Phosban/Carbon/Media Bag vs. Reactor?

[herozero]

Trying to overcome a recent bout of GHA and have been reading a lot about phosban. Always been thinking about carbon too and thought, "Why a media bag with phosban or carbon instead of a reactor or vice versa?" Any thoughts?

At first impression seems to me a reactor would utilize more surface of the media as it is turned around, versus a static sitting media bag. Did I answer my own question? For $30 for a TLF Phosban reactor seems like a no brainer.

[karsco]

Yep, you just answered your own question. I had the TLF reactor but just switched to the BRS reactor, much better an a lot easier to change the media. Good luck!

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Carbon..._85/index.html

[herozero]

I do that sometimes. I don't know if I'm ready for the BRS quite yet, but maybe I'll jump the gun. Mostly just afraid to make too many changes at once.

[hypernesia]

The BRS dual reactor is worth the extra$. Carbon in the first chamber and GFO in the second. you can control the flow, easier to change media than a TLF reactor and its basically plug and play

[herozero]

I assume you only need one pump to supply the water to the BRS vs. two separate fluid reactors. GPH the same for carbon and phosban sections? Could you leave one cartridge empty and add carbon when you want? Where do you put t in your chain or filter equipment (I'd imagine just before your return)?

I trust people with degrees from buildings I never stepped into on campus over 4 years

[hypernesia]

Thats funny. Whats even funnier is that my degree is in Bio and I am in sales.
With the BRS dual you can directly plug it into the output of a MJ1200 and since you need higher flow through carbon the carbon goes first then the GFO they do have control valve to adjust flow built into the unit. You want a lower GPH for GFO:
1.For contact time
2. So the water doesn't grind the GFO into powder.
The GFO should tumble and dance in the reactor (best description I can give) rather than shooting up like a volcano in the reactor.

I have always run carbon and GFO 24/7 . I typically change carbon once a month and GFO every two to three weeks. When you first start out using GFO you want to take it slow half the recommended amount and work your way up over a couple of weeks. Stripping Phosphate too guickly from the water can be detrimental to your inhabitants.

[Jefe12234]

If you're running the chambers in series then they will both have the exact same flowrate. Whatever flowrate is exiting the reactor is the same flowrate passing through each chamber. I would still, however, run the carbon first so that it absorbs some of the substances that would otherwise cause the GFO to become depleted sooner. Carbon is after all, cheaper than GFO. Also, studies have shown that carbon is most effective at very low flowrates, much lower than most people use. So a flowrate sufficient to cause gentle tumbling is probably more than enough for both carbon and GFO.

The BRS reactor looks like a really slick solution. I plan on getting one for my 120. The chambers can be run empty just like the RO units they're based on. And I would run it just before the return so that your other filters deal with the dirtiest water.

[hypernesia]

Wait. If the intial chamber is full of carbon and it is getting the direct inflow from the MJ the carbon itself would slow the gph from resistance alone, effectively slowing the GPH once it reaches the second chamber. I do agree that once you have both chambers filled that the GPH at the ouput would be what is running through both reactors. Or do I need to go back to Physics class( its been a long time)

[herozero]

More campus buildings I never went into. If you need friction co-efficients I might have my old school teachers's email here somewhere.

[hypernesia]

too funny! Sorry to derail your thread!
Either way I love my reactor from them!

[herozero]

Start talking some politico-economics so I can chime in! I would imagine certain amount of headroom, flow restriction and such can achieve the right flow. Or get a smaller maxi-jet.

[Jefe12234]

Resistance from the plumbing and the media itself will reduce flow throughout the entire reactor, not just one chamber. If 100g passes through the first chamber in one hour (100gph), then that same 100g must pass through the second chamber in one hour (also 100gph). If the flowrate in the first chamber were greater than the flowrate in the second chamber, then the first chamber would be leaking or exploding. Hopefully that makes sense. If we bust out friction co-efficients peoples' heads might explode.

[hypernesia]

Thats my thoughts on it as well. If we start talking politics/ economy, we could have a riot on our hands.
I have to be able to trust you... your not a senator. By the way are they really thinking about handing out IOU's for state tax refunds!!?

[herozero]

Not talking about, are withholding returns. I got really good leads with CA agencies that have told me to call back until Arnie signs a budget. I'll let you know about BRS.

[hypernesia]

cool. He really is the terminator... of your tax returns