carbon and gfo in same reactor?

powderhound · 12/16/2009, 07:30 PM

just got my phosban reactor all hooked up. is there a way to run carbon and gfo in the same reactor. i dont have room for two reactors right now. should i mix them together or seperate the with an extra sponge? any thoughts are welcome

fatdaddy · 12/16/2009, 07:35 PM

I did this. I put carbon on the top as I figured I needed to change it more often and it doesn't cost as much. Also, the GFO would solidify so that water wouldn't flow easily through it. I'd dump the carbon and then rinse the GFO with RO/DI water and put the reactor back together again.

Shane Hoffman · 12/16/2009, 07:36 PM

I would advise against running them together. They require two different flows to be efficient. If you have no other option I would rum GFO on top so you can control the low to get the necessary tumbling.

Shane Hoffman · 12/16/2009, 07:37 PM

The gfo solidifying is why you should put it on top. If its on top you can leave a gap at the top to allow for tumbling

fatdaddy · 12/16/2009, 07:48 PM

I love how every problem has multiple solutions. It's kind of like, do you mount the toilet paper so the paper hangs over the top or underneath? Both ways have the desired result of dispensing toilet paper when you need it.

btw, the GFO solidification was handy. I could easily dump the carbon and then I just used a meat fork to knock out the GFO [edit].

frewd · 12/16/2009, 07:50 PM

i two have done this , i put the carbon on bottom and i changed them at the same time, every 2-3 weeks

powderhound · 12/16/2009, 08:13 PM

so it really can be done either way. just leave enough room for gfo to tumble and every body puts it in a different place with the same results.
thanks for all the input

sedor · 12/16/2009, 08:27 PM

It can be done and its better than nothing, but its not nearly as effective as using 2 separate reactors. Reason being is because carbon likes a stronger flow to do its job where GFO needs a slow tumble in order to have plenty of contact with the water. You can run 2 reactors on the same pump. If it were me I would invest another $40 in a second reactor and you'll be set.

DC_40gallon · 12/16/2009, 10:16 PM

I too advise against this. Each require different flows and you will pulvarize the gfo on anything other than a trickle flow.

gofor100 · 12/16/2009, 11:07 PM

And you're totally wrong about the toilet paper... there really is only ONE way to do it.

We all know that the toilet paper goes over the top!!!

FranktheTankTx · 12/16/2009, 11:15 PM

Funny thing is... If you didn't want to buy a seperate reactor, I would suggest running the GFO in the reactor & running the carbon in a filter bag - dropped in the sump. And don't tell me it's not good enough. Carbon in the sump works just fine. I've done it so many times it's ridiculous. The GFO will get much better benefit being in the reactor.

rustyjames · 12/16/2009, 11:20 PM

Totaly agree, over the top. But if you are running two reactors in daisy-chain from the same pump (i.e. MJ 4-6-900) is it enough flow for the carbon to make the gfo slightly tumble?

rustyjames · 12/16/2009, 11:24 PM

Can you run Purigen in a filter bag in the sump the same way? Instead of carbon?

DC_40gallon · 12/16/2009, 11:33 PM

purigen is amazing stuff. You can definitely run it the same way as carbon in a filter bag.

doTheEvolution · 12/16/2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FranktheTankTx

Funny thing is... If you didn't want to buy a seperate reactor, I would suggest running the GFO in the reactor & running the carbon in a filter bag - dropped in the sump. And don't tell me it's not good enough. Carbon in the sump works just fine. I've done it so many times it's ridiculous. The GFO will get much better benefit being in the reactor.

Totally agree, this is how I run it.

bertoni · 12/17/2009, 12:16 AM

I ran GFO and GAC in a reactor for years without problems. They work well that way. The only issue is that you'll end up replacing both media at the same time, which might be a bit wasteful. Purigen is a fine addition to GAC, but I wouldn't say it's a substitute.

JJIM · 12/17/2009, 12:33 AM

Does the GFO last that much longer?

fatdaddy · 12/17/2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJIM

Does the GFO last that much longer?

Depends on your system, feeding, bio-load, etc. Also, I started growing chaeto as an export, so the GFO is lasting much longer.

The stuff is expensive, so I don't change it until my tests show elevated phosphate.

12/16/2009, 07:30 PM	#1
powderhound Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lake Tahoe, CA Posts: 552	carbon and gfo in same reactor? just got my phosban reactor all hooked up. is there a way to run carbon and gfo in the same reactor. i dont have room for two reactors right now. should i mix them together or seperate the with an extra sponge? any thoughts are welcome __________________ If it's snowing I'm going! Current Tank Info: DSA 190 pro 48inch cebu sun with 2x 400w radiums 4x54 t5 bubblemagus 220cs

12/16/2009, 07:35 PM	#2
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	I did this. I put carbon on the top as I figured I needed to change it more often and it doesn't cost as much. Also, the GFO would solidify so that water wouldn't flow easily through it. I'd dump the carbon and then rinse the GFO with RO/DI water and put the reactor back together again. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

12/16/2009, 07:36 PM	#3
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	I would advise against running them together. They require two different flows to be efficient. If you have no other option I would rum GFO on top so you can control the low to get the necessary tumbling. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

12/16/2009, 07:37 PM	#4
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	The gfo solidifying is why you should put it on top. If its on top you can leave a gap at the top to allow for tumbling __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

12/16/2009, 07:48 PM	#5
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	I love how every problem has multiple solutions. It's kind of like, do you mount the toilet paper so the paper hangs over the top or underneath? Both ways have the desired result of dispensing toilet paper when you need it. btw, the GFO solidification was handy. I could easily dump the carbon and then I just used a meat fork to knock out the GFO [edit]. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

12/16/2009, 07:50 PM	#6
frewd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 57	i two have done this , i put the carbon on bottom and i changed them at the same time, every 2-3 weeks

12/16/2009, 08:13 PM	#7
powderhound Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lake Tahoe, CA Posts: 552	so it really can be done either way. just leave enough room for gfo to tumble and every body puts it in a different place with the same results. thanks for all the input __________________ If it's snowing I'm going! Current Tank Info: DSA 190 pro 48inch cebu sun with 2x 400w radiums 4x54 t5 bubblemagus 220cs

12/16/2009, 08:27 PM	#8
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	It can be done and its better than nothing, but its not nearly as effective as using 2 separate reactors. Reason being is because carbon likes a stronger flow to do its job where GFO needs a slow tumble in order to have plenty of contact with the water. You can run 2 reactors on the same pump. If it were me I would invest another $40 in a second reactor and you'll be set. __________________ Ryan

12/16/2009, 10:16 PM	#9
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	I too advise against this. Each require different flows and you will pulvarize the gfo on anything other than a trickle flow.

12/16/2009, 11:07 PM	#10
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	And you're totally wrong about the toilet paper... there really is only ONE way to do it. We all know that the toilet paper goes over the top!!! __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress

12/16/2009, 11:15 PM	#11
FranktheTankTx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,306	Funny thing is... If you didn't want to buy a seperate reactor, I would suggest running the GFO in the reactor & running the carbon in a filter bag - dropped in the sump. And don't tell me it's not good enough. Carbon in the sump works just fine. I've done it so many times it's ridiculous. The GFO will get much better benefit being in the reactor. __________________ Frank the Tank "What, I thought we were in the trust tree... in the nest? Are we not?" Current Tank Info: Custom Rimless 60g (30.5"x24.5"x18.5")

12/16/2009, 11:20 PM	#12
rustyjames EMT-B Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	Totaly agree, over the top. But if you are running two reactors in daisy-chain from the same pump (i.e. MJ 4-6-900) is it enough flow for the carbon to make the gfo slightly tumble? __________________ I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Current Tank Info: 20 long

12/16/2009, 11:24 PM	#13
rustyjames EMT-B Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	Can you run Purigen in a filter bag in the sump the same way? Instead of carbon? __________________ I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Current Tank Info: 20 long

12/16/2009, 11:33 PM	#14
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	purigen is amazing stuff. You can definitely run it the same way as carbon in a filter bag.

12/17/2009, 12:16 AM	#16
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I ran GFO and GAC in a reactor for years without problems. They work well that way. The only issue is that you'll end up replacing both media at the same time, which might be a bit wasteful. Purigen is a fine addition to GAC, but I wouldn't say it's a substitute. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/17/2009, 12:33 AM	#17
JJIM Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: U.S Posts: 540	Does the GFO last that much longer?