Reactor Vs Media Bag

Dave · Jun 21, 2009

Can anyone tell me if they have any real world experience using a reactor vs. a media bag for phosphate control, or any other type of control for that matter.

Basically, are reactors worth the extra $ and effort?

ricwilli · Jun 21, 2009

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a reactor. The water is forced to go through the media with a reactor. With a media bag, the water tends to take the path of least resistance which is around the bag not making it affective enough.

daveh285 · Jun 21, 2009

ricwilli said:
In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a reactor. The water is forced to go through the media with a reactor. With a media bag, the water tends to take the path of least resistance which is around the bag not making it affective enough.

Ditto!

bmoney · Jun 22, 2009

yes in one tank i use a media bag and in my other tank i use a reactor I find the tank with the reactor dose a better job with phospate removal.

malulu · Jun 22, 2009

sorry to hi-jack this post a bit...

when the phospate media used up, can it be still sit inside the reactor for a while? it won't leak (bad stuff) back into the water - right?

i mean, i don't want to bother to check the PO4 reading everydays, and only check it once or twice a month, would it be ok?
thx

NYCREEFER · Jun 22, 2009

I have the same concern. Apparently most media is supposed to prevent leaching the contaminants back but I just started using a reactor so I dont know for sure. Anyone know if this is right or just propaganda to sell media. ???

Dave · Jun 23, 2009

Thanks for the input.

daveh285 · Jun 23, 2009

I have not noticed any leaching back into the water,However I have not completed any scientific test either. In my opinion the media, weather it be some form of phosphate remover,Purigen,or silica remover, it reaches a point of saturation where it will no longer absorb any of these impurities.As a result your test results show an increase.

malulu · Jun 23, 2009

thanks for the info.

yes, i understood the PO4 reading will be increased back a bit, but i am more concern about will it leak back - as i did not remove them right away?
thx