turn water filters into gfo reactor

[caleb bruyn]

Does anyone have any experience trying to turn an old water filter system container (1 micron then carbon then RO then DI resin). I think I just need the internal plastic insert to put the gfo into. That way I can get the upward flow and agitation to the gfo. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Kdawg_69]

just get the one plastic insert and get some new half in john guest fittings

[caleb bruyn]

I finally found the inserts for 10 bucks at BRS. What is a john guest fitting? I have four empty canisters to use if I needed 2 GFO & 2 carbon. What do you think 3 GFO and 1 carbon. I have a 200 display and about 100 on the floor as sumps. Any ideas would be helpful. I am removing my crush coral bottom and trying to get the algae gone for good.

[Tom39]

John Guest fittings are just a brand of Push-To-Connect fittings. http://www.johnguest.com/

HIH
TOM G

[caleb bruyn]

Thanks Tom. Any ideas on how much gfo to run.

[Tom39]

I use the BRS calculator to determine use. Seems to work out ok.

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

HIH
Tom G

[caleb bruyn]

Thank you, I checked it out and I know what I'll try now. I am currently waiting for BRS to get the media cartridge back in stock. Then I will be closer to less Phosphate.

[caleb bruyn]

The guys at BRS said if the water filters didn't have 1/2 inch in and outputs drilled on the cap, the flow rate would be compromised with the 1/4 x 1/2 john guest fittings and they wont agitate the gfo correctly. I don't care, I am going to try it anyway.

[Bigcefa]

Why not sell your r/o machine and buy a gfo reactor ? As he mentioned you won't be getting great performance from your gfo by not having the correct flow. You can get decent reactors for cheap I'm not sure why you'd try to use something not meant for gfo

[caleb bruyn]

Well, my wife watches what I spend and the less I spend the more she likes the tank. I guess I even considered buying the dual stage reactor. I read on reef central that a lot of people are having problems with proper agitation with the brs reactor. So the diy person in me said for 20 bucks I can but the cartridge and make one and if it needs more agitation, just turn up the pressure. Sorry but I am cheap. But if it doesn't work I will just buy one and deal with brs with the problems. btw the reactor they sell is almost identical to my water filter canisters except for the 1/2 inch input and export.

[Bigcefa]

That 1/2" makes all the difference my friend. You don't want to spend 50 bucks for a reactor when your going to be spending that much everytime you need gfo? Makes no sense , but good luck

[caleb bruyn]

For the time being I have decided on just keeping doing what I started a couple of weeks ago. I removed my crushed coral, 15 gallons worth form the bottom of the tank. Now I am just trying to keep the detritus vacuumed out of the display. My cheato is growing really well and that should be removing a lot of the phosphates. I'm still reintroducing amphipods after gutting my tank with levamisole to kill flat worms that hitch hiked on a mangrove. If no improvements happen in a month I will start GFO. Patience is key.

[Timber77]

go to home depot, 1/2 inch is a standard size…its like 2 dollars or less in parts

[caleb bruyn]

so getting a 1/4 x 1/2 fitting is harder than it seems. I ended up buying the dual chamber gfo reactor at Bulk Reef Supply with a pump. I had problems getting the correct amount in each chamber so they both barely tumble. It ended up about a cup in each was the max that would work even with a pump running full power. I had to put the pump 3 feet higher in my overflow box and let gravity help. It is working well now. I gave up the retrofit idea and think it may work okay for carbon but not gfo unless a powerful pump is utilized.

[Timber77]

it will work fine, would recommend mixing your gfo and carbon instead of trying to tumble the gfo. Tumbling gfo is a high maintaince item, will be constantly playing with the valve.

[caleb bruyn]

I noticed that I have had to play with the amount of gfo and the flow amount to make one chamber barely tumble and the second barely tumble. If they tumbled too much, my water turns white and rust colored and I have to work at cleaning it out of the rocks and equipment. I am definitely considering mixing even though I think I will get less out of my gfo and keep my carbon in longer than it will work. I have heard people say carbon can leach back after 4-7 days the chemicals it has absorbed. any way I think I will try that next time I refill the gfo carbon reactors. I also had problems with adding enough gfo and still having it get to turn over at all. I ended up only using about 3/4 cup in each chamber which was not enough according to the gfo calculator. I still had an issue getting it to move. I tried setting the reactor between the tank and refugium and therefore didn't need a pump. gravity worked great. Then every day I used the pump for 10 seconds just to tumble and break it up. Anyway thanks for the feedback.