TLF 150 or 550 mod for GFO ??

Zalick · 05/04/2015, 11:25 AM

I'm looking for a mod for my Phosban 550 running GFO. I just set it up and I'm using 2.5 cups of GFO. The water only flows up one side and I can tell its going to clump on the other side quickly.

I know one solution is to run less GFO and change it more frequently.

I've search around and haven't found any mods to combat this issue although lots of people have the same issue.

Water will always chose the path of least resistance so it seems the mod will need to have multiple outlets for the water to push through various quadrants of the reactor. One thought that came to mind was to seal off the bottom of the tube and then drill small holes around the bottom and about 1" or so up. Then fix small tubes, 1/8", to each hole pointing slightly downwards on the bottom row of holes and and slightly downwards on the next row up.

Or leaving the tube open but replacing the red plastic disc with an acrylic disc drilled with lots of small holes, like other reactors use but smaller holes.

I can foresee GFO falling down the small holes and in to the tube as a potential issue but hopefully the pressure would keep it out or blow it out.

Does anyone have any good mods that will keep water flowing throughout the GFO instead of just one side ie the path of least resistance? Thoughts on this type of mod? Maybe I'm stuck just using 1 cup of GFO and changing more often?

Vinny Kreyling · 05/06/2015, 08:15 AM

As long as the surface of the media looks like it is tumbling or rolling you will be fine.

Zalick · 05/06/2015, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

As long as the surface of the media looks like it is tumbling or rolling you will be fine.

Thanks Vinny. So even if the tumbling is only on one side, it shouldn't clump up? This is my first time running GFO and I want to get it right as a PO4 problem is much harder to deal with in a 300g versus a 20g!

Vinny Kreyling · 05/06/2015, 11:24 AM

The water moving upwards carries some of the media with it, therefore slowly top moves to bottom & back up again. Same as the TLF 150.
You are over thinking it.

05/04/2015, 11:25 AM	#1
Zalick My reef tanks my wallet Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Portland Posts: 571	TLF 150 or 550 mod for GFO ?? I'm looking for a mod for my Phosban 550 running GFO. I just set it up and I'm using 2.5 cups of GFO. The water only flows up one side and I can tell its going to clump on the other side quickly. I know one solution is to run less GFO and change it more frequently. I've search around and haven't found any mods to combat this issue although lots of people have the same issue. Water will always chose the path of least resistance so it seems the mod will need to have multiple outlets for the water to push through various quadrants of the reactor. One thought that came to mind was to seal off the bottom of the tube and then drill small holes around the bottom and about 1" or so up. Then fix small tubes, 1/8", to each hole pointing slightly downwards on the bottom row of holes and and slightly downwards on the next row up. Or leaving the tube open but replacing the red plastic disc with an acrylic disc drilled with lots of small holes, like other reactors use but smaller holes. I can foresee GFO falling down the small holes and in to the tube as a potential issue but hopefully the pressure would keep it out or blow it out. Does anyone have any good mods that will keep water flowing throughout the GFO instead of just one side ie the path of least resistance? Thoughts on this type of mod? Maybe I'm stuck just using 1 cup of GFO and changing more often?

05/06/2015, 08:15 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	As long as the surface of the media looks like it is tumbling or rolling you will be fine. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

05/06/2015, 11:24 AM	#4
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	The water moving upwards carries some of the media with it, therefore slowly top moves to bottom & back up again. Same as the TLF 150. You are over thinking it. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.