GFO Reactor Question

[mattyg18]

I just finished installing a BRS GFO Reactor. Went fairly smooth overall. I only put one cup of the GFO mix in there and let it run into a bucket until the water came out clear. I adjusted it as the instructions said so that only the top of the stuff is moving around. For some reason as you can see in the photo about half of the GFO is at the top with the foam disc, and the other half is at the bottom with the top part moving around. I don't think this is how its supposed to be but have no idea how to fix it. There is an air release which I played around with but it doesn't seem to do much.

Does anyone know what could be the problem?

Thanks

 

[Hitch08]

Happens to me just about every time I refill. You can tap the side and it'll settle. It also settles on its own over time.

 

[homer1475]

Stop the flow so it settles, then start it up again. If it goes to the top again, just shake the canister a bit and it should settle.

Sent from my Passport using Tapatalk

 

[mattyg18]

Awesome thanks fellas. I stopped the flow and it all settled to the bottom. Now i have just the top half inch or so moving around. Is that enough movement?

 

[Merv 49]

I'm new to this and would like to know what is the best area to draw water for a GFO reactor and then where do you put it back in the system. Also what pump do you use.
Thanks

 

[mattyg18]

I'm still relatively new at this and i'm going to try my best to help. So i'm drawing the water from my return pump. I've got it split off at the return. I tapped in there so I don't have to set up a separate pump. I have several valves installed because i'm running 2 separate reactors and I want to be able to control everything independently. I purposely bought a larger pump suitable to handle everything. After the reactor the return is going back into the first chamber of my sump where the intake water is sent. Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[Fish Keeper82]

I'm still relatively new at this and i'm going to try my best to help. So i'm drawing the water from my return pump. I've got it split off at the return. I tapped in there so I don't have to set up a separate pump. I have several valves installed because i'm running 2 separate reactors and I want to be able to control everything independently. I purposely bought a larger pump suitable to handle everything. After the reactor the return is going back into the first chamber of my sump where the intake water is sent. Hopefully that makes sense.

This is the way i have it set up as well. It makes the most sense to use your return pump, that way you have one less pump to do maintance on and you don't waste any electricity. However if you are in the situation where this is not possible a Maxi Jet 1200 works well.

 

[Merv 49]

Thanks for your input guys. The way you describe doing it is what I was thinking also. My return pump will be plumbed to a manifold and off that manifold it will have ports for providing water for other functions.
Another thought I had though, is to possibly use a small pump to power the GFO reactor, drawing water from the Skimmer section of my sump and then putting the discharge in the return pump section. That way all the water going through the reactor is treated only once, increasing the efficacy of the operation overall. It isn't much so I don't know if that route is worth taking. I also thought of using the separate pump to pump the water right into the return manifold to the tank. lol So many ideas to choose from.
This is my first salt water tank, much different than fresh and way more challenging....expensive!!!

 

[JohnnyHildo]

However if you are in the situation where this is not possible a Maxi Jet 1200 works well.

i use a maxi jet as a maintenance pump myself. best device ever for all the sump related cleaning.