Funk/Bacteria? In my TLF Phosban Reactor

[meverha1]

Does anyone else experience this?

Seems like every 5-7 days the sponge on the bottom of my reactor gets clogged with goop. I suspect it's bacterial growth but I can't be sure.

My water params are normal, I run filter socks, and my carbon reactor doesn't seem to suffer from this issue.

Any thoughts on how to prevent this or what it could be? Currently I have to empty out my Phosban reactor ever 5 days or so, clean it, and then put the GFO back into it...

 

[Tarawa]

I used to run into a similar problem on a pair of reactors I used for carbon and gac. I cleaned off the sponges and then put a filter sock on the intake of the pump to keep the misc crud from getting in. The sponges on the bottom stay clean now, I would assume the goop is the misc crud and such breaking down.

 

[heathlindner25]

Do you carbon dose? Vodka, vinegar,?

 

[Drewl117]

I thought you weren't supposed to use the sponge with GFO. I'd take the sponge out and see how it does.

 

[meverha1]

I thought you weren't supposed to use the sponge with GFO. I'd take the sponge out and see how it does.

I think you're supposed to use the sponges but maybe not.


Does anyone else not use sponges?

 

[meverha1]

I used to run into a similar problem on a pair of reactors I used for carbon and gac. I cleaned off the sponges and then put a filter sock on the intake of the pump to keep the misc crud from getting in. The sponges on the bottom stay clean now, I would assume the goop is the misc crud and such breaking down.

How did you manage to get the sock on the intake of the pump? Doesn't the suction of the pump pull the sock?

 

[Tanthaitrung]

I think you're supposed to use the sponges but maybe not.


Does anyone else not use sponges?

Me too

 

[gone fishin]

I have a pair of BRS reactors, I removed both the inlet and outlet sponges on mine.