GFO (Rowaphos) Coming Out Of Reactor

BigEZ77 · 04/23/2016, 08:23 AM

Hi All,

I'm running a midsize minimax AIO reactor with Rowaphos in it. The problem I'm having is that the sponges that come with the reactor don't hold the product in place (even at lowest flow rate) and let some particles escape thru the sponges. I tried using filter floss to hold down the top sponge but the particles still come up into the filter floss. Would it be ok to use the filter bag that comes with the product in the reactor or is that defeating the purpose of using a reactor to begin with?

Thanks,

mandarin_goby · 04/23/2016, 08:40 AM

I had that issue too and ended up with brown particles everywhere, killing most of my corals. I stopped using it asap. I'll be following this post though to see if there's a solution...

billdogg · 04/23/2016, 08:41 AM

IME, if you are having GFO (or Rowaphos - same basic difference) escape out the top it is because the flow is too high.

pyithar · 04/23/2016, 08:48 AM

i had the same issue as well. i had to use the bag that comes with it. using it in the reactor is definitely better but my tank was turning red from the rowa particles so i had no option but to use the bag. all the corals got through fine though.

BigEZ77 · 04/23/2016, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

IME, if you are having GFO (or Rowaphos - same basic difference) escape out the top it is because the flow is too high.

Can't get the flow any lower unfortunately. I think the sponges in this specific reactor aren't the best.

Thanks pyithar. Think I'll have to go that route. Do you know if it reduces the effectiveness at all?

d0ughb0y · 04/23/2016, 11:54 AM

does your skimmer have rust colored skimmate? most of the finer particles should get filtered out on the skimmer.

pyithar · 04/23/2016, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigEZ77

Do you know if it reduces the effectiveness at all?

i think it does reduce the effectiveness. since the media is not tumbling anymore there'll be less contact with water and it will also clump after awhile in the bag. i put the bag in a diy reactor and let the water pass through it. i didn't notice any big difference before and after the use of bag though. but my skimmer and algae scrubbers can handle the nutrients pretty well so i don't really need to rely on it.

whosurcaddie · 04/23/2016, 02:43 PM

Do you have a ball valve like the one below on your pump?

BigEZ77 · 04/23/2016, 02:52 PM

Sorry, the title is wrong. They're not actually coming out of the reactor, they're coming above the top sponge into the area where I have filter floss to hold the top sponge down.

In respect to any plumbing...this is an AIO reactor (Minimax) so unable to do so.

JohnnyHildo · 04/23/2016, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigEZ77

Sorry, the title is wrong. They're not actually coming out of the reactor, they're coming above the top sponge into the area where I have filter floss to hold the top sponge down.

In respect to any plumbing...this is an AIO reactor (Minimax) so unable to do so.

i use a minimax and it certainly is adjustable.
watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN-LLv1TNZk
at the very beginning of the video he is turning the knob on the top which rotates the inner sleeve of the reactor opening/closing the drain vents.
i strongly suggest you do it slowly or you'll end up with a bunch more gfo in your sump or tank.

BigEZ77 · 04/23/2016, 11:50 PM

Thanks Johnny. I have done it very slowly and understand the concept of the reactor (biopellets are not as light or as fine as rowaphos). Unfortunately, even at the lowest setting it tumbles the rowaphos so I have put in filter floss to hold the top sponge on top of the rowaphos so it no longer tumbles. At this point, particles still get thru the top sponge into the filter floss. However, I doubt any particles are getting past the filter floss.

JohnnyHildo · 04/24/2016, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigEZ77

Thanks Johnny. I have done it very slowly and understand the concept of the reactor (biopellets are not as light or as fine as rowaphos). Unfortunately, even at the lowest setting it tumbles the rowaphos so I have put in filter floss to hold the top sponge on top of the rowaphos so it no longer tumbles. At this point, particles still get thru the top sponge into the filter floss. However, I doubt any particles are getting past the filter floss.

i use gfo in mine which if opened even close to halfway is far more tumbling than they need and results in the media spilling into the sump... trust me i know from experience lol.
maybe rotate the bottom and top sponges if they won't stay put would be the only other solution i can offer.
hope it works out man!

kgeig001 · 04/25/2016, 05:23 PM

The gfo should tumble to be most affective. If your pump is too strong and a ball valve won't work for you, you may need to get a smaller pump. Also, just run the return from the reactor to a felt filter sock...it will keep the sediment out of the sump and tank. That's what I do and my sump and tank stay sediment free.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

BigEZ77 · 04/26/2016, 08:36 PM

Now thinking of going with Phosguard in this reactor. Thoughts?

04/23/2016, 08:23 AM	#1
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	GFO (Rowaphos) Coming Out Of Reactor Hi All, I'm running a midsize minimax AIO reactor with Rowaphos in it. The problem I'm having is that the sponges that come with the reactor don't hold the product in place (even at lowest flow rate) and let some particles escape thru the sponges. I tried using filter floss to hold down the top sponge but the particles still come up into the filter floss. Would it be ok to use the filter bag that comes with the product in the reactor or is that defeating the purpose of using a reactor to begin with? Thanks, __________________ Russell Banggai / Yellow Wrasse / Black Ice and Davinci Clowns / Flame Angel / Royal Gramma / Blue Chromis / LPS (dominated) / Monti's / Softies / BTA's Current Tank Info: 45G Rimless, Tunze 9004, Kessil A160WE, Gyre XF130, 50lbs rock, Reef Crystals, Phosguard in reactor, Matrix, Chemipure Blue and NP XL biopellets in sump

04/23/2016, 08:40 AM	#2
mandarin_goby Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 844	I had that issue too and ended up with brown particles everywhere, killing most of my corals. I stopped using it asap. I'll be following this post though to see if there's a solution... __________________ 75 with Eshopps 100 sump, Reef Octopus 110 SSS skimmer, Sicce 3.0 pump, Maxspect Gyre 130, 2 x Kessil a360W, mangroves plus clip-on bulb in sump 75 FW planted with CO2, 12 gallon cherry shrimp tank

04/23/2016, 08:41 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IME, if you are having GFO (or Rowaphos - same basic difference) escape out the top it is because the flow is too high. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

04/23/2016, 08:48 AM	#4
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	i had the same issue as well. i had to use the bag that comes with it. using it in the reactor is definitely better but my tank was turning red from the rowa particles so i had no option but to use the bag. all the corals got through fine though. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

04/23/2016, 02:52 PM	#9
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Sorry, the title is wrong. They're not actually coming out of the reactor, they're coming above the top sponge into the area where I have filter floss to hold the top sponge down. In respect to any plumbing...this is an AIO reactor (Minimax) so unable to do so. __________________ Russell Banggai / Yellow Wrasse / Black Ice and Davinci Clowns / Flame Angel / Royal Gramma / Blue Chromis / LPS (dominated) / Monti's / Softies / BTA's Current Tank Info: 45G Rimless, Tunze 9004, Kessil A160WE, Gyre XF130, 50lbs rock, Reef Crystals, Phosguard in reactor, Matrix, Chemipure Blue and NP XL biopellets in sump

04/23/2016, 11:54 AM	#6
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	does your skimmer have rust colored skimmate? most of the finer particles should get filtered out on the skimmer.

04/23/2016, 02:43 PM	#8
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Do you have a ball valve like the one below on your pump?

04/23/2016, 11:50 PM	#11
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Thanks Johnny. I have done it very slowly and understand the concept of the reactor (biopellets are not as light or as fine as rowaphos). Unfortunately, even at the lowest setting it tumbles the rowaphos so I have put in filter floss to hold the top sponge on top of the rowaphos so it no longer tumbles. At this point, particles still get thru the top sponge into the filter floss. However, I doubt any particles are getting past the filter floss. __________________ Russell Banggai / Yellow Wrasse / Black Ice and Davinci Clowns / Flame Angel / Royal Gramma / Blue Chromis / LPS (dominated) / Monti's / Softies / BTA's Current Tank Info: 45G Rimless, Tunze 9004, Kessil A160WE, Gyre XF130, 50lbs rock, Reef Crystals, Phosguard in reactor, Matrix, Chemipure Blue and NP XL biopellets in sump

04/25/2016, 05:23 PM	#13
kgeig001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tampa Fl Posts: 171	The gfo should tumble to be most affective. If your pump is too strong and a ball valve won't work for you, you may need to get a smaller pump. Also, just run the return from the reactor to a felt filter sock...it will keep the sediment out of the sump and tank. That's what I do and my sump and tank stay sediment free. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk __________________ Kirk Current Tank Info: 220 gallon mixed reef, 37 gallon anemone tank

04/26/2016, 08:36 PM	#14
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Now thinking of going with Phosguard in this reactor. Thoughts? __________________ Russell Banggai / Yellow Wrasse / Black Ice and Davinci Clowns / Flame Angel / Royal Gramma / Blue Chromis / LPS (dominated) / Monti's / Softies / BTA's Current Tank Info: 45G Rimless, Tunze 9004, Kessil A160WE, Gyre XF130, 50lbs rock, Reef Crystals, Phosguard in reactor, Matrix, Chemipure Blue and NP XL biopellets in sump