are reactors necessary?

everyone talks about having a carbon reactor or phosban phosguard or w.e.

i have none of these.

What are the benefits of running these things? cons?

 

I don't either. My carbon goes in a mesh bag in the sump, and only then for about 1 day every 2 weeks. My philosophy is KISS - don't throw in more gadgets to solve a problem you don't have. My tank is also small and not that heavily stocked, so take it for what it's worth. I do fairly large biweekly water changes (20%). If I were to develope a bad phosphate, nitrate, or algae problem I couldn't keep up with, I might reconsider.

 

I don't think they are necessary either. I don't even run carbon anymore, I just run GFO in my sump with lot of chaeto and keep up with the water changes, so far so good. I don't over feed and my tank is lightly stocked. As I start to get more hard coral, I may consider a Ca reactor just to make the tank parameters more managable but that is all I see using in the future.

 

I don't run anything~LOL. No carbon, no reactors, no skimmer, no GFO. Bi-weekly 25% WC, 2 part dosing manually and an ATO but that's it. I think a lot of gadgets aren't necessary and most are used to keep from having to do water changes. But on large systems I can see where they would come in handy

 

I personally like the Keep It Simple Stupid approach also. I run a filter sock, a skimmer, and let the slow moving fuge do its job. I am however, considering getting a biopellet reactor, just because I'm working a ton and would like to cut back on water changes.

 

i run carbon because my tank is in my office and its not a very large office (14x14) and my tank is big and i have to keep the door shut in here when im not home so my son doesn't come play in my sump. so when i come home my office would stink pretty bad, and carbon removes the smell, plus makes the water crystal clear. i also run GFO because i like to feed a little more than i should, to reduce any aggression, but in doing so, i get high phosphates.

i agree tho, if you don't need it or have a legit use for running a reactor, then its more money, that couldda been spent on fish or coral.

 

I, too, have no reactors or skimmer. I run a small amount of GAC in a mesh bag in my HOB filter to help reduce DOCs and remove toxins released by polyps and leather corals. 10% monthly water changes mops up the rest.

 

They are not necessary because people had beautiful tanks before they were out. I have found them to be vital since I added them. It keeps my tank running more effecient. However larger tanks I feel benefit from them more because it removes alot of organic waste reducing the amount of water to be changed. Like a controller, not necessary but once you hook them up everything just becomes simpler and you wonder how you ran your tank so well before without them.