BRS Carbon / GFO

[Ryanrttu]

So i'm looking to get the dual BRS version (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-gf...ctor-dual.html) but had a question about it as i'm still not to familiar with how these things work. I see in a lot of post on here that most people use CO2 with their reactors but with this version it looks like its just a pump right? I would prefer that but wanted to confirm that this in fact true.

[dirtycontour]

You will not need any CO2 to run Carbon/GFO. CO2 is used on Calcium Reactors. I use the single BRS reactor to run carbon and GFO. GFO on the bottom and carbon on top, sandwiched between two sponges. It works well for me. If you have a "larger" tank and will be using more media, the dual reactor may be better for you.

[Ryanrttu]

Thanks and yea that now makes sense. I have a 75 gallon so sounds like I wouldn't even need the dual huh? I am doing a FOWLR.

[dirtycontour]

Originally Posted by Ryanrttu

Thanks and yea that now makes sense. I have a 75 gallon so sounds like I wouldn't even need the dual huh?

My opinion is that you would be fine with the single running both carbon and GFO. I change mine out every 4-5 weeks. This has worked well for me for the past couple years.

[Bpb]

What is your purpose for getting the reactor? I mean this with the utmost respect, but if you're unsure about the difference between different classes of reactors, how they work, and what they do, you likely won't be certain exactly what you need. Just saves a lot of money to know specifically what you need, how to use it, and what problem in particular it will solve. A calcium reactor which uses co2, and a gfo/carbon reactor have virtually no similarities beyond they're both used on saltwater tanks and made of acrylic.

Being said, I think a dual reactor is an incredibly valuable tool to have. Whether you use both chambers or not. I have a dual reactor and recently stopped running gfo. I use it strictly for carbon now and just have an empty chamber. My phosphates were driven so low that I had to take the gfo away but it's nice to have the space if I want to run it in the future.

Another valuable asset to the dual reactor is if you only wanted to run carbon alone, or gfo alone, you can split the media in half and replace it twice as often, but only one canister at a time, to avoid system shock. Like if your tank called for 1 cup of gfo, run 1/2 cup in each canister, and replace one canister every two weeks, rather than the full cup in one, replaced monthly.

The dual reactor is less of a reactor and more of a fluidized filter with zero bypass. Designed to run gfo, which is a phosphate removing media, good for reducing algae growth. Also designed to run activated carbon which is food for polishing the water, making it clearer and removing dissolved organics, and toxins before they can create problems in the water. It's easy to overdo it on both, and you can cause more harm than good with over use. Very useful tools either way

[shellsea]

Originally Posted by dirtycontour

My opinion is that you would be fine with the single running both carbon and GFO. I change mine out every 4-5 weeks. This has worked well for me for the past couple years.

I understand that GFO lasts longer than Carbon therefore in the long run it may be more economical to go with a dual reactor. I'm just saying......

[dirtycontour]

Originally Posted by shellsea

I understand that GFO lasts longer than Carbon therefore in the long run it may be more economical to go with a dual reactor. I'm just saying......

Even if you feel the need to replace the carbon more frequently than the GFO, this can easily be done since the carbon is on top of the reactor. I recommended the use of the single reactor because the OP could save a couple of dollars and a single reactor takes up less space.

[Ryanrttu]

Im still a couple months away from cycling the tank, so plenty of time to read more on carbon and GFO. I understand the purposes of both carbon/gfo, just didn't understand the equipment as much and kept seeing these CO2 tanks in what I thought was carbon/gfo.

Not as concerned as much about the money (but maybe space although I am having a custom stand built that will have more space in it than the standard marineland stands), and the reason I brought it up is BRS has a sale on the carbon/gfo reactors this week so would like to make that purchase this week.

[HumbleFish]

Take it from someone who owns a BRS Dual Reactor – don't buy one!

Go with single reactors; one for carbon, one for GFO. BRS Reactors are fine, just don't go dual. Mine is constantly getting clogged, and it's best to run carbon with fast flow. GFO, on the other hand, should "gently tumble" so you'll want slower flow for that. Kind of hard to accomplish both in the same reactor.

[mluntz]

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

Take it from someone who owns a BRS Dual Reactor – don't buy one!

Go with single reactors; one for carbon, one for GFO. BRS Reactors are fine, just don't go dual. Mine is constantly getting clogged, and it's best to run carbon with fast flow. GFO, on the other hand, should "gently tumble" so you'll want slower flow for that. Kind of hard to accomplish both in the same reactor.

But if you go with two separate reactors, wouldn't you need two separate pumps instead of just one?

[dirtycontour]

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

and it's best to run carbon with fast flow.

I have never heard this. Why is it best to run carbon with "fast" flow?

[Ryanrttu]

Can you not tune each reactor separately ? What might be the cause of your clog?

[3dees]

is there any way to run these on a sumpless tank?

[HumbleFish]

Originally Posted by mluntz

But if you go with two separate reactors, wouldn't you need two separate pumps instead of just one?

Yes. MJ1200 for carbon; MJ600 for GFO.

Originally Posted by dirtycontour

I have never heard this. Why is it best to run carbon with "fast" flow?

Carbon is primarily used to remove contaminants, smells and improve water clarity. You can use low flow to accomplish this, but it's more efficient to push the water through the carbon using a faster flow rate than you would for GFO. I'm not saying to pulverize it but running carbon with the same flow required to make GFO "gently tumble" is not making best use of your carbon.

Originally Posted by Ryanrttu

Can you not tune each reactor separately ? What might be the cause of your clog?

No, with BRS Dual Reactor the water flows through the carbon chamber first, and then the GFO chamber. It's driven by a single pump. In theory, I think flowing through the carbon is supposed to slow down the water flow before it hits the GFO chamber. I bought into that theory when I purchased it. But in reality, it just gets clogged after awhile for some unknown reason. I thought maybe I had purchased a defective unit, until I read reviews complaining of the same thing.

Originally Posted by 3dees

is there any way to run these on a sumpless tank?

Phosban Reactors can HOB, and run both carbon & GFO. I just wouldn't do it using the same reactor for reasons already mentioned. A less efficient way of doing it is to run carbon or GFO in a media bag utilizing a HOB powerfilter of some sort. In fact, "Chemipure Elite" is a carbon/GFO mix some use in their HOB.

[grussell]

I have a 75 gallon sumpless and I have the BRS dual reactor. The problem is that the GFO does restrict how much flow you can get. And the GFO, if it stops tumbling, can clog the whole thing up. They give you a single valve on the input for controlling it.

If I had known all this before, I might have gotten one like Spectrapure makes. It has dual valves, but I think it only needs one pump. That being said, mine works well enough for me. I do fish, softies, and LPS only though.

I got the MJ 1200 pump and mounted it in the aquarium behind a rock, and I mounted the rectors on the back of my stand and do it that way. Even with the head that creates it still works well enough. A sump would be better..

[dirtycontour]

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

You can use low flow to accomplish this, but it's more efficient to push the water through the carbon using a faster flow rate than you would for GFO. I'm not saying to pulverize it but running carbon with the same flow required to make GFO "gently tumble" is not making best use of your carbon.

I guess I'm asking why is it more efficient?

[Jetlinkin]

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

[COLOR="Blue"]
No, with BRS Dual Reactor the water flows through the carbon chamber first, and then the GFO chamber. It's driven by a single pump. In theory, I think flowing through the carbon is supposed to slow down the water flow before it hits the GFO chamber. I bought into that theory when I purchased it. But in reality, it just gets clogged after awhile for some unknown reason. I thought maybe I had purchased a defective unit, until I read reviews complaining of the same thing.

You should not place the GAC before the GFO. I have the BRS dual reactor and I just referenced the instructions to be sure. They say to place the GFO in the first reactor and the GAC in the second reactor. You then set the flow rate with the valve so that the GFO just tumbles in the first reactor.

I will admit that I had trouble with the reactor seeming to clog up after a few days of running. I found that if I just shut off the reactor and allowed the GFO to fall and settle down, then just restart the pump, it would be flowing and tumbling very nice again. I do know that with fluidized reactors like these, your media will clump, and you get channeling with loose media. I have found that by stopping the flow, you get the channeling to break up. I now have my reactor set to shut off for 5 minutes every night on the Apex. Has worked great ever since, and I do not see the clogged flow out of the reactor.

[Sacohen]

I have 55 mixed reef.
I looked at going with a single but was told that the Carbon and GFO get exhausted at different rates and you would be getting rid of the carbon before you actually need to.

I then considered the Dual and one of the cons to that was that as the GFO gets older the flow going through it will be reduced and thereby lessen the flow going to the carbon.

I decided to go with 2 singles.
That way I can change one without touching the other and I can adjust the flow going into each one separately.

[HumbleFish]

Originally Posted by Jetlinkin

You should not place the GAC before the GFO. I have the BRS dual reactor and I just referenced the instructions to be sure.

Do you have a link to the instructions? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I just looked at my reactor and "IN" is marked (where the tubing comes in) right next to where it says "Carbon" (above the housing). "OUT" is marked next to where it says "GFO".

[Ryanrttu]

Originally Posted by Sacohen

I have 55 mixed reef.
I looked at going with a single but was told that the Carbon and GFO get exhausted at different rates and you would be getting rid of the carbon before you actually need to.

I then considered the Dual and one of the cons to that was that as the GFO gets older the flow going through it will be reduced and thereby lessen the flow going to the carbon.

I decided to go with 2 singles.
That way I can change one without touching the other and I can adjust the flow going into each one separately.

I'm assuming you use two pumps then, correct? I mean really thats not a big deal but i'm starting to think this will be the better route.

[Sacohen]

No I have them teed off my main return pump with valves to control the input to each of them.

[maddmaxx]

Originally Posted by Sacohen

No I have them teed off my main return pump with valves to control the input to each of them.

i took the dual reactor and split them into single reactors, running both chambers off of a single mag2 i believe it is. works like a charm...

[m0nkie]

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

i took the dual reactor and split them into single reactors, running both chambers off of a single mag2 i believe it is. works like a charm...

+1 to this! I was researching the dual reactors before. Seems like a lot of people had success converting it into two single reactors.

I bought 2 single Nextreef MR1 reactors. They are sitting on wood floor so I want to make sure nothing leaks

[Jetlinkin]

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

Do you have a link to the instructions? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I just looked at my reactor and "IN" is marked (where the tubing comes in) right next to where it says "Carbon" (above the housing). "OUT" is marked next to where it says "GFO".

I could not find an electronic copy of the instructions. However, I did find this instructional video on the BRS site. At about the 3:30 mark in the video, they show a dual reactor and if you look, the GFO is clearly in the first chamber and the GAC in the second. I'll see if I can get a pic uploaded of the instructions I have here.

BRS Dual reactor instructional video

[Sacohen]

BRS told me tha GFO should be first. Either on the bottom if both are in a single or in the first reactor of a dual reactor.