How do you sett up a Dual Carbon/GFO Reactor

[Leronidas]

i am wondering if anyone can show me the steps cause some say that using GFO is very risky and if i mess up everything in my tank will die but i want this so i can clean up my water and lower my nitrates please someone will you help me figure out the best way to go about this

[James404]

•Place the reactor's return line into a bucket or sink
•Turn on the feed pump to flush the fines from the GFO until the water runs clear
•Place the return line in the tank
•Reduce the flow through the reactor so the GFO barely tumbles on the surface. Do not allow the material to vigorously tumble.
•Change the media when phosphate levels rise or algae growth becomes visible (4-8 weeks)

[Leronidas]

so only add enough so its able to tumble a bit?

[James404]

Originally Posted by Leronidas

so only add enough so its able to tumble a bit?

According to Bulk Reef Supply's site:

For Granular and Pellet GFO start with 1 tablespoon per 4 gallons of water (16 tbsp = 1 cup). After 4-8 weeks the aquarium will have adjusted to lower nutrient levels and the amount of GFO can be increased up to 2 tablespoons per 4 gallons of water

[Mavrk]

Who says GFO is risky? What kind of GFO are you using? I usually add about 1/2 cup. But it depends on the brand. Adding more isn't a problem, but might be a little wasteful. Just make sure that there is a sponge or something preventing it from flying into your tank (reactors all have these).

I usually coordinate my GFO change with a water change. I put the GFO in the reactor, then let the water pump through it into my waste bucket until the water is clear (usually a few gallons). Then I replace the water in the tank with my new saltwater. Most brands are safe to have the brown stuff go into the tank, but it might cloud things up and is better to avoid. But if some gets in there, it is not a problem.

Like mentioned above, add just enough flow to get it fluid on top (small wavelike movements). Too much will cause the GFO to breakdown too quickly. Also longer contact time means more efficiency.

[Leronidas]

so putting the carbon in the fist chamber is the best idea?

[Grant W]

gfo in first chamber and carbon in the second to help catch the fines from the gfo

[Grant W]

I would be more careful not to use too much carbon as I have found it to be rough on the corals especially softies like leathers and such

[Leronidas]

so how much of the chamber should i fill with carbon?

[gweston]

For my 29gal w/15gal sump, I use about 1 cup of carbon to 1 heaped tablespoon of GFO. I mix it and put it in a filter sock. I don't have a reactor (yet). It helps, though may not be an ideal quantity. I change it out every 4 weeks like clockwork.

My bioload is average for the tank, I have a boatload of liverock, and I do a good water change every week.

I'll eventually get a reactor when I get the large tank in place. In that case I'd go by the manufacturers (GFO and Carbon) suggested amount. Different carbons don't necessarily perform the same. So it can be a challenge to guess the correct amount to use.

Sometimes I second guess the manufacturer however... in typical fashion they may suggest you use more and discard it more frequently than it's actual life span. Greater use=grater profits (?). So I guess try it and see if it works. Then lower/raise your quantities as you see fit.

[Palting]

Never did like the dual carbon/GFO thing. Hard to get the flow right. You do NOT want the carbon tumbling as this will pulverize the carbon and you end up with carbon powder in your tank. However, you want your GFO to tumble. You'll be playing with flows, levels, amounts, whatnot, just to get the GFO to tumble and the carbon not.

[jet fixer]

BRS has a calculator to figure out quanity

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/reef-calculator

[sasharotty]

Just use them one at a time, carbon/carbon or gfo/gfo.Just my .02.Because the flow rates are different, dont really like them either.