Multi media reactor

primo21 · 08/17/2011, 11:31 AM

Anyone ever try loading a reactor with multiple media? I was thinking of combining carbon and phosphate reducer in the same reactor. Am i crazy?

thanks.

Trevor40 · 08/17/2011, 11:39 AM

People do that all the time. I run a dual BRS reactor but on their site in a video they talk about adding multiple media in the same reactor.

primo21 · 08/17/2011, 11:46 AM

do you know what proportion of each to add? my phos is a little high so i was thinking of putting more of that in there.

Trevor40 · 08/17/2011, 11:52 AM

I would add half and half imo but you can feel it out based on how high your phosphates are. Also I'm pretty sure that you need less phosphate media than carbon. I run GFO and BRS instructions tell me add different amounts of each depending on the size of my tank.

primo21 · 08/17/2011, 11:54 AM

i am not good with acronyms:

GFO = ?
BRS = ?

thanks

fishysmell · 08/17/2011, 12:04 PM

BRS= Bulk Reef Supply....an online vendor that sells a bunch of stuff, including good, cheap carbon and gfo.

GFO= Granular Ferric Oxide....one of many different types of phosphate reducing media.

fishysmell · 08/17/2011, 12:08 PM

I also remember seeing that video on BRS that says that you can mix the media, BUT the dude also said (when talking about just running GFO) that the GFO media has to tumble to be effective. I wonder how that would be possible if one were to do half and half in a single reactor.

A good option is Seachem's Seagel, which inherently comes as a mix of carbon and phosphate remover, and has been successful in running in a reactor.

Trevor40 · 08/17/2011, 12:08 PM

I've had great success with Phosguard too.

fishysmell · 08/17/2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor40

I've had great success with Phosguard too.

Exactly...Seagel is a blend of carbon and Phosguard.

primo21 · 08/17/2011, 12:38 PM

cool. thanks all.

jacob.morgan78 · 08/17/2011, 01:30 PM

what type/brand of carbon do you guys recommend?

fishysmell · 08/17/2011, 01:48 PM

Again, BRS has some good carbon (their own brand) for the price. I think they have 2-3 grades/types.

Backinthegame · 08/17/2011, 02:18 PM

My suggestion would be to use two seperate reactors for GFO and Carbon. GFO needs to tumble at a slower rate than Carbon. GFO tends to disenegrate when tumbled at a high rate. Carbon on the other hand does best with a high flow rate. I would invest in the dual reactor from BRS and run Carbon in the first canister at a decent rate and the GFO in the second which could be regulated by a John Guest ball valve.

HowieB · 08/17/2011, 05:08 PM

I have the BRS dual reactor. GFO goes in the first canister, carbon in the second. No way to regulate different flows between the two.

primo21 · 08/19/2011, 07:36 AM

I am getting this reactor from another reefer breaking down their system. How do i prep it to run on mine. do i need to do anything?

08/17/2011, 11:31 AM	#1
primo21 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 219	Multi media reactor Anyone ever try loading a reactor with multiple media? I was thinking of combining carbon and phosphate reducer in the same reactor. Am i crazy? thanks.

08/17/2011, 02:18 PM	#13
Backinthegame Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 1,300	My suggestion would be to use two seperate reactors for GFO and Carbon. GFO needs to tumble at a slower rate than Carbon. GFO tends to disenegrate when tumbled at a high rate. Carbon on the other hand does best with a high flow rate. I would invest in the dual reactor from BRS and run Carbon in the first canister at a decent rate and the GFO in the second which could be regulated by a John Guest ball valve. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Almost out of the hobby

08/17/2011, 05:08 PM	#14
HowieB Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: LaMirada, California Posts: 393	I have the BRS dual reactor. GFO goes in the first canister, carbon in the second. No way to regulate different flows between the two. __________________ 120G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 120G Starfire, BRS dosers, Speedwave DC10000II pump, Aquamaxx skimmer, Reefkeeper Elite, 1 Vortech, , MR1 Phosphate reactor, ATI Sunpower 6x54

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08/17/2011, 11:39 AM	#2
Trevor40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 74	People do that all the time. I run a dual BRS reactor but on their site in a video they talk about adding multiple media in the same reactor.

08/17/2011, 11:46 AM	#3
primo21 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 219	do you know what proportion of each to add? my phos is a little high so i was thinking of putting more of that in there.

08/17/2011, 11:52 AM	#4
Trevor40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 74	I would add half and half imo but you can feel it out based on how high your phosphates are. Also I'm pretty sure that you need less phosphate media than carbon. I run GFO and BRS instructions tell me add different amounts of each depending on the size of my tank.

08/17/2011, 11:54 AM	#5
primo21 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 219	i am not good with acronyms: GFO = ? BRS = ? thanks

08/17/2011, 12:04 PM	#6
fishysmell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 616	BRS= Bulk Reef Supply....an online vendor that sells a bunch of stuff, including good, cheap carbon and gfo. GFO= Granular Ferric Oxide....one of many different types of phosphate reducing media.

08/17/2011, 12:08 PM	#7
fishysmell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 616	I also remember seeing that video on BRS that says that you can mix the media, BUT the dude also said (when talking about just running GFO) that the GFO media has to tumble to be effective. I wonder how that would be possible if one were to do half and half in a single reactor. A good option is Seachem's Seagel, which inherently comes as a mix of carbon and phosphate remover, and has been successful in running in a reactor.

08/17/2011, 12:38 PM	#10
primo21 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 219	cool. thanks all.

08/17/2011, 01:30 PM	#11
jacob.morgan78 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Farmville, VA Posts: 1,184	what type/brand of carbon do you guys recommend?

08/17/2011, 01:48 PM	#12
fishysmell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 616	Again, BRS has some good carbon (their own brand) for the price. I think they have 2-3 grades/types.

08/19/2011, 07:36 AM	#15
primo21 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 219	I am getting this reactor from another reefer breaking down their system. How do i prep it to run on mine. do i need to do anything?