Plumbing Phosban and Carbon with one Pump

twoodall · 08/11/2008, 02:27 PM

The shipping company just delivered my Reactors. I was looking through the threads I have subscribed to, but can't seem to find the information I know I have seen about plumbing the two together using one pump. I know you don't want one reactor feeding the other you want them discharging into the return area. What size pump is recommended? What rate of flow do I want through the carbon and phosban medias? Pictures would be helpful to.

geo · 08/11/2008, 06:52 PM

I would plumb them with a tee, and then valve the output of each. You could probably use a maxi jet 600, feed the PO4 reactor first and valve that reactors output so the media just tumbles. The balance of flow from the pump would then feed the carbon chamber.

Tswifty · 08/11/2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twoodall
I know you don't want one reactor feeding the other...

I have one reactor feeding the other

seapug · 08/11/2008, 08:05 PM

Didn't you already post this exact same question? It's on page two of this forum:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1449408

If you want more advice, it's better to just post a "bump" reply so it moves back up to the top.

Toddrtrex · 08/11/2008, 08:07 PM

Mine isn't as fancy as, Tswifty8's

MJ 400,

The two reactors ( carbon is first )

Two connected together.

ryancaudill · 08/11/2008, 08:50 PM

I have my reactors running in series like tswifty and toddrtrex. Keep in mind if you have a ball valve you dont necessarily need two. If you have a ball valve anywhere in the system you are going to be limiting the output at some point so this limits the amount of water at the input. What I am getting at is that if you slow the flow at multiple areas the smallest amount of flow in the smallest spot will dictate the flow rate for the entire system.
Mine are running off a single mj 400. I run my mj 400 pretty much wide open with carbon first and phosban 2nd. If you use a mj 600 you will have to cut the flow rate quite a bit.

rfd515 · 08/11/2008, 09:40 PM

Like ryan stated, if you want different flow rates in both chambers then I would assume running them in series is not the way to go.

Tswifty · 08/11/2008, 09:46 PM

I set my flow rate according to the GFO media (2nd reactor), as carbon media can handle a much wider range of flows without adverse reactions.

Toddrtrex · 08/11/2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8
I set my flow rate according to the phosban (2nd reactor), as carbon can handle a much wider range of flows without adverse reactions.

That is exactly what I do too.

ryancaudill · 08/12/2008, 07:02 AM

If you want to run your reactors at different flow rates run the outline of the pump with a T the the reactors will be in parallel. Then you can set each individual reactor at different flow rates with more through the carbon. If you want to do this get mj 600 rather than the 400.

twoodall · 08/12/2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by seapug
Didn't you already post this exact same question? It's on page two of this forum:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1449408

If you want more advice, it's better to just post a "bump" reply so it moves back up to the top.

Honestly I don't know how it got the thread got posted twice, but they together at the same time on RC.

I know the "bump" term, honestly I have never had to use it.

Please don't take offense Seapug, I can't explain it nor can I explain why some responded to this one and some responded to the other one.

Sorry for the confusion.

twoodall · 08/12/2008, 08:48 AM

Thanks for all the insight and information.

SteveNMegz · 08/12/2008, 02:45 PM

is it possible to run gfo and carbon in the same reactor instead of using 2???

ryancaudill · 08/13/2008, 05:48 AM

It would work to run both in one reactor but you would have to change the gfo out more than needed because carbon is changed more often than gfo.

twoodall · 08/15/2008, 04:08 PM

Finally had the opportunity to get it all plumbed in. Thanks for all the imput! I greatly appreciate it.

08/11/2008, 02:27 PM	#1
twoodall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Marianna, FL Posts: 201	Plumbing Phosban and Carbon with one Pump The shipping company just delivered my Reactors. I was looking through the threads I have subscribed to, but can't seem to find the information I know I have seen about plumbing the two together using one pump. I know you don't want one reactor feeding the other you want them discharging into the return area. What size pump is recommended? What rate of flow do I want through the carbon and phosban medias? Pictures would be helpful to. __________________ Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop drinking coffee..... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 3-150w MH, 4 96w Actinic, 4 Lunar Blue Moon Glow LEDs, Aquac EV180 skimmer w/ mag7, Mag18 return pump, 3 #4 Koralia, 250# LR, 3" Live Sand Bed, 55 G sump/fuge

08/11/2008, 06:52 PM	#2
geo RC Mod Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: St. George Island, FL Posts: 19,512	I would plumb them with a tee, and then valve the output of each. You could probably use a maxi jet 600, feed the PO4 reactor first and valve that reactors output so the media just tumbles. The balance of flow from the pump would then feed the carbon chamber. __________________ I'm sorry I had a fight in the middle of your Black Panther party.

08/11/2008, 08:05 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Didn't you already post this exact same question? It's on page two of this forum: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1449408 If you want more advice, it's better to just post a "bump" reply so it moves back up to the top. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009. Last edited by seapug; 08/11/2008 at 08:12 PM.

08/11/2008, 08:07 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Mine isn't as fancy as, Tswifty8's MJ 400, The two reactors ( carbon is first ) Two connected together. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

08/11/2008, 09:40 PM	#7
rfd515 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lee's Summit, Mo. Posts: 197	Like ryan stated, if you want different flow rates in both chambers then I would assume running them in series is not the way to go. __________________ semi-professional racecar driver and amatuer tattoo artist Current Tank Info: Oceanic 30 cube and 20H nanos

08/11/2008, 08:50 PM	#6
ryancaudill Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 217	I have my reactors running in series like tswifty and toddrtrex. Keep in mind if you have a ball valve you dont necessarily need two. If you have a ball valve anywhere in the system you are going to be limiting the output at some point so this limits the amount of water at the input. What I am getting at is that if you slow the flow at multiple areas the smallest amount of flow in the smallest spot will dictate the flow rate for the entire system. Mine are running off a single mj 400. I run my mj 400 pretty much wide open with carbon first and phosban 2nd. If you use a mj 600 you will have to cut the flow rate quite a bit.

08/11/2008, 09:46 PM	#8
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	I set my flow rate according to the GFO media (2nd reactor), as carbon media can handle a much wider range of flows without adverse reactions. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

08/12/2008, 07:02 AM	#10
ryancaudill Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 217	If you want to run your reactors at different flow rates run the outline of the pump with a T the the reactors will be in parallel. Then you can set each individual reactor at different flow rates with more through the carbon. If you want to do this get mj 600 rather than the 400.

08/12/2008, 08:48 AM	#12
twoodall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Marianna, FL Posts: 201	Thanks for all the insight and information. __________________ Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop drinking coffee..... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 3-150w MH, 4 96w Actinic, 4 Lunar Blue Moon Glow LEDs, Aquac EV180 skimmer w/ mag7, Mag18 return pump, 3 #4 Koralia, 250# LR, 3" Live Sand Bed, 55 G sump/fuge

08/12/2008, 02:45 PM	#13
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	is it possible to run gfo and carbon in the same reactor instead of using 2??? __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

08/13/2008, 05:48 AM	#14
ryancaudill Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 217	It would work to run both in one reactor but you would have to change the gfo out more than needed because carbon is changed more often than gfo.

08/15/2008, 04:08 PM	#15
twoodall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Marianna, FL Posts: 201	Finally had the opportunity to get it all plumbed in. Thanks for all the imput! I greatly appreciate it. __________________ Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop drinking coffee..... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 3-150w MH, 4 96w Actinic, 4 Lunar Blue Moon Glow LEDs, Aquac EV180 skimmer w/ mag7, Mag18 return pump, 3 #4 Koralia, 250# LR, 3" Live Sand Bed, 55 G sump/fuge