I was looking into getting these two. But I want to know everyones thoughts. I think tat does but I can’t remember that was so long ago.
Is it a good idea? What equip do you need to set one up.
Just getting thoughts.
I think most set ups should not need them and wouldn’t recommend them accept to some one with a lot of time and $ to throw around. I’ve only really seen a need for them in over stocked systems where it is impossible to run larger fuges or bigger skimmers.
Are you having problems with Nitrates or just trying to improve the health and stablity of the tank? Either way I am sure there are other things you could change/add first before these.
That’s just my opinion though and I am sure some will disagree with it.
I run one of each.
I think running a phos reactor is a must for keeping SPS but other than that, it really isnt necessary. I also run a carbon reactor. I think running carbon is always a good idea, you wouldnt believe how nasty the media can get after just two weeks in your tank. Running active carbon is also a good idea if something were to happen in your tank such as a fish dying. If you dont notice the fish for a couple of days and your cleaning crew is up to the challenge, you can create quite a big ammonia spike. The carbon will go along way in neutralizing small contaminations in the water and stabiilzing your water quality. Just my opinoin of course. You can make one for very little money.
No problems at alll. I am just trying to improve the stability. I dont have anything in my tank really to worry about losing. LOL. If i lose a fish I know it. LOL. But i do want to set one up for carbon if it isn’t costly.
What do I need beside a reactor. I guess a pump. Do I need some sort of additional plumbing?
Thanks guys for all of your help too.
Before Al has a chance to, I’ll go ahead and say it. “Why don’t you just click on the LINKS at the top of the page! There is links to 10 DIYS reactors.” Just messing with Al. 
Seriously though there is a link to a carbon tube filtration system. No pictures though and I don’t have time to read it, so I am not sure how well it would work.
Perhaps Andy will chime in on this one. I am pretty sure he is planning on setting up some sort of media reactor in the next couple of weeks. He’ll mostly be using parts he got for the cost of a $1 raffle ticket at a Diamond State Aquarium Society meeting.
I run a two lil fishies phos reactor. Use throttled back rio 600 pump. There very cheap. I don’t think it does much. I had a bad algae problem in my tank, but once I added my fish they took care of it. My blenny, yellow and kole tang tore thru hair algae and red bubble algae. I am going to try and get more of it in a seperate tank just to feed them. IMO I don’t think they are worth it. Especially if you don’t have an algae or phos problem, carbon may not be a bad idea to run though.
EVERYONE has phosphates in their tanks. Just about everything adds to it in some way, even our salt mixes. The problem is testing for them. Just about every test kit you can buy does test accurately enough. I use a salifert with double resolution and mine shows 0ppm, but i know i have to have some levle of po4. Running a phosphate reactor with GFO is also VERY effective, there are threads on RC that test the effectiveness of GFO in removing phosphates with a digital phosphate meter with drastic results. Heres the deal though, unless your trying to keep very challenging SPS and you want there color to be perfect, you probably dont need to run GFO. If your having algae trouble, runnign GFO is only going to treat the symptoms of a bigger problem.
Building a carbon reactor is very easy. You can build one out of off the shelf plumbing parts from lowes with very little effort. You will need a feed pump, a little maxijet will do fine. If your not in a hurry, i plan on building a couple of reactors for my upcoming FOWLR and i could give you a hand then.
Perhaps you could build an article about building them? Doesn’t have to be as long as Al’s. Perhaps you and Andy could work on it together when you meet up for the tank tour info. Andy and I were up to 3am working on his tanks last night.
If if you’re not having major problems, Carbon will help clearify your water. You may not notice a dramatic difference, but it will likely help more intense light reach you’re corals. Nothing like spending a couple hundred dollars on a light fixture and then having the same amount of light reaching you’re corals because you have salt creep on your bulbs, surface scum, and unclear water.
Jon
+1 on water clarity. If you think your water has any sort of yellowish tint to it, carbon will clear it up in a hurry. Its very good at binding organics, some people believe its just as if not more effective than running a skimmer.
One thing i forgot to mention is carbon can be good for dealing with results of chemical warfare in a sofite tank. Some people use carbon just for this reason. Be sure to change your carbon every 2-3 weeks because it becomes ineffective and eventually will leach back out into your system. Also, only buy 1 or 2 months worth at a time. Ive heard that the longer it sits the less effective the “active” portion becomes. I have a link to Farley’s opinions on carbon, if i find it i will post it.
Good advice on the carbon and clarity. I have read that too. Logan I live out of town now. Do you have any sort of web link that I can get the directions for the DIY?
No sorry. The build threads i have seen usually involve someone making the process overly complicated. >LOL<
At $40 I would just buy the reactor. A three little fishes reactor is what I used. The flow through is very slow comparatively to a return pump. They look for <200 gph. If you have a larger return pump you could T off and make it work double duty. I think I have a pic somewhere of that. I will check
carbon is awsome at removing any inpuritys from the water. also its much cheaper to buy just the carbon insted of the filter pads (refuring to filter pads for HOB filters)
If you are coming to the meeting you can have a DIY reactor that I have. All you would need to get it running is a small powerhead and some 1/4" tubing. It is made to be run external and is simply about 5$ of PVC glued together. Even if you dont use it maybe it will give you some ideas on how to DIY one.
pics woulb be interesting.
I use the two little fishes system and run one carbon and one phosban. No complaints, and very maintenance free. I would agree with Logan that you probably don’t need it unless you have sps and softies mixed.