Two Little Fishes Reactor

Mish1 · 08/17/2009, 03:03 PM

I am quickly running out of room in my sump and in my cabinet underneath my tank. I have enough room for one TLF Reactor and was wondering if it is possible to run both carbon and a phosphate remover in one reactor.

I need to bring my phosphates down but I would also like the benefits of carbon.

Any advice is appreciated.

jasonrp104 · 08/17/2009, 03:10 PM

I do it. The only downfall I've found is that you waste alot of GFO since you need to change the carbon more frequently

Mish1 · 08/17/2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jasonrp104
I do it. The only downfall I've found is that you waste alot of GFO since you need to change the carbon more frequently

Thanks for the info.

How often do you change the carbon? How much carbon and GFO do you use?

Texxxx · 08/17/2009, 05:40 PM

If you dont want to waste the GFO get an extra foam disk. Put the GFO on bottom then the foam disk then the carbon on top. That way you can change the carbon with out changing the GFO. You will probably have to push a stick or something down through the carbon to hold the filter while you dump the carbon. You can figure out the best way to do it for yourself.

sailoracu2 · 08/17/2009, 05:43 PM

go to your lfs and buy a phosphate pad and float it in your sump it will help bring it down.

nomorenames · 08/17/2009, 06:01 PM

i use both in separate media bags kinda hard to get them both in there but easy to change

jasonrp104 · 08/18/2009, 06:15 AM

I change it out every 2 weeks or so but I have a small system and don't need to use that much. I think the amount of phosban is 50 grams per 50 gallons and carbon is like 1/4 cup per gallon per instructions. To be honest, I just eyeball it. I f you have softies, I'd go a bit low on GFO at first. I lost half of a large glove polyp colony when I first started with GFO. I'm guessing it was just too much of a shock for them

edit:Texxxxxxxxxxxx: Thanks for the foam disk tip. I can't belive I didn't think of it

08/17/2009, 03:03 PM	#1
Mish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 169	Two Little Fishes Reactor I am quickly running out of room in my sump and in my cabinet underneath my tank. I have enough room for one TLF Reactor and was wondering if it is possible to run both carbon and a phosphate remover in one reactor. I need to bring my phosphates down but I would also like the benefits of carbon. Any advice is appreciated. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1676820 Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon AGA - 20 Gallon Sump - T5 6 Bulb Fixture - Vertex IN100 - 2 Vortech MP10 - JBJ ATO - AC Jr

08/17/2009, 05:40 PM	#4
Texxxx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 172	If you dont want to waste the GFO get an extra foam disk. Put the GFO on bottom then the foam disk then the carbon on top. That way you can change the carbon with out changing the GFO. You will probably have to push a stick or something down through the carbon to hold the filter while you dump the carbon. You can figure out the best way to do it for yourself. __________________ Tank: 125gal money pit Current Tank Info: 125gal, 55 sump with fug, 3x250MH, 2x60" VHO, Euro-Reef RC250 skimmer, Ca reactor, ATO Kalk, 2500gph closed loop

08/17/2009, 05:43 PM	#5
sailoracu2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: medina oh Posts: 676	go to your lfs and buy a phosphate pad and float it in your sump it will help bring it down. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: new build 65g with 35g basement sump and 20g frag tank

08/17/2009, 06:01 PM	#6
nomorenames Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Largo,FL. Posts: 375	i use both in separate media bags kinda hard to get them both in there but easy to change __________________ "I AM JACK'S COMPLETE LACK OF SURPRISE" Current Tank Info: 90gal mixed reef

08/17/2009, 03:10 PM	#2
jasonrp104 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: vt Posts: 1,113	I do it. The only downfall I've found is that you waste alot of GFO since you need to change the carbon more frequently

08/18/2009, 06:15 AM	#7
jasonrp104 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: vt Posts: 1,113	I change it out every 2 weeks or so but I have a small system and don't need to use that much. I think the amount of phosban is 50 grams per 50 gallons and carbon is like 1/4 cup per gallon per instructions. To be honest, I just eyeball it. I f you have softies, I'd go a bit low on GFO at first. I lost half of a large glove polyp colony when I first started with GFO. I'm guessing it was just too much of a shock for them edit:Texxxxxxxxxxxx: Thanks for the foam disk tip. I can't belive I didn't think of it