BRS dual reactor question

Mrramsey · 11/30/2014, 12:18 PM

Hey guys I am setting up a brs dual media reactor. Since I have an over sized return pump I am going to run it off of a manifold. The question is what is the best way to rinse the media? I can't spare 2-3 gallons from the tank while it is running. Is there a way to Prince the cartridge in the sink before hand?

maddmaxx · 11/30/2014, 02:16 PM

many may suggest against that. but honestly i rinse in tap water all the time. the small amount of tap left over inside the media, is minute. plus will get filtered being in the media. i would have no worries about it honestly....

others may suggest doin a water change and using the waste water to rinse your media....

Bpb · 11/30/2014, 02:25 PM

I prefer to rinse mine with rodi water rather than tap. If your tap isn't super clean your carbon will lose half it's life in the rinsing process. Hard to describe how I rinse my carbon but I always soak it for 24 hrs in rodi before using it because that minimizes floating, and I then just use a measuring cup and a turkey baster. Pour it into the internal reactor canister (without sponges), and just pour rodi water over it and let it drain clear. Once you don't see carbon dust anymore it's good. For the gfo, I actually will stick the reactor in the sink, and hook it up to a mj1200 and run that in a bucket of rodi water until the runoff is clear. All told I use about 2.5-3 gallons of rodi in the process.

Sounds like a lot, but with practice I can get the process done and reactor running in 15 minutes if I hurry.

I know some may say its overkill, but the anecdotes for carbon and gfo fines in the tank causing problems are pretty prevalent it's not worth saving 15 minutes a month to risk the damage. We spend so much money to support our livestock what's 15 minutes to be extra thorough? Also, even on a moderate budget, gfo and carbon aren't cheap, and I'd rather not handicap it's useful life right out of the gate by cleaning my 400 Tds tap water with 0.4 ppm PO4 for me in the rinsing process. Rather have all of its absorption power be used on the tank, not on the tap

travis010 · 12/13/2014, 10:18 PM

I load my media in the BRS cartridge and either pour RODI water through it or fill a container with RODI water, submerge the cartridge and swish it around a bit.

Indymann99 · 12/14/2014, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrramsey

Hey guys I am setting up a brs dual media reactor. Since I have an over sized return pump I am going to run it off of a manifold. The question is what is the best way to rinse the media? I can't spare 2-3 gallons from the tank while it is running. Is there a way to Prince the cartridge in the sink before hand?

I combine my GFO and Carbon change (BRS dual) with my water change. The first 2-3g of the WC are rinsing the GFO/Carbon (through the dual unit), then proceed with ~20g WC.

Mrramsey · 12/14/2014, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indymann99

I combine my GFO and Carbon change (BRS dual) with my water change. The first 2-3g of the WC are rinsing the GFO/Carbon (through the dual unit), then proceed with ~20g WC.

Genius! That's a perfect idea.

11/30/2014, 12:18 PM	#1
Mrramsey NEO Reefer Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Hudson Ohio Posts: 1,801	BRS dual reactor question Hey guys I am setting up a brs dual media reactor. Since I have an over sized return pump I am going to run it off of a manifold. The question is what is the best way to rinse the media? I can't spare 2-3 gallons from the tank while it is running. Is there a way to Prince the cartridge in the sink before hand? __________________ Mike My 120 Build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2389417 Current Tank Info: 120g In-Wall \| BA Overflow \| 55g Sump \| SWC Extreme 150 Skimmer \| DIY ATO \| 2 Jebao RW-8\| Fluval SP6 \| Photon 48v2 LED \| GFO and Carbon

11/30/2014, 02:16 PM	#2
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	many may suggest against that. but honestly i rinse in tap water all the time. the small amount of tap left over inside the media, is minute. plus will get filtered being in the media. i would have no worries about it honestly.... others may suggest doin a water change and using the waste water to rinse your media.... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

11/30/2014, 02:25 PM	#3
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	I prefer to rinse mine with rodi water rather than tap. If your tap isn't super clean your carbon will lose half it's life in the rinsing process. Hard to describe how I rinse my carbon but I always soak it for 24 hrs in rodi before using it because that minimizes floating, and I then just use a measuring cup and a turkey baster. Pour it into the internal reactor canister (without sponges), and just pour rodi water over it and let it drain clear. Once you don't see carbon dust anymore it's good. For the gfo, I actually will stick the reactor in the sink, and hook it up to a mj1200 and run that in a bucket of rodi water until the runoff is clear. All told I use about 2.5-3 gallons of rodi in the process. Sounds like a lot, but with practice I can get the process done and reactor running in 15 minutes if I hurry. I know some may say its overkill, but the anecdotes for carbon and gfo fines in the tank causing problems are pretty prevalent it's not worth saving 15 minutes a month to risk the damage. We spend so much money to support our livestock what's 15 minutes to be extra thorough? Also, even on a moderate budget, gfo and carbon aren't cheap, and I'd rather not handicap it's useful life right out of the gate by cleaning my 400 Tds tap water with 0.4 ppm PO4 for me in the rinsing process. Rather have all of its absorption power be used on the tank, not on the tap

12/13/2014, 10:18 PM	#4
travis010 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 68	I load my media in the BRS cartridge and either pour RODI water through it or fill a container with RODI water, submerge the cartridge and swish it around a bit.