as far as the phosban is concerned, it is supposed to absorb phosphates...you do need a pump but nothing too big. I use a maxijet 400...you also need some form of media i use both rowaphos and rowacarbon in two different reactors...with frequent water changes and avoiding overfeeding you might not need one of these...its a matter of preference...oh yeah you will also need some tubing to run from pump to reactor to sump