BRS reactor - changing out media question

[Marchillo]

I added a reactor last month and followed the BRS video for flushing out the GFO. Now I'm about a month in and plan on changing the media this weekend. The first time was easy as I used RODI water in a bucket to run a gallon of water through the reactor. Now that it's in my sump and settled in there Id rather not take it out and repeat the process.

So what are my options?

1- take out reactor and flush like I did originally? Not desirable
2- just run a gallon of tank water by moving the return to a bucket. This will take out 1 gallon of tank water and replace with 1 gallon of RODI
3- somehow flush the media without the reactor and then put it in the reactor. Is this even possible? How is it done.
4- add media without flushing it.

Thanks in advance. Steve

 

[Marchillo]

Is it possible to do option 2 by running the return through a filter sock and pouring the water back in? I'm assuming the dust would be too fine for the filter sock?

 

[gone fishin]

I use a BRS reactor for carbon and do option 2. I usually do the change just prior to a WC and the water removed is just part of the WC.

 

[Marchillo]

That makes a whole lot of sense. I'll just wait a couple days until I do a wc and do that!

 

[homer1475]

I do option 3, and heres how I do it:

I just pour RO/DI through the reactor compartment(the actual part where you put the media), and blow hard through the top to push the water through. then just place in the reactor compartment and screw it on. This is of course a mini reactor so I'm not sure if their other reactors have a media compartment. It works very well, and I don't have to play with the return line.

If your using BRS GFO, there isn't much dust or fines in it anyways.

I will admit gone fishing's idea would probably work better, but in my biocube, it would be a huge PITA to pull the return from the back chambers and flush it his way.

 

[billdogg]

#2 for me too. Why make it harder (and messier) than it needs to be?

 

[joshbrookkate]

Am I missing something?
#2 replacement water - shouldn't this be NSW, not RODI?

 

[homer1475]

Am I missing something?
#2 replacement water - shouldn't this be NSW, not RODI?

Yes!
I think what the OP was referring to, is by pumping out a gallon of tank water, an ATO would replace it with RO/DI. Which is not what you want it to do.

 

[Marchillo]

Yes!
I think what the OP was referring to, is by pumping out a gallon of tank water, an ATO would replace it with RO/DI. Which is not what you want it to do.

Yes exactly. But I'm stupid because as Tony said just coordinate the media change with my normal water change and this won't happen. :beer: