Phosophate control

[bill109]

hellow everyone..
i am in search of a cheaper than a 300$ refugium idea of keeping my phosphates in check.
i have heard drilling a fish spiciment box thing and putting sand and rock and cheato in it..
could i just throw some cheato in my sump in a little net bag? or is there something els i could do? its a 90 gallon tank
thanks again
-bill

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by bill109
http:///forum/post/2752973
hellow everyone..
i am in search of a cheaper than a 300$ refugium idea of keeping my phosphates in check.
i have heard drilling a fish spiciment box thing and putting sand and rock and cheato in it..
could i just throw some cheato in my sump in a little net bag? or is there something els i could do? its a 90 gallon tank
thanks again
-bill
I just read a thread where someone built one like that with a pump. That way it pulls more water across the macro. How about using a HOB filter filled with chaeto and a clamp on work lamp? I was thinking of doing this with my old emperor 400.

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2752978
I just read a thread where someone built one like that with a pump. That way it pulls more water across the macro. How about using a HOB filter filled with chaeto and a clamp on work lamp? I was thinking of doing this with my old emperor 400.
Let me know how it works out with the emperor. I know the aqua clear filter is perfect for a HOB refuge.
You also could try an "in tank refuge" if you don't mind an eye sore.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2752978
I just read a thread where someone built one like that with a pump. That way it pulls more water across the macro. How about using a HOB filter filled with chaeto and a clamp on work lamp? I was thinking of doing this with my old emperor 400.
that sounds like a good idea.. how do you keep you cheato out of the fan pump thing?
i dont have a hob to use =( but maybe you or someone els could sugest something?
do you really need a light?
thanks again

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by bill109
http:///forum/post/2752992
that sounds like a good idea.. how do you keep you cheato out of the fan pump thing?
i dont have a hob to use =( but maybe you or someone els could sugest something?
do you really need a light?
thanks again
The pump is ahead of the chamber in order of water flow. The chaeto will never see it. Just remove the wheels and maybe add a screen to keep it from plopping out in the tank.
As far as the light I assumed it was for accelerated growth of the chaeto. The faster it grows, the more stuff it exports.

 

[groupergenius]

Phosban reactor?? Maybe $70 with pump??

 

[socal57che]

Bill, you have PM

 

[bill109]

oh wait i have a broken hob i can use.. what i did was attach a ph and a airline tube so water gets pumped into the hob and then it falls out. i could use that and keep it in the dark sump? and maybe just add a soap dish with the suction cup in the tank to keep it growning then export it down to the sump???
(i like when i get ideas! )
thanks again
-bill

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
http:///forum/post/2753009
Phosban reactor?? Maybe $70 with pump??

exactly. cheap ones as cheap as $35 with pump (via aqua), most popular ones $40 plus a $18 pump and $4 half inch tubing (phosban, kent) or you can pay $150+ if you really want spend it up on a media reactor. I just have the media in a media bag between the dividers in my sump. If you have canister or hang on filter you can replace the mechanical media with the ferric oxide media bag and it will work fine (not as efficient as a reactor but will still work fine). I use Pura Phoslock media. Phosban, Rowaphos, dr foster and smith phospure are some other brands of ferris oxide. you can just buy it in bulk on egay and other places as well. get a tunze nano filter with adjustable flow rate ($55) and place it in its media box. there are several cheap ways to run phophate removal medias and they'll remove phospates alot quicker than cheato will grow and utilize it. once its down to where its suppose to be then consider cheato.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by bill109
http:///forum/post/2753833
oh wait i have a broken hob i can use.. what i did was attach a ph and a airline tube so water gets pumped into the hob and then it falls out. i could use that and keep it in the dark sump? and maybe just add a soap dish with the suction cup in the tank to keep it growning then export it down to the sump???
(i like when i get ideas! )
thanks again
-bill
The chaeto does need a light source. A cheap clamp on worklamp will do.

 

[meadbhb]

Hiya,
Phosphate filter pad remover, cut to fit in my HOB filter. Replace when icky, which is about once a month. No problems.
Meadbhb