2 orders.
     
  6. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    Runing both ina single is sort of difficult. I use ROX and regular GFO. ROX is great, but plugs pretty easily. So I run half of that and the GFO, but that is a lot to push through I've been debating on running half batches and changing quicker, or get another one. Running both in a single on a 90g pretty much fills up one. Plus they exhaust at different rates.

    Even if you get the single, be sure to get the MJ 1200 and not the 900.
     
  7. dreiling

    dreiling Fire Shrimp

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    if it turns out to be algae, try going higher k bulbs or just replacing your existing bulbs they may be old, you said your corals have not been growing so maybe the current bulbs arent cuttin it
     
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  9. Grant

    Grant Feather Duster

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    I doubt it's the lights. I have 2 Hamilton 14K 250W bulbs + 2 96W actinics that are about 8 months old. I plan to replace them at the 1 year mark. My coral growth wasn't markedly better when the bulbs were new.

    I'm starting to think it's diatoms. I've been running PhosGuard (not phosban, sorry) in a media bag lately and it does seem to be clearing up the brown stuff a little.