Phosban reactor with Purigen

I've never seen a Phosban reactor in actual use, and I'm not at all familiar with it, but I believe that any measure that can increase the exposure and flow of elements which Purigen negates, throughout the Purigen particles to be absorbed by them, should be beneficial.

One note though - Purigen is always used encased in a fine mesh media bag to prevent it's dispersement throughout the tank water - and since the Phosban reactor operating instructions indicate a media bag should not be used in the reactor, my fear would be that because the Purigen particles are so minutely small, that some, or perhaps even much or all of them, would escape from the reactor into the tank directly, or into the tank via a sump if you're using one - and that would make quite a mess in the tank.

Is there a way you could test it out first, say in a large tub, or laundry sink, to see what develops before actually using it in a tank ?

P.S. In my view, there would need to be extremely fine mesh netting or screening, at both the water inflow and outflow ports to the reactor, and I would doubt they come equipped that way. Anyone with any knowledge of this ?

There are some DIY options where the media is removed from the bag and they seem to work very well.

Check this thread for details...

and this thread.

I've seen it before. You want a low flow rate. Just enough so the Purigen turns over. When running the Purigen gets about half way up the reactor. I'm assuming it would only be 2" thick or so when settled.

Just got some more info as to the type of reactor it is.

Here the link, it about half way down the page. Phos Ban Reactor 550.

My only concern would be will it cause problems with my ferts. My friend said no, but I don't agree witht that. Any thoughts?

Also he said that if you turn the flow up too high then yes you will get the media in your tank and it will cause a mess to get it out. Said he did this when first set it up.

The only thing I'm worried about having the purigen loose like this is not that it'll get into the tank, but how would you recharge it? right now, I just plop the bags of purigen into a container of bleach but how would this work w/ a reactor when it's all loose?

I have a phosban 150 reactor on my reef and I know when I change out the media, it is a pain in the butt because that stuff gets all over the place.

I say no too. You're using it to remove organics. Carbon is fine too, but I think Purigen is more suited to our needs.

I'd test out the flow rates in a bucket before hooking it to your tank.

Anything else I could use this for? He said he going to just toss it, if I don't want it. Just figured I would ask before he gets rid of it.

Jim_PA said:

Just got some more info as to the type of reactor it is.

Here the link, it about half way down the page. Phos Ban Reactor 550.

My only concern would be will it cause problems with my ferts. My friend said no, but I don't agree witht that. Any thoughts?




Been using Purigen in my planted discus tank for years, and I see no evidence of it removing or neutralizing nutrients/plant ferts. My plants have all generally done very well, even in a low tech environment.
Have a look if you wish:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/lolliblues2





Also he said that if you turn the flow up too high then yes you will get the media in your tank and it will cause a mess to get it out. Said he did this when first set it up.

Click to expand...

IWANNAGOFAST said:

The only thing I'm worried about having the purigen loose like this is not that it'll get into the tank, but how would you recharge it? right now, I just plop the bags of purigen into a container of bleach but how would this work w/ a reactor when it's all loose?

I have a phosban 150 reactor on my reef and I know when I change out the media, it is a pain in the butt because that stuff gets all over the place.

Click to expand...

That's my question mark too.
I expect you would need to (somehow - with a small plastic shovel or spoon ?) remove all the Purigen from the reactor, bag it in fine mesh material, re-charge it that way, and re-place it into the reactor.
Or....
Seems like it would be highly inconvenient, if not a hassle, to remove it from the reactor as is, place it in a bucket to recharge it, and then when done & properly rinsed/conditioned, etc., place it back into the reactor for re-use.
How would one avoid losing much of it during each transfer to the re-charging bucket, the rinsing afterwards, and then the re-placement back into the reactor ?.
Or am I missing something ? Could it be re-charged right in the reactor casing itself, which would then be cleaned properly of bleach, conditioned, etc. ?

I would recharge it in the reactor. As a matter of fact, I have a 550 and a bag of Purigen for it I just need to put together. I have a small maxijet for the pump. I'm planning to do the same thing as the op.

Thanks everyone for the advise. I have connected the reactor and have it running. I have the flow very very low right now. It was a pain to get the purigen into the reactor. I think I will run it a few weeks and see what happens. It was very simple to connect as I just shared the other part of a Y I already had setup for my UV and I can control the flow very easy.

I can see how someone that has not researched how to use the reactor could run to much flow and it could fill the take with Purigen. When I first turned it on I had the hose running into a bucket, it was a good thing I did or would have had a mess in the tank.