BRS GFO.Carbon Reactors
- Thread starter GiantBen
- Start date
metalmulisha
New member
Is it bad that I fill my GFO canister 3/4 of the way watching the top layer tumble. And I pack the second canister full with carbon?
Seems to me like it might restrict your flow. Also seems like the media wouldn't be used efficiently like that. How long do you go in between media changes?
I've found the BRS people to be pretty helpful in asking questions, you might ping them about it. Post here if you get an answer.
I've found the BRS people to be pretty helpful in asking questions, you might ping them about it. Post here if you get an answer.
metalmulisha
New member
I've been doing it for 2 years plus so far. But after reading this thread it made me wonder. It may restrict flow but it still has to gro through the media plus you have a maxi-jet pumping the water through. They do offer a flow adjuster so you can control the GPH of the pump but I don't use it. I change my media when I see my phosophates increase. Then its time to change the media. I actually do that for both products since I'm already down there changing one.
Reef Bass
colors and textures
Definitely rinse the sponges well each time you change the media. Not doing so will restrict flow. I use a chop stick to push them out of the canister, and to reinsert them after rinsing.
Using the BRS recommended quanity of 300 grams of GFO leaves at least half of the canister empty. GFO is positioned at the bottom of the canister with free space above it for tumbling. I suppose as long as you have tumble room at the top, you're ok. I do use the flow regulator to reduce the flow from the small powerhead I have pushing water through the reactor. Otherwise my tumble rate was too aggreessive.
Using 1 cup of BRS ROX also leaves roughly half the canister empty. I keep the carbon at the top of the canister using the bottom sponge. Carbon doesn't need to tumble.
Using the BRS recommended quanity of 300 grams of GFO leaves at least half of the canister empty. GFO is positioned at the bottom of the canister with free space above it for tumbling. I suppose as long as you have tumble room at the top, you're ok. I do use the flow regulator to reduce the flow from the small powerhead I have pushing water through the reactor. Otherwise my tumble rate was too aggreessive.
Using 1 cup of BRS ROX also leaves roughly half the canister empty. I keep the carbon at the top of the canister using the bottom sponge. Carbon doesn't need to tumble.
metalmulisha
New member
I have a 200+ system and I generally go 2 months. It all pends on the source of whats causing your phosphates. Generally its what we feed our tank, so for me I've been doing seaweed and as little as possible frozen food (I have alot of tangs). There was an article just released about food being fed to your tank and obviously the worst was dry food with the best being fresh shrimp throughly cleansed from your local grocery store.
lostmyz
New member
I have a question..... I was using my dual BRS reactor with GFO and BioPellets and everything lvl wise is great but I just got a BioPellet Reactor. I am going to use my Dual Reactor as its intended now... GFO and Carbon.... I wanted to know a few things. I am trying to make it easy for maintenance on myself, since its not the easiest to get the canisters out how my stand stuff is set up. So I wanted to know....
Does it matter if the GFO or Carbon chamber comes first? The way mine is set up now is that the carbon chamber is harder to get to than the GFO chamber . So I wanted to switch the canisters so i can do my monthly maintenance on the carbon easier. OR can I switch the canisters and run the system backwards?? Does any of this make sense?
2) if not
Does it matter if the GFO or Carbon chamber comes first? The way mine is set up now is that the carbon chamber is harder to get to than the GFO chamber . So I wanted to switch the canisters so i can do my monthly maintenance on the carbon easier. OR can I switch the canisters and run the system backwards?? Does any of this make sense?
2) if not
metalmulisha
New member
Also I recommend the new media canisters from BRS. Their more transparent so you can see the GFO tumble alot easier.
Another question: how do you guys rinse your carbon/GFO?
It seems like no matter how much I rinse the GFO, it still fills the canister with nasty brown liquid. This is all trapped in the carbon chamber, but I'd like to prevent this as I think it leads to quicker "bricking up" of the media.
I've been using a strainer and rinsing it in there.
It seems like no matter how much I rinse the GFO, it still fills the canister with nasty brown liquid. This is all trapped in the carbon chamber, but I'd like to prevent this as I think it leads to quicker "bricking up" of the media.
I've been using a strainer and rinsing it in there.
woodnaquanut
Active member
GiantBen,
The only reference on BRS site says to run water thru till clear. Of course this is for just the stand alone GFO.
Could you be grinding the GFO in the rinsing process? How about putting it in a cartridge and then running water thru? You might have to rinse the sponge after this.
The only reference on BRS site says to run water thru till clear. Of course this is for just the stand alone GFO.
Could you be grinding the GFO in the rinsing process? How about putting it in a cartridge and then running water thru? You might have to rinse the sponge after this.
