BRS - Dual Reactor - GFO will not tumble!

Logzor · 01/11/2009, 08:04 PM

I can get the stuff to tumble for an evening but then it just gets stagnant. I have the valve on full blast too. I have both the carbon and GFO inserted exactly as they do in the video.

Suggestions?

The unit is sitting right next to my sump so the water level of the chambers are almost even with the sump water level.

DaveMorris · 01/11/2009, 08:07 PM

What are you using for a feed pump? I have one of them and I am using a Maxijet 1200 to feed it. The reactor is about two feet above my sump.

Logzor · 01/11/2009, 08:13 PM

I am using the same pump, the one suggested for the unit. The tube arcs slightly up into the air then back down but it is less than 2' of tubing from pump to unit.

The output flow is just fine.

I just took the GFO tube out and gave it a good shake, now it tumbles for a lil bit and by morning I am sure it will be stopped again.

Could detritus be getting sucked in and stopping things up? I thing is I do not notice anything blocking the filter pads or the input to the maxijet for that matter. The output hose is pushing water out at nice rate too.

Logzor · 01/11/2009, 08:19 PM

Ok. If the output hose is below the water line...at the bottom of the sump would this cause enough back pressure to cease the tumble?

Icefire · 01/11/2009, 08:58 PM

the GFO might be trying to solidify?

Logzor · 01/11/2009, 09:02 PM

How could I prevent this any why would it solidify ?

Ratpack · 01/11/2009, 09:49 PM

Are you using BRS GFO or some other brand?

Logzor · 01/11/2009, 10:05 PM

I am using the HC GFO from BRS. I am also using the high end Carbon from BRS. Everything is from them.

grandp10 · 01/11/2009, 10:28 PM

tagging along.

Logzor · 01/12/2009, 07:59 AM

bump. any ideas?

SHOmuchFUN · 01/12/2009, 10:51 AM

At the bottom of the tubes that hold the media, I've noticed that there is a fiber-like material that can get tangled and can cause the holes to clog a bit. Sometimes I feel like I need to trim the material away from the holes because I feared it was restricting the flow a bit...

I would check to make sure if this is your problem.

CorkPullerPHL · 01/12/2009, 11:23 AM

GFO Causes Calcium/Alk Precpitation; this can bind the GFO. If this is happening you will know it. You will see the crystals around the reactor, on the pump and tubing.

In my experience it is not good for GFO to tumble. This can pulverize it quite easily,releasing Ferrous Oxide into your display. I have found GFO to work safely and effectively when mixed with GAC and with water moving very slowly through the reactor

Cheers

Logzor · 01/12/2009, 04:55 PM

No crystals or fibers were in the way. The problem seemed to be that my input tubing was over 2'. I cut it down a 1.5' and that helped some.

I also notice that when I pulled the pump out water was spraying out of the first push lock where the tubing connects to the maxijet. I must have been losing a lot of pressure.

01/11/2009, 08:04 PM	#1
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	BRS - Dual Reactor - GFO will not tumble! I can get the stuff to tumble for an evening but then it just gets stagnant. I have the valve on full blast too. I have both the carbon and GFO inserted exactly as they do in the video. Suggestions? The unit is sitting right next to my sump so the water level of the chambers are almost even with the sump water level.

01/11/2009, 08:07 PM	#2
DaveMorris VP, SDMAS Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sunny San Diego, CA Posts: 1,309	What are you using for a feed pump? I have one of them and I am using a Maxijet 1200 to feed it. The reactor is about two feet above my sump. __________________ Dave My 130g tank: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2387989 Current Tank Info: 130g build in progress

01/11/2009, 08:58 PM	#5
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	the GFO might be trying to solidify? __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

01/12/2009, 10:51 AM	#11
SHOmuchFUN Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 4,461	At the bottom of the tubes that hold the media, I've noticed that there is a fiber-like material that can get tangled and can cause the holes to clog a bit. Sometimes I feel like I need to trim the material away from the holes because I feared it was restricting the flow a bit... I would check to make sure if this is your problem. __________________ Erik Engstrom President, Vermont Marine Aquarists. Current Tank Info: Custom 180gal, 6x80w ATI T-5s, (2) Tunze 6025, Vortec MP40w, MSX200 w/ red demon, controlled by AcJR.

01/12/2009, 11:23 AM	#12
CorkPullerPHL Mmm, Beer. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Exton, Pa Posts: 563	GFO Causes Calcium/Alk Precpitation; this can bind the GFO. If this is happening you will know it. You will see the crystals around the reactor, on the pump and tubing. In my experience it is not good for GFO to tumble. This can pulverize it quite easily,releasing Ferrous Oxide into your display. I have found GFO to work safely and effectively when mixed with GAC and with water moving very slowly through the reactor Cheers __________________ It has always been my private conviction that any man who puts his intelligence up against a fish and loses had it coming. - John Steinbeck Current Tank Info: Build on hold - Getting married instead.

01/11/2009, 08:13 PM	#3
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	I am using the same pump, the one suggested for the unit. The tube arcs slightly up into the air then back down but it is less than 2' of tubing from pump to unit. The output flow is just fine. I just took the GFO tube out and gave it a good shake, now it tumbles for a lil bit and by morning I am sure it will be stopped again. Could detritus be getting sucked in and stopping things up? I thing is I do not notice anything blocking the filter pads or the input to the maxijet for that matter. The output hose is pushing water out at nice rate too.

01/11/2009, 08:19 PM	#4
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Ok. If the output hose is below the water line...at the bottom of the sump would this cause enough back pressure to cease the tumble?

01/11/2009, 09:02 PM	#6
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	How could I prevent this any why would it solidify ?

01/11/2009, 09:49 PM	#7
Ratpack Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 709	Are you using BRS GFO or some other brand?

01/11/2009, 10:05 PM	#8
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	I am using the HC GFO from BRS. I am also using the high end Carbon from BRS. Everything is from them.

01/11/2009, 10:28 PM	#9
grandp10 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 516	tagging along.

01/12/2009, 07:59 AM	#10
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	bump. any ideas?

01/12/2009, 04:55 PM	#13
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	No crystals or fibers were in the way. The problem seemed to be that my input tubing was over 2'. I cut it down a 1.5' and that helped some. I also notice that when I pulled the pump out water was spraying out of the first push lock where the tubing connects to the maxijet. I must have been losing a lot of pressure.