GFO without reactor?

[jerrodm]

Hey everybody I have a phosphate problem but the area under my stand is really tight and I don't think I can fit a GFO reactor with my other equipment. Is there any way to run GFO without a reactor?

 

[fishgate]

You can just stick it in a bag but it will be less effective. Try to place it in a higher flow area.

 

[choirboy]

Or you could by a small hob whisper filter and put a filter sock full of it in the filter for better flow around the material.

 

[terrypercula]

I run carbon and gfo without a reactor. It's more efficient to use a reactor but not necessary.

 

[Sn8kbyt]

I ran GFO and carbon in a magnum canister filter I had for 6 weeks until I got my BRS reactor.

I also have limited space under my stand (it was a freshwater setup when built) what I did was build a matching smaller cabinet to place next to it. It has 3 drawers and a door at the bottom. I built it big enough to hold a 5 gallon jug for my ATO and enough room to put my reactor in when I got it. The bottom drawer has the pumps for the reactor and ATO in them and the other 2 I store fish stuff in. It is right next to the tank stand and you can't see any hoses or cords and looks like it was made to be there.

Just an idea for you to make room for future unplanned equipment :fun2:

 

[Fish_King_25]

I run GAC in my sump in a filter sock and it keeps my trates and phates at 0..I sit it on my return pump and every so often I just move it around manually

 

[Fish_King_25]

I've run GFO the same way as well FWIW

 

[Bpb]

Like others say it CAN be done and some gfo is certainly better than none, but I didn't really start seeing the gfo make a difference until I put it in a reactor. I know that some of them can be hung on the wall like an RODI filter if that is of any help

 

[jerrodm]

Thanks, I think the cabinet idea might work best though, I was looking at the BRS reactors and they look big, but I love their RODI I have from them so I'm sure the design is very close to any other the 4-stage canisters I have from them.

On another note: What is GAC?

EDIT: Found the RC Acronym thread - Granular Activated Carbon!

 

[thegrun]

Look into using one of the phosphate absorbing resins like Blue Life Phos Fx, they are more effective than GFO when not used in a reactor as they do not need to tumble like GFO. In the long run since you can regenerate the resin several times it is less expensive to use.