ideal size pump for gfo reactor

[robot2222]

i have a two little fishies gfo reator . what would be a good pump for it?

 

[stricknine]

Maxijet, I went with the 1200 and a flow valve for a BRS dual unit, for the small increase in cost I suggest the same. I would say MJ600 minimum, but always have a valve to control flow.

 

[Tswifty]

I use a Mini-Jet 404 for my single unit. The MJ 1200, would be WAY too much flow for GFO, and you would need to dial it back considerably. Of course I am assuming your pump would not need to pump the water very far to the reactor.

I used an MJ 1200 when I pumped water to feed 2 daisy chained reactors, and needed to pump the water up to the reactors almost 3 feet. Even then I needed to dial the 1200 back considerably to get the proper flow rate.

 

[rickh]

I just tapped into my return line. One less pump to maintain. R

 

[airdog67]

I run two- two little fishies reactors, both are ran with one rio 50( which is a real small pump), and I still have to hold back some flow. You dont need a big pump unless you are trying to pump the water up vertically, then you might need a stronger pump. MY reactors hang off the side of my sump, the rio 50 almost pumps horizontally.

 

[Michael]

imo the maxi-jet 400 is the right pump, ive tried several others, however the 400 makes the media tumble just right

 

[mat167]

^agreed. MJ400 is the way to go. I'm running two reactors in series on a MJ400 and it works excellent.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14799977#post14799977 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rickh
I just tapped into my return line. One less pump to maintain. R

If the OP can swing it... that is exactly what I would recommend doing.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14803840#post14803840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Michael
imo the maxi-jet 400 is the right pump, ive tried several others, however the 400 makes the media tumble just right

THat is what I use for all 3 (( 4 actually but two are daisy chained together )). I do have them throttled back a bit with the ball valve.

 

[robot2222]

thanx everyone , i just purchased mj400 i am running carbon and gfo in the same reator. i know this is not ideal because of the tumbling, but from the instructions on the gfo and carbon there is plenty of room in the reactor .I purchased the reator used it came with two foam filters is it suposed to have two . one more thing i was thinking of changing both carbon and gfo every 4 weeks does that sound good to you guys ? thanks again everyone.

 

[stricknine]

I must have a problem somewhere, I pulled my dual reactor apart today (fed with a MJ1200) and cleaned every hose, fitting, etc. and still the output is not that impressive.

 

[Michael]

not nessassarily, the maxi-jet 400 is perfect for the 150 TLF reactor, your BRS reactors are much larger and so need a larger powerhead

 

[gas4544]

stricknine,

I am running a MaxiJet 1200 full out on my BRS Dual Reactor. My reactor has a John Guest valve fitting on the inlet to the reactor from the tubing connected to the MaxiJet 1200. I have the valve completely open.

In the first chamber, I have carbon only. In the second chamber, I have BRS high capacity GFO on the bottom of the chamber and at the top I have another layer of carbon. The top layer of the GFO tumbles just a little bit. The carbon in the first chamber acts as a prefilter to prevent the GFO from getting gunked up with detritus.

Gary

 

[stricknine]

Thanks Gary,
After I pulled it apart today I found carbon in the outlet clogging it up a bit. As instructed, I am running a half canister of GFO on the bottom of the first cell with 2 sponges on the bottom, and half a canister of carbon between sponges on the top half of the second cell. The dribbly output is now starting to erk me a bit.
Im gonna have to leave it for a few weeks as media isn't free, so I'll try your method as soon as I'm in need for a change. on this topic, I cant say I have ever seen the GFO "tumble" since I had the unit. Didn't go solid so I cant complain!