boosted chemist
New member
Ya its me again, i wanna setup a single media reactor for my 20l, but really dont want to run another pump, could i just T my mag5 and use that to power the media reactor?
BRS media reactor powered by return pump?
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Conesus_Kid
Premium Member
You sure can, as long as you don't mind the decreased flow to your display. You may also want to consider a gate valve (rather than a ball valve) that will give you better control over the flow rate.
Capt_Cully
Active member
You don't want too much flow going over the media as it could begin to disintigrate and enter your water collumn which can cause problems for your inhabitants. Now, I don't exactly remember what they are, I think fin rot, lateral line disease or hole in the head, something like that. Either way, none of em are good.
Perhaps someone with a little less hops residue clouding their short and longterm memory centers can chime in.
Perhaps someone with a little less hops residue clouding their short and longterm memory centers can chime in.
Yeah ,my memorys not that good either.Carbon dust is linked to Hille disease,not saying its the only cause but I seen a paper posted in the chem forum by Boomer few months back that had some linkage.
TLF reactor is pretty nice and I think cheaper than the Brs
Agree with the teeing off pump,if its for Gfo ,little flow through the reactor is whats recomended anyway.Thinking ,30-40 gals hr just enough so it doesn't tumble at the surface in the reactor.
TLF reactor is pretty nice and I think cheaper than the Brs
Agree with the teeing off pump,if its for Gfo ,little flow through the reactor is whats recomended anyway.Thinking ,30-40 gals hr just enough so it doesn't tumble at the surface in the reactor.
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boosted chemist
New member
Cool can i run both carbon and gfo in the TLF reactor?
Conesus_Kid
Premium Member
If it were me, I would use separate reactors. The particle sizes differ, and as a result, the flow requirements will be different. Also, the replacement schedule for them will differ as well.
The only drawback that I see is flowrates through the reactor.As I understood it Gfo works best with a low flow rate ,carbon on the other hand is in the hundreds of gal hr.That being said and thinking about it now ,if I were to run both in a reactor I'd go on the low flow rate side for Gfo and add to the carbon amount to makeup for the low flow.Just some thought here,no expert on any of this stuff so hopefully I'm not passing along so bad info here,LOL.
Anyone else here use both in a single reactor?
Anyone else here use both in a single reactor?
cardiffgiant
Active member
I run carbon in a BRS media chamber with a line that is teed off of my return plumbing. I use 1.5" PVC to return to my display, the reactor is fed with 1/4" PVC and controlled with a simple ball valve. I was running it with a MJ1200 previously and just turned the ball valve to kind of mirror the flow that I saw with the MJ.
That being said, my return pump is pretty strong and I need to dial it back anyway, so teeing it off doesn't impact the flow that I'm trying to get in my display. I would expect a noticeable decrease in flow with a mag 5.
BRS has a video that demonstrates running both GFO and carbon in a single reactor. Personally, I think that it looks like a hassle.
That being said, my return pump is pretty strong and I need to dial it back anyway, so teeing it off doesn't impact the flow that I'm trying to get in my display. I would expect a noticeable decrease in flow with a mag 5.
BRS has a video that demonstrates running both GFO and carbon in a single reactor. Personally, I think that it looks like a hassle.
boosted chemist
New member
good info, space under my 20l is a premium, so if you where to run one, which one carbon or gfo, i need to look into the tlf reactor, could i get two and run one for carbon?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
run GFO if/when PO4 (algae) is a problem- otherwise run carbon OR run both
boosted chemist
New member
yeah, i think i want to set up one reactor with both, i know it seems its better but for my little space and little tank, i think (hope) one should do it. Now i need to figure out brs or tlf
sedor
New member
You could get 2 of these space conserving reactors. I thought they looks pretty nifty and they have gotten really good reviews on their effectiveness.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/simplicity-chemical-reactor.html
They are out of stock at BRS right now but you can get them on other websites or just wait for them to come back. You should be able to run two of these in a small sump no problem.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/simplicity-chemical-reactor.html
They are out of stock at BRS right now but you can get them on other websites or just wait for them to come back. You should be able to run two of these in a small sump no problem.
Yeah those are pretty nifty,but seems they are never in stock.When I was looking at those I waited a couple months,still read out of stock.
I would go with the TLF reactor for the price and versatility.It can be mounted insump or out easily.Comes with all the fittings and included ball valve to dialback the flow.
Also, I tend to agree with Gary in that Id run the Gfo or both in the reactor.Your tank is small so you wont be filling the whole reactor up with media even if you do decide to run both in it.
I would go with the TLF reactor for the price and versatility.It can be mounted insump or out easily.Comes with all the fittings and included ball valve to dialback the flow.
Also, I tend to agree with Gary in that Id run the Gfo or both in the reactor.Your tank is small so you wont be filling the whole reactor up with media even if you do decide to run both in it.
boosted chemist
New member
Cool, thanks for hte help guys, im off to find a TLF reactor, would u place the carbon in the bottom and gfo on top to leave some room for it to tumble?
Also how often should i change the media?
Also how often should i change the media?
Ok, from what I was told you dont want Gfo to tumble.I just put in ,start the flow until I see it just start to tumble at the surface then back it off until it stops tumbling.The cheaper of the Brs Gfo cannot tumble at all ,ime.If it does it disinegrates.
I really dont know whitch is better inline first.I would think the Gfo first carbon second.
I would check the BRS site for starting regimine.I dont test Phosphate I just use algae as a guide but thats just me.
I really dont know whitch is better inline first.I would think the Gfo first carbon second.
I would check the BRS site for starting regimine.I dont test Phosphate I just use algae as a guide but thats just me.
jdoenumber2
New member
I have one. It is very poor in design. There is a mesh which is too fine. Clogs up with in a week. You cant see how fluidised the GFO is either. It may be ok for carbon. I will sell mine for $20. Dont buy it!
boosted chemist
New member
After going to ARC and looking at both the TLF and hte BRS, i decided the BRS was a better built unit. Got it and a maxi400, GFO is lightly tumbling, im pretty happy now over all. Thanks for all the help guys.
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