PhosBan Or Rowaphos

i've been doing a bunch of reading on phosphate reactors and came up with a problem, which is the best media to use, i have narrowed it down to two brands phosban and rowaphos and i wanted to know which is better

 

I use Seachem Phosguard. I paid ~$35 for a 2L container at the LFS (I know it's a bit pricey there...but I wanted it that day so...). Anyway, it's working awesome. I use 1/2 cup of it in a nylon sock in my canister filter, and change it out every 2-4 weeks in my 55 gal. No more phosphates or silicates, and no more cyano!!!

 

ROWAPhos is great stuff and doesn't need to be rinsed before usage. I use it and like it a lot.

 

I have used both and prefer rowaphos. It seemed to start working a bit faster and it didnt' have to be rinsed. This is the type of media I will use in my reactor from now on.

 

Don't use it for more than a couple of days. What is happening is that the phosphates adsorbed and then de-adsorbed, then re-adsorbed, then de-adsorbed, yada, yada, yada. This is the way Aluminum-based adsorption medias work and it's the reason that both Kent Marine and Seachem PhosGuard recommend use for only a few days.

While my preference is for Iron based products, if they are used in a sock, they simply turn into a rock unless you are willing to crumble the sock every night. They are definitely superior but they don't work well passively. It's best to use them in a reactor.

Scotty, rinse Rowaphos too for best results. I've spoken with the manufacturer. When the American labels were first printed, there was no such thing as a Phosban Reactor so they were good instructions based on how people were to use the product at the time. Even they recommend rinsing (even though the label doesn't say so). As a long-time user of this product (as well as Phosar from Jon Warner and Phosban from Julian Sprung), it's a good idea for a rinse with RO/DI WATER. Trust me on this one buddy.

 

Found out the same thing Inwall... actually when I tore my tank down I could see the residual rowaphos in the fuge. Doesn't hurt anything but it can accumulate. Best to rinse all of the "dust" off of it...