GFO and Carbon

[kill4u]

All,

I want to add Rowa Phos and Carbon RX.8 to a Red Sea 36G tank to help control phosphates and algae outbreaks. The tank does not have enough room for a media reactor behind the tank so I purchased a CPR Mini Tumbler reactor to place in the tank.

My questions:
1. Can I put both media in the reactor at the same time since they both recommend little to no movement of the media??
2. If yes:
A) Should I combine them together
B) Should I separate them with Filter Floss
C) If separate is recommended which would you place closest to the intake

I have broken this tank down several times and scrubbed algae off the rocks, etc. .... But within 1 week it is back...... My RO/DI water tests good and I do not have a similar problems in any of my other tanks....... This has been going on for the last 8 months......

Any guidance will be surely appreciated....

Thanks,
Brian

 

[downbeach]

I would not put both GFO and GAC in a reactor that will make them tumble. The GFO will grind the GAC into fine dust, which may cause an HLLE problem.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blo...ted-in-inducing-head-and-lateral-line-erosion

You could however use it for BP's or one or the other GAC or GFO, although I prefer GAC in a downflow reactor to keep it from tumbling.

 

[nmotz]

Agreed, probably best not to run them together like that. There are some other ways to deal with algae. I've found large turbo snails put a pretty big dent in an algae problem. I have two in my 40B. Growing chaeto algae will soak up excess nutrients too. It sounds like your rocks might be leaching phosphate. I'd run GFO in the reactor if I were you.

 

[kill4u]

Thanks for the feedback....

Much appreciated.....