Anyone using the BRS reactor on a 180

[Gunsnroses]

I watched the video from BRS on their single reactors and the guy says that its only good for up to a 120 gallon tank.
But according to the specs, it will hold up to 3 cups of carbon.
Their calculator says I only need 1.44 cups of carbon for my 230 total gallon system.
Why will this reactor not work for me?
What am I missing here?

[ghellin]

If you use a higher capacity carbon like the "ROX" BRS sells you will most likely have no issues. You do want carbon to tumble in the reactor so if you fill the reactor up it will not be able to tumble.

[Gunsnroses]

Now I was told just the opposite. I was told that carbon was not to tumble. Only GFO was supposed to tumble. Hrmmm...

[billdogg]

IMO/IME, carbon does best without tumbling - it will tend to grind itself to dust otherwise. GFO should just tumble slightly at the surface or it will do the same. I run my carbon in a BRS reactor with the flow reversed so that it can't tumble at all

hth

[downbeach]

I've used two of the BRS single reactor's on my 180 for a number of years, one with ROX 0.8 GAC and the other with HC GFO. I used about 1 1/2 cup of media in each reactor, with a Cobalt MJ 400 on each so I wouldn't have to use the ball valve. I reversed the flow on the GAC to keep it from tumbling.

[Gunsnroses]

Originally Posted by billdogg

IMO/IME, carbon does best without tumbling - it will tend to grind itself to dust otherwise. GFO should just tumble slightly at the surface or it will do the same. I run my carbon in a BRS reactor with the flow reversed so that it can't tumble at all

hth

That seems to be the most consistent reply I have heard about GFO and Carbon.

[Gunsnroses]

Originally Posted by downbeach

I've used two of the BRS single reactor's on my 180 for a number of years, one with ROX 0.8 GAC and the other with HC GFO. I used about 1 1/2 cup of media in each reactor, with a Cobalt MJ 400 on each so I wouldn't have to use the ball valve. I reversed the flow on the GAC to keep it from tumbling.

Did you buy the dual setup and mod them or did you buy two separate reactors?

[downbeach]

I used two of the single deluxe reactors. The only mod's I did, was to add a piece of PVC angle to the reactor so I could mount them on the side of my sump, so there was no head pressure on the MJ400. Depending on where you're going to mount the reactor's, you may have to increase the size of the pump.

[Gunsnroses]

Originally Posted by downbeach

I used two of the single deluxe reactors. The only mod's I did, was to add a piece of PVC angle to the reactor so I could mount them on the side of my sump, so there was no head pressure on the MJ400. Depending on where you're going to mount the reactor's, you may have to increase the size of the pump.

I installed a manifold into my plumbing as I was setting everything up in the beginning. It branches off my refugium which is powered by a Reef Octopus Diablo 5500.
Way you overpowered, but with the speed control, it works great. I have 4 outputs. Two 3/4 and two 1/2 inch. With both ball and gate valves on each output.
My only concern is getting the flow right.
I could buy two powerheads and not have to worry about it.
But that's an extra $70 to the cost of the reactors.
Do you think I would be better off with the powerheads, or take a chance on the manifold?

[downbeach]

If you have a manifold already set up, I would use it. Contact time is what's most important for this type of media, so adjust the flow so the GAC doesn't tumble(reversing the flow will help with this), and use just enough flow to keep the GFO fluidized(barely tumbling) so it doesn't clump.

[billdogg]

^^^What he said^^^

Unless you are depriving your DT of needed flow, a manifold is a win-win. No extra pumps to heat the water or spin your electric meter. The only downside is that when the main pump is down, nothing runs. That is easily remedied with a spare pump of some sort, preferably the same type to make swapping them out a no-brainer.

[thegrun]

+2, use your manifold and use gate valves (not ball valves) so you can fine tune the flow to each reactor separately

[asudavew]

I have the dual on my 180. I re plumbed the unit to separate the two "chambers."
I use a pump to run them both. Not my return pump.
I have valves to control the flow to both.
They don't usually need adjusting, but I tweak them occasionally.
I adjust the valve on the GFO chamber to keep the GFO barely fluid like at the top. The valve on the carbon chamber is usually left wide open, but I pack the carbon tight... so no tumbling.

[jared355]

I hAve it on my 300 and it cleared everything up... I have to pack it like a muzzle loader but it works. I need to probably get the dual stage but at this point it works fine.

[ghellin]

I have always found if carbon does not tumble it becomes packed and the water will form channels through the carbon and significantly reduce the flow through the reactor. When I say tumble I mean just the slightest bit of movement, not a rolling carbon tornado. I have never had carbon grind itself to dust doing this and have had great results in carbon life. I also fully agree with the manifold so much better than multiple pumps.