GFO reactor usage.

[Duc1098]

I'm going to be putting in a BRS GFO reactor this weekend. Do I need to direct the return back to the skimmer intake like you do with bio pellets?

 

[downbeach]

I'm going to be putting in a BRS GFO reactor this weekend. Do I need to direct the return back to the skimmer intake like you do with bio pellets?

No. But, like the pellets, you should have just enough flow to keep the media fluidized, so it doesn't clump.

 

[Duc1098]

Thanks!

 

[Aquarist007]

Its a wise move running gfo along with the pellets as the pellets quickly reduce the nitrate levels but not the phosphate levels. This leaves the door open for some algae that prefer phosphates.

 

[eric w]

What about his question on the return? Is it ok to have it go to the skimmer?

 

[StevieD]

It was answered and he made a reference to the similarities of gfo, pellets, and fluid flow. I could be wrong but I thought you drained the reactor into the fuge section of the sump? yay nay?

 

[Reef or Die]

I prefer to run mine into my filter sock.

 

[Aquarist007]

It was answered and he made a reference to the similarities of gfo, pellets, and fluid flow. I could be wrong but I thought you drained the reactor into the fuge section of the sump? yay nay?

You are letting dead bacteria that has broken off from the biofilm enter a refugium where there is considerably less flow. You could end up with cyano in there.

 

[StevieD]

You are letting dead bacteria that has broken off from the biofilm enter a refugium where there is considerably less flow. You could end up with cyano in there.

So ultimately where should it go after the reactor then?

 

[bertoni]

For the GFO reactor, the output can be pretty much anywhere. For the pellets, a lot of people direct the output to the skimmer, for the reason stated: to help remove any organics released by the pellets.