BRS Dual reactor, or pellet issue.

MammothReefer · 12/07/2010, 03:10 PM

I just can't for the life of me keep my pellets tumbling. I have a maxijet 1200 wide open.. and every couple days/week my pellets just stop tumbling? I'm using ecobak pellets. I've posted it in the ecobak thread but not really gotten much of a response. Yes I can open it up, rinse them off clean out the reactor and maybe get another 2 weeks out of it, but that's just a hassle. Should I switch to a next reef? Who else is having tumbling issues with a BRS reactor.. or on the other hand should I just ignore it, my numbers aren't that bad. I'm not getting 0 nitrates anymore, but 2.5-1 isn't really a bad thing.

mc-cro · 12/07/2010, 04:33 PM

must be the pellets, I have a BRS reactor, ran with a MJ1200, and BRS GFO, and no adjustments are necessary. once in a while i tap the container just to release some bubbles, but the top of the grains are always tumbling

ddmiller38 · 12/07/2010, 04:37 PM

I only can part of my gfo on top to tumble, also using MJ1200. I clean it out good when I change it but always the same issue

wickedfish · 12/07/2010, 04:59 PM

Gfo in a single Brs reactor, always have to adjust and bang the dumb thing to get it going. I hate mine for gfo. I also use a mj 1200 at 75% flow. If I put a few cups of gfo it sticks to the top and only the bottom gets a tumble.

Anyone recommend a better gfo reactor???

MammothReefer · 12/07/2010, 07:47 PM

I never had issues with my gfo tumbing in my old phosban, or even the brs dual reactor. It's just the pellets for me they seem to clog everything up with bacteria and there is a couple "pin" holes that I think get clogged and botch the thing up.

bertoni · 12/08/2010, 01:46 AM

Hmm, you could try a stronger pump, but I'd be careful about breaking up the pellets. Maybe your batch is a bit different. If you do go to a stronger pump, I'd just watch the pellets carefully. Plastic will degrade in the tank, but it might look unsightly.

MammothReefer · 12/08/2010, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Hmm, you could try a stronger pump, but I'd be careful about breaking up the pellets. Maybe your batch is a bit different. If you do go to a stronger pump, I'd just watch the pellets carefully. Plastic will degrade in the tank, but it might look unsightly.

Stronger then an mj1200? That seems a bit much..hmm.

Tbduval · 12/08/2010, 08:29 AM

When you change you GFO, is it bricked together? I guess like a rock? If it's not, I would not really worry about it. I would test to see if the GFO is performing correctly by measure the PO4 on the output side of the reactor. If you getting 0 PO4, I think the GFO is performing as is should.

bertoni · 12/08/2010, 12:31 PM

The Maxi-Jets aren't designed for head pressure, which a reactor will add. Even a small pump might outperform it for this application. I haven't seen one in use on a reactor, though.

12/07/2010, 03:10 PM	#1
MammothReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Posts: 3,442	BRS Dual reactor, or pellet issue. I just can't for the life of me keep my pellets tumbling. I have a maxijet 1200 wide open.. and every couple days/week my pellets just stop tumbling? I'm using ecobak pellets. I've posted it in the ecobak thread but not really gotten much of a response. Yes I can open it up, rinse them off clean out the reactor and maybe get another 2 weeks out of it, but that's just a hassle. Should I switch to a next reef? Who else is having tumbling issues with a BRS reactor.. or on the other hand should I just ignore it, my numbers aren't that bad. I'm not getting 0 nitrates anymore, but 2.5-1 isn't really a bad thing. __________________ Reefin @ 8298' Current Tank Info: 105 Peninsula

12/07/2010, 04:33 PM	#2
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	must be the pellets, I have a BRS reactor, ran with a MJ1200, and BRS GFO, and no adjustments are necessary. once in a while i tap the container just to release some bubbles, but the top of the grains are always tumbling __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

12/07/2010, 04:37 PM	#3
ddmiller38 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Randolph, Ohio Posts: 472	I only can part of my gfo on top to tumble, also using MJ1200. I clean it out good when I change it but always the same issue __________________ Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't Erica Jong Current Tank Info: Fluval Osaka 320, 2 x AI Sol Super Blue, MAG 9.5 Return, Bubble Magus Nac 6 Skimmer, 20 Gallon Sump, BRS GFO/Carbon Reactor, RO/DI, ReefKeeper Elite w/NET, HUB, SL1, SL2, ATO, ALC and APC controlling 2-Tunze 6095, BRS 3x Dosing pumps Last edited by ddmiller38; 12/07/2010 at 04:47 PM.

12/07/2010, 07:47 PM	#5
MammothReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Posts: 3,442	I never had issues with my gfo tumbing in my old phosban, or even the brs dual reactor. It's just the pellets for me they seem to clog everything up with bacteria and there is a couple "pin" holes that I think get clogged and botch the thing up. __________________ Reefin @ 8298' Current Tank Info: 105 Peninsula

12/08/2010, 01:46 AM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Hmm, you could try a stronger pump, but I'd be careful about breaking up the pellets. Maybe your batch is a bit different. If you do go to a stronger pump, I'd just watch the pellets carefully. Plastic will degrade in the tank, but it might look unsightly. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/07/2010, 04:59 PM	#4
wickedfish Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southbay Posts: 2,167	Gfo in a single Brs reactor, always have to adjust and bang the dumb thing to get it going. I hate mine for gfo. I also use a mj 1200 at 75% flow. If I put a few cups of gfo it sticks to the top and only the bottom gets a tumble. Anyone recommend a better gfo reactor???

12/08/2010, 08:29 AM	#8
Tbduval Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 369	When you change you GFO, is it bricked together? I guess like a rock? If it's not, I would not really worry about it. I would test to see if the GFO is performing correctly by measure the PO4 on the output side of the reactor. If you getting 0 PO4, I think the GFO is performing as is should.

12/08/2010, 12:31 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The Maxi-Jets aren't designed for head pressure, which a reactor will add. Even a small pump might outperform it for this application. I haven't seen one in use on a reactor, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

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