Not happy about BRS carbon / GFO reactor

[dzhuo]

I have been using my single BRS carbon / GFO reactor for a few months now. Generally speaking, it works as advertised. I do have a huge complain about this particular reactor. I can never tumble my GFO evenly and the culprit seems to be the bottom foam disk is easily compressed. I installed a new foam disk (from BRS) today, pure in some GFO and immediately one side of the foam disk is slightly compressed which creates a pressure point so tumbling only happens on one side. If I turn up the flow a little, the GFO will tumble too hard (on one side). Too little flow, nothing tumble. I am pretty much forced to settle only tumble on one side. The foam disk is pretty useless. As time goes by, it will got block more and tumbling will become even harder. I do believe if I use less GFO, it might tumble easier.

Am I the only one who has experience this? I feel this is a pretty big drawback. Given that this particular reactor is recommended heavily in RC, I totally don't expect this. Please tell me:

1. There is a reactor out there that solve this problem?
2. Perhaps I am using this reactor incorrectly and there is an easy solution.

If I known this would happen (or heard complain about it), I would definitely not buy this reactor.

[Metal Man 1221]

well I dont know how much I can help you with the BRS reactor. However if your considering a new reactor I've have great luck with the two little fishies phosban reactor. As long as you dont ignore the foam pad and forget to clean it when you change media you shouldnt have any channeling.

BTW pics of what your talking about might help too, Good luck!

[D-Nak]

This is probably a better question to ask in the BRS sponsor forum.

[OzoneParkGuy]

I have the BRS Dual Reactor GFO/Carbon. If that is the same one that you have, because you mentioned one side has tumbling only...you have to put the right amount of GFO. I usually put a little less than half in the chamber and about 70 percent carbon in the second chamber and run it with a MJ 12 and it works great.

[dzhuo]

Not sure why pictures you are looking for but here is the reactor:



and I am talking about the bottom foam disk:



A closer image (the top one in this photo):



It's just easily compressed. Once this happen, you won't be able to get even flow and it creates water channels. Even with a brand new disk, I wouldn't get my GFO tumbling nicely; it only tumble on the side that's not compressed.

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by OzoneParkGuy

I have the BRS Dual Reactor GFO/Carbon. If that is the same one that you have, because you mentioned one side has tumbling only...you have to put the right amount of GFO. I usually put a little less than half in the chamber and about 70 percent carbon in the second chamber and run it with a MJ 12 and it works great.

That's what I figure. I use carbon on top; roughly 30%. GFO at the bottom; roughly 30%. I use a MJ1200 and could never tumble my GFO evenly on all sides. My guess is if I use less GFO, it will probably work a little better. However, I really don't think is a volume problem because the channeling and compression is still there. With less GFO, it will tumble all of them but one side will still be tumbling much harder than the other side. Same thing for upgrading to a more powerful pump. As long as the disk is compressed, it will still creating channeling which sucks.

Has anyone found a good solution to this?

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by D-Nak

This is probably a better question to ask in the BRS sponsor forum.

I did. Not getting much response. They did ask me to call them but I was running an old foam disk before and I wasn't sure what's wrong. Now with the new foam disk, it's clear what the problem is. I don't think there is much BRS can do. The foam disk is brand new anyway. I am hoping someone had mod the reactor for better evenly flow.

[Metal Man 1221]

I suppose I should have been more specific about the pics, I mean of the reactor channeling so we can see more specifically what you mean, thanks

[RA]

This is from their web site:

If I'm running carbon and GFO, should I use two of these or a dual reactor for my 100 gallon aquarium?
It depends on what you want from the reactor. If you want to spend less and need it to take up as little space as possible, you might consider the dual. If you desire low maintenance, running two reactors separately will deliver optimal performance, as the carbon chamber can get clogged with debris from your aquarium and cause the GFO to stop tumbling, leading to clumping if you do not adjust the flow.


I think you would have better results if you just ran only GFO in the reactor, and purchased a second reactor for the carbon. I use just GFO in mine and it works fine.

[OzoneParkGuy]

Also look into changing the media itself as there are different grades of granulated carbon. Some are coarse and some others are fine. I'm using the Marineland BlackDiamond. GL.

[dublo8]

I understand what you are saying. Mine does the same thing. it's usually fine for the first couple of days after a cleaning but then it starts to channel into the backside fo the reactor. I don't know what the fix is sorry. i have tried to even shake it and it didn't do much but stir up the gfo.

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by RA

I think you would have better results if you just ran only GFO in the reactor, and purchased a second reactor for the carbon. I use just GFO in mine and it works fine.

I am not sure how this could help. The reactor is designed to be bottom up flow. GFO at the bottom and then carbon on top. The flow hits GFO first and then the carbon. I am not sure how not running carbon would affect previously passed media; the flow had already passed GFO so whether it hits carbon or not would not have helped.

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by OzoneParkGuy

Also look into changing the media itself as there are different grades of granulated carbon. Some are coarse and some others are fine. I'm using the Marineland BlackDiamond. GL.

I use BRS GFO so I expect their own media works with their media reactor.

[d0ughb0y]

Originally Posted by dzhuo

I use BRS GFO so I expect their own media works with their media reactor.

the problem is, the media reactor is just an RO canister designed for RO filters and not intended for tumbling media as you have discovered. Anyone can see what BRS is doing is just trying to sell more canisters. Get a reactor designed for tumbling media and it will work as designed out of the box without any tweaking or anything.

[dzhuo]

It does look very similar to a RO filter and that's probably what it's designed for. What surprise me the most is this particular brand is recommended heavily in this forum which leads me to believe it must be one of the best. If you do research (which I do for every equipment purchase), you will surely end up buying one base on the thumbs up. I don't understand how anyone would recommend this reactor given this flaw. If you have use it for any length of time, you can't miss the shortcoming unless you always use a small amount of GFO.

What reactor would you recommend?

[c0mp|ex]

Originally Posted by dzhuo

I am not sure how this could help. The reactor is designed to be bottom up flow. GFO at the bottom and then carbon on top. The flow hits GFO first and then the carbon. I am not sure how not running carbon would affect previously passed media; the flow had already passed GFO so whether it hits carbon or not would not have helped.

It doesn't matter where the carbon is in the reactor, it is still limiting the flow through the GFO. Its the same effect as if you put a ball valve at the output. Yea, water may travel through the GFO before it reaches the valve, but the valve is still the limiting factor as to how much flow is allowed to pass. The carbon could possibly be slowing down the flow.

I think the foam disc is flattening itself because water is entering the chamber at a high rate and the flow out of the camber is restricted by the carbon. Because of that, pressure in the chamber is higher and therefore the foams disc will flatten and cause this channeling problem that you have.

I have a BRS reactor running GFO by itself. It's only been up for a week, but i don't notice any channeling yet. I'm using it with a MJ1200. I suggest you try it without the carbon and see how it works.

[dzhuo]

I can give it a try without carbon. As I mention earlier, I don't think this is a flow issue. I can and have turn up the flow a lot (to a max) and the effect of that is one side will tumble like crazy while the other side tumble slightly. Does that make sense? If I turn down the flow, one side will tumble nicely while the other side will not tumble. The foam disk still block or compress easily (because of the weight of the media) which creates the channeling. Removing the carbon will surely reduce a little back pressure but so does opening the restrictor a little (which does not help).

[dcforester1]

I have been using the dual reactor, and it was OK at best. I converted it to run bio pellets, and it wasnt to good until I took the fittings off, and used PVC 1/2 directly int the unit. I dont think you can do that on the single unit.

GoodLuck Derek

[c0mp|ex]

Originally Posted by dzhuo

I can give it a try without carbon. As I mention earlier, I don't think this is a flow issue. I can and have turn up the flow a lot (to a max) and the effect of that is one side will tumble like crazy while the other side tumble slightly. Does that make sense? If I turn down the flow, one side will tumble nicely while the other side will not tumble. The foam disk still block or compress easily (because of the weight of the media) which creates the channeling. Removing the carbon will surely reduce a little back pressure but so does opening the restrictor a little (which does not help).

Which side of the reactor do you have the flow valve? It should be on the input side so the flow gets restricted before entering the camber (pump and water before the valve is pressurized). The foam disk probably does compress easy, but there has to be a reason for it compressing, which in your case, it could possibly be due to a greater amount of pressure in your chamber.

Has your GFO clumped? That could also increase the pressure on the foam disk because it will restrict flow too. I suggest you getting a new foam disk and trying it with new GFO only and see if you notice channeling again. Add very little media at first and then increase it and observe if the channeling occurs.

If that doesn't solve your problem, you might try replacing the foam dish with a fine mesh type of material. You could cut out a circle and carefully epoxy it down to the bottom of the cap (might work, might not, you'll have to get creative). If you do that and it still channels, then yea, it would be a poorly designed canister causing your problem.

[Neptune_Fan]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I am having the same problem with 2 reactors on separate tanks. Its seems as the glue that holds the foam to the bottom of the canister isnt that good. part of the glue comes loose and allows the water flow to be uneven. I think the next time i change my GFO i am gonna try to reseal the glue ans see if that works

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by c0mp|ex

I suggest you getting a new foam disk and trying it with new GFO only and see if you notice channeling again.

If you re-read my previous post, I did use a new foam disk (in fact, the other 2 foams are also new). It went in yesterday and the compression starts immediately. The old GFO still looks normal, not clumped. If the GFO is clumped, it's the result of uneven flow in the chamber; not the cause. The flow restrictor is on the output side, not the input.

If that doesn't solve your problem, you might try replacing the foam dish with a fine mesh type of material.

Do you know where I can find this sort of material to try? Would this work? It's designed for BIO-pellets but I figure it might work with GFO as well. I think the problem is the foam disk (it's just cheaply made), not flow related.

[dzhuo]

Originally Posted by Neptune_Fan

I know exactly what you are talking about. I am having the same problem with 2 reactors on separate tanks. Its seems as the glue that holds the foam to the bottom of the canister isnt that good. part of the glue comes loose and allows the water flow to be uneven. I think the next time i change my GFO i am gonna try to reseal the glue ans see if that works

Yes I think this definitely adds to the problem. I notice this as well. After I put everything back on, I use a folk to poke the foam disk loose and even on all side. Still, immediately after I turn on the reactor, channeling! Let me know if the re-glue help.

[GT_Jacket]

Couple things - I think tumbling is easier with more media rather than less. Also, make sure the reactor is perfectly vertical. Under the weight of 2 canisters, the mount might be sagging some.

[dzhuo]

Mine is perfectly level. I don't mount my reactor. It sits next to my sump in my stand. If it's not vertical, it will easily tip over. Besides, my sump will show uneven water line if there is an angle.