So the frag tank is up and running. It's more of a coral holding tank til we get the 265 completed. I've got a spare media reactor and I was running carbon in it on the frag tank but I've been dealing with a diatom bloom from the egg crate (or so I've be told). On a frag tank is it better to run carbon or GFO or both? I've read mixed reviews on running 2 different medias in one rector. What are your thoughts
Frag tank reactor, which media to run?
- Thread starter toddmau5
- Start date
I've read the only issue is wasting of media as the carbon would be used up before the gfo if you mix them. Of course the other issue is it's my understanding that you want the carbon packed tight and the gfo to tumble so mixing could be less efficient. Not sure what kind of reactor you have, but if you have reactor filters perhaps you could tumble the gfo in the bottom and then in between put a filter and pack the the carbon tight at the top. This way you could easily change out the carbon and leave the gfo. Of course a phosphate test would be wise to see if it's even necessary to run gfo on a frag tank, assuming nutrients would be quite low anyways. Furthermore, I'm not sure it would even pull out silicates as that is what feeds diatoms. Also, if it is coming from the eggcrate, I would assume the diatom bloom would be brief and probably shouldn't be a concern as they will disappear in a week or two and is naturally part of the cycle.
This coming from 6 months in the hobby, albeit with a lot of research.
This coming from 6 months in the hobby, albeit with a lot of research.
rogergolf66
im an addict lol
Depending on the size reactor and if it is a bottom up feed reactor u could put the GFO on the bottom with a filter sponge 1" above the GFO then pack the carbon to the top. This way the GFO would have freedom to tumble a bit then the up flow would keep the sponge for the carbon pushed up against the carbon. Control flow with a valve before reactor to match require flow for GFO.
Disclaimer I have never done this but I don't see why it wouldn't work fine. The idea just popped in my head as I was reading cuzza response. Good luck
Disclaimer I have never done this but I don't see why it wouldn't work fine. The idea just popped in my head as I was reading cuzza response. Good luck
tigger2577
New member
from everything I have read running both GFO and carbon in the same reactor you is not optimum for each type of media.
the reasoning behind this is that both media require different flow rates. GFO you need to have slow flow and only lightly tumble the GFO so it dose not start to clump and stick together. With Carbon you want faster flow and push the water through the cracks and crevices of the carbon.
if one wants to run both in one reactor you should mix them together very well. you want to use the same amounts you normal would as if you were using them separate. The mixing will prevent the GFO form clumping by keeping Carbon pieces in between them then you will want to run at the faster flow rate for Carbon. by doing this you will waist media as carbon will need to be replaced sooner then the GFO will.
I do not run Carbon and GFO in the same reactor I run Carbon in a bag that sits sump and only GFO in my reactor.
the reasoning behind this is that both media require different flow rates. GFO you need to have slow flow and only lightly tumble the GFO so it dose not start to clump and stick together. With Carbon you want faster flow and push the water through the cracks and crevices of the carbon.
if one wants to run both in one reactor you should mix them together very well. you want to use the same amounts you normal would as if you were using them separate. The mixing will prevent the GFO form clumping by keeping Carbon pieces in between them then you will want to run at the faster flow rate for Carbon. by doing this you will waist media as carbon will need to be replaced sooner then the GFO will.
I do not run Carbon and GFO in the same reactor I run Carbon in a bag that sits sump and only GFO in my reactor.
