Quick questions on carbon and GFO in reactors

[benjc]

I'm setting up a new tank and will be using reactors for carbon and GFO. I know that the carbon shouldn't tumble and the GFO should have a light tumble. I will be using BRS ROX carbon and BRS High Capacity GFO; my questions are:
1) For the carbon reactor, should the flow rate be low enough that the carbon pellets don't move at all, or should there be a bit of "jostling" when you look closely at the pellets?
2) For the GFO reactor, how high up in the reactor canister should the GFO tumble (half-way, all the way to the top sponge, etc.)?
3) The tank has finished cycling and the CUC has been added; corals from my old tank (which had high phosphates) will be added once my new light arrives; because there isn't strong light on the tank, I don't have a big algae issue yet; should I start running the GFO now and make the corals (LPS/softies) deal with the change in phosphates, or wait until the light arrives and I start battling algae outbreaks?

Thanks in advance.

[downbeach]

Originally Posted by benjc

I'm setting up a new tank and will be using reactors for carbon and GFO. I know that the carbon shouldn't tumble and the GFO should have a light tumble. I will be using BRS ROX carbon and BRS High Capacity GFO; my questions are:
1) For the carbon reactor, should the flow rate be low enough that the carbon pellets don't move at all, or should there be a bit of "jostling" when you look closely at the pellets?
No tumble, in fact I use an extra sponge in my reactor to keep it still.
2) For the GFO reactor, how high up in the reactor canister should the GFO tumble (half-way, all the way to the top sponge, etc.)?
Just enough to keep it fluidized, kind of a slow boil.
3) The tank has finished cycling and the CUC has been added; corals from my old tank (which had high phosphates) will be added once my new light arrives; because there isn't strong light on the tank, I don't have a big algae issue yet; should I start running the GFO now and make the corals (LPS/softies) deal with the change in phosphates, or wait until the light arrives and I start battling algae outbreaks?
I wouldn't use it right away, and only use it if my readings were too high(Hanna), then start it slowly, using small amounts. What were you reading for PO4 on the last tank? Will you be adding any SPS? What are you using for a skimmer?

Thanks in advance.

[benjc]

Thanks for the input. New tank likely won't have SPS (maybe some birdsnest); I don't have a low-range PO4 meter yet, but I'll pick-up a Hanna meter next time they go on sale. As for a skimmer, I'll be using an SRO xp2000 on a total system volume of 135 gallons.