Looking for Larger Grain Size GFO?

[Pigpen17]

Hello,

So I am running a Two Little Fishes Reactor, but my issue is the pump is really loud. The only way to quite it down is to increase flow, which tumbles the media too heavy. I started with the 150 reactor with the 600 pump and upgraded to the 500 reactor with the same pump to see if I could get away with more flow. No such luck. Now I have ordered the 400 pump to see if a smaller pump will work. I'm using Phosband in there now. Is there another brand of GFO that has a larger grain size, or will tumble less? It's hard to tell on the shopping sites because grain size is not a selling point. Also, any other advice would be welcomed.

Thanks

 

[BigEZ77]

Phosguard with a little carbon on top to hopefully absorb some of the aluminum before it hits the tank...not sure if it actually works but all my corals seem healthy.

 

[Pigpen17]

Aluminum? How can that be good?

 

[BigEZ77]

It does a great job removing phosphate and silicate. Do some research on Phosguard and see what you find. I found the positives outweigh the potential negatives. Been running it for months now with no issues. Had Rowaphos before but the particles were too fine.

 

[Pigpen17]

Yeah. I did some reading on it. Sounds like it's not a problem, but it has potential to be. Not sure I want to mess with that. Thanks for the info though.

I was thinking of trying AquaMaxx Phosphate Out Pro High Capacity GFO. I read in other threads that some people recommend that for my kind of problem.

 

[Reef Frog]

Hello,

So I am running a Two Little Fishes Reactor, but my issue is the pump is really loud. The only way to quite it down is to increase flow, which tumbles the media too heavy. I started with the 150 reactor with the 600 pump and upgraded to the 500 reactor with the same pump to see if I could get away with more flow. No such luck. Now I have ordered the 400 pump to see if a smaller pump will work. I'm using Phosband in there now. Is there another brand of GFO that has a larger grain size, or will tumble less? It's hard to tell on the shopping sites because grain size is not a selling point. Also, any other advice would be welcomed.

Thanks

Not sure what pumps you're using (400-600 Maxijets?). Your problem is most likely the pumps. Look at the instruction sheets and they'll give you an acceptable range of GPH/lpr you need. Available many places on the web in pfd format.

Buy any reliable pump at the upper range recommended or add perhaps 25% over powered and move it down if needed with the included restrictive valves. Eheim are ideal pumps for me. I've used 6 brands of GFO and the grain sizes were basically all the same; that's not the solution to your issue. It's actually pretty easy to get good flow with the right sized pump.

 

[Pigpen17]

I have the Kobalt MJ 600. Probably a crappy pump. My problem is too much flow. When I restrict the pump enough to get a proper tumble, it starts buzzing really bad. So bad I really can't stand it.

I ordered a smaller pump, so it should be here in a few days. Hope that dose it. I also heard you can shave down the impellers. I may try that as well. I just need a pump that can have the same flow as a restricted one, but unrestricted. And a larger grain GFO would cut down on tiny bits floating in the reactor. I think?

 

[Reef Frog]

It's your pumps. Don't care for the current day MJ pumps myself - they don't last.

I don't think you want a propeller style pump for this application. Ehiem & others can be backed down with the slide on the pump & the valve together. Never had a buzzing problem. Just follow the r commendations in the instructions. I've never seen larger granual GFO.

And you don't want "tumbling". That's for bio pellets. You just want the water moving gently through all of the media. It will "vibrate" and the tip will dance & wiggle a bit. Make sure there are no dead spots or channeling.

 

[Pigpen17]

Oh. Maybe I'm calling it the wrong thing. I meant shave down the little impeller that's inside the powerhead. The kind that are in all pumps and filters.

Good to know about the grain size being all the same, since I just bought another jug of Phosban.

Thanks.