What Type of Phosphate/Carbon Reactor is Everyone Using?

scottk · 05/29/2007, 02:33 PM

Like the title says...What type of phosphate/carbon reactors are you using?

Kent Marine, Two Little Fishies, Aqua C

I'm thinking something hang on for the sump. Tank/system is 180/220.

pjf · 05/29/2007, 03:30 PM

My Reef Creations FMC-415 reactor with Eheim 1046 pump (79 gph). The media is separated and sandwiched by 3 sponge pads.

Top: GFO - several tablespoons
Bottom: GAC - one quart

There is a 3/4" space above the GFO and the top sponge pad to observe the flow causing the GFO to "gently boil."

snorvich · 05/29/2007, 03:43 PM

Deltec in series.

BBoley24 · 05/29/2007, 05:14 PM

Bump for more information...

DarG · 05/29/2007, 05:15 PM

Two Little Fishes ... not leaking yet so it stays.

Canarygirl · 05/29/2007, 05:23 PM

sorry about the newb question but GFO means...granulated ferric oxide ?? (guessing). Is this the new type of phosphate remover media? Brown stuff?

DarG · 05/29/2007, 05:27 PM

Yes it is the "new" stuff. Fairly new to the aquarium industry on a wide range scale anyway.

sjm817 · 05/29/2007, 05:29 PM

Fluval 404 canister filter. It seems anything that you pump water through is now a "reactor", so I now have a "Fluval Reactor"

db_triggerfish · 05/29/2007, 05:48 PM

Plan on ordering Fluval Reactor 205 with polishing pad. sjm817, you're right, it is now a reactor.

pjf · 05/29/2007, 06:15 PM

Here's an article about granular ferric oxide (GFO): http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php

Two-thirds of the way down the article is a picture of a GFO reactor. The upward flow prevents the GFO from caking together and the slow circulation prevents the GFO from disintegrating. The flow should be such that the surface of the GFO "gently boils" in the void above the media. My pump only generates 79 gph.

Reactors are meant for gentle upward flow. They do not usually come with pumps and can be driven with a "T" from the return pump. Many reactors are used inside the return compartment.

My understanding is that canisters tend to come with powerful built-in pumps (300+ gph). Media is usually packed with no void. They tend to have input and output hose connectors for external use.

carlso63 · 05/29/2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
Fluval 404 canister filter. It seems anything that you pump water through is now a "reactor", so I now have a "Fluval Reactor"

Same here... A 404 with 'polishing pads'...even though I have been told the flow is "way too high" you really can't argue with consistent 0ppm readings, no hair algae / cyano / or diatom issues, can you?

sjm817 · 05/29/2007, 06:24 PM

My Fluval canister filter has upward flow. Water comes in the bottom, out the top. I used to run (2) TLF reactor 150s on my previous system. I like the canister filter better. Randy-Holmes Farley of the Reef Chemistry forum also thought it was a better way to run GAC and GFO, and runs his personal system that way. I can put as much or as little media as I want in the media chambers. It is connected to my sump.

Canarygirl · 05/29/2007, 06:38 PM

hmmm

I have a fluval 350 I'm not using, still new in the box. Do you think this would work well for the purpose (GFO and GAC)? Would I need to change the filter every week?

sjm817 · 05/29/2007, 06:48 PM

It is a great way to run GAC and GFO. The issue with a Fluval canister filter is they are not self priming. Other types (Marineland Magnum) are. The Fluvals are meant to run connected to, and below the display. It may be difficult to get it to run connected to a sump. My case is a little unique in that I have a basement sump that is 3' off the floor which makes the canister filter easy to run. I dont run any mechanical filtration in mine.

da1jewfish · 05/29/2007, 09:52 PM

phosban- two little fishes... works great. I don't think there will be any problems

magnoliarichj · 05/29/2007, 09:58 PM

http://www.marinedepot.com/PS/ps_Vie...s~vendor~.html

thats what i run zeovit in.

scottk · 05/30/2007, 10:02 AM

Good input, guys. I was hoping to do hangon (because of space), but hadn't figured out which brand worked best or if I would tee off return pump line or use a small MJ.......

I want it to be easy to refill/disconnect because I am lazy....

I also wouldn't mind saving electricity by using return flow....

Besides a canister filter, which I'm sure work but are large, is there a reaction chamber with a built in pump?

carlso63 · 05/30/2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scottk
Good input, guys. I was hoping to do hangon (because of space), but hadn't figured out which brand worked best or if I would tee off return pump line or use a small MJ.......

I want it to be easy to refill/disconnect because I am lazy....

I also wouldn't mind saving electricity by using return flow....

Besides a canister filter, which I'm sure work but are large, is there a reaction chamber with a built in pump?

If I already didn't have (2) Fluval 404s I would probably have gotten something like this to run PO4 remover in:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/23234/product.web

Runs at 80 gph; probably a "preferred" flow rate for PO4 removal... SW safe, pump built right in...

05/29/2007, 02:33 PM	#1
scottk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 118	What Type of Phosphate/Carbon Reactor is Everyone Using? Like the title says...What type of phosphate/carbon reactors are you using? Kent Marine, Two Little Fishies, Aqua C I'm thinking something hang on for the sump. Tank/system is 180/220.

05/29/2007, 03:30 PM	#2
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	MRC FMC-415 & Eheim 1046 My Reef Creations FMC-415 reactor with Eheim 1046 pump (79 gph). The media is separated and sandwiched by 3 sponge pads. Top: GFO - several tablespoons Bottom: GAC - one quart There is a 3/4" space above the GFO and the top sponge pad to observe the flow causing the GFO to "gently boil."

05/29/2007, 03:43 PM	#3
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Deltec in series. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

05/29/2007, 05:29 PM	#8
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Fluval 404 canister filter. It seems anything that you pump water through is now a "reactor", so I now have a "Fluval Reactor" __________________ - Scott

05/29/2007, 05:48 PM	#9
db_triggerfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,127	Plan on ordering Fluval Reactor 205 with polishing pad. sjm817, you're right, it is now a reactor. __________________ FMAS - Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member . Current Tank Info: AGA 75g RR 6 x 54w T5 overdriven (510w) with 2 x Icecap 660, DAS EX-1 Skimmer, OR 2500, Reefkeeper II

05/29/2007, 05:14 PM	#4
BBoley24 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Greensburg PA Posts: 917	Bump for more information...

05/29/2007, 05:15 PM	#5
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Two Little Fishes ... not leaking yet so it stays.

05/29/2007, 05:23 PM	#6
Canarygirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,789	sorry about the newb question but GFO means...granulated ferric oxide ?? (guessing). Is this the new type of phosphate remover media? Brown stuff?

05/29/2007, 05:27 PM	#7
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Yes it is the "new" stuff. Fairly new to the aquarium industry on a wide range scale anyway.

05/29/2007, 06:15 PM	#10
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	GFO Here's an article about granular ferric oxide (GFO): http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.php Two-thirds of the way down the article is a picture of a GFO reactor. The upward flow prevents the GFO from caking together and the slow circulation prevents the GFO from disintegrating. The flow should be such that the surface of the GFO "gently boils" in the void above the media. My pump only generates 79 gph. Reactors are meant for gentle upward flow. They do not usually come with pumps and can be driven with a "T" from the return pump. Many reactors are used inside the return compartment. My understanding is that canisters tend to come with powerful built-in pumps (300+ gph). Media is usually packed with no void. They tend to have input and output hose connectors for external use.

05/29/2007, 06:24 PM	#12
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	My Fluval canister filter has upward flow. Water comes in the bottom, out the top. I used to run (2) TLF reactor 150s on my previous system. I like the canister filter better. Randy-Holmes Farley of the Reef Chemistry forum also thought it was a better way to run GAC and GFO, and runs his personal system that way. I can put as much or as little media as I want in the media chambers. It is connected to my sump. __________________ - Scott Last edited by sjm817; 05/29/2007 at 06:43 PM.

05/29/2007, 06:38 PM	#13
Canarygirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,789	hmmm I have a fluval 350 I'm not using, still new in the box. Do you think this would work well for the purpose (GFO and GAC)? Would I need to change the filter every week?

05/29/2007, 06:48 PM	#14
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	It is a great way to run GAC and GFO. The issue with a Fluval canister filter is they are not self priming. Other types (Marineland Magnum) are. The Fluvals are meant to run connected to, and below the display. It may be difficult to get it to run connected to a sump. My case is a little unique in that I have a basement sump that is 3' off the floor which makes the canister filter easy to run. I dont run any mechanical filtration in mine. __________________ - Scott

05/29/2007, 09:52 PM	#15
da1jewfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 990	phosban- two little fishes... works great. I don't think there will be any problems

05/29/2007, 09:58 PM	#16
magnoliarichj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: florida west coast Posts: 1,455	http://www.marinedepot.com/PS/ps_Vie...s~vendor~.html thats what i run zeovit in.

05/30/2007, 10:02 AM	#17
scottk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 118	Good input, guys. I was hoping to do hangon (because of space), but hadn't figured out which brand worked best or if I would tee off return pump line or use a small MJ....... I want it to be easy to refill/disconnect because I am lazy.... I also wouldn't mind saving electricity by using return flow.... Besides a canister filter, which I'm sure work but are large, is there a reaction chamber with a built in pump?