Reactor Problem

[seased]

I have a TLF Phosban Reactor that I have been using for a year or so. This past weekend, I changed out the GFO and restarted the reactor. I slowed down the flow and got what I thought was a rolling boil. Everything looked good and all of the media stayed at the bottom of the reactor.

After going out of town for a few days, I came back and saw that the bottom screen mesh and media had moved about 2/3s the way up the reactor and the flow had all shifted to one side - really tumbling that side of the media. I turned everything off, pushed the mesh and media back down and turned it back on - everything back to normal. Then I looked the next day and the mesh and media have moved an inch up the reactor with the flow being isolated to one side. What is going on? Does this mean its time to replace the foam pads? btw - I am using a MJ400 for a pump. Also, I am using phosban for the media. Thanks

 

[ct_vol]

Has your power gone out often lately??? Sometimes when the power goes out, the water drains from the lines. When the power kicks back on, air surges back through lifting the media and mesh... This has happened to me before...

 

[cee]

I'd check all the holes in the screen and clean the mesh disc thoroughly. Sounds like something's getting blocked. Does you MJ have a strainer on it or something to prevent "stuff" from being pumped into the reactor, thereby partially plugging or blocking the water flow channels? I've never experienced what Randy refers to even though my system does exactly what he states (air in lines, power cycling) 12 times every day. We probably have different reactors.

Dave

 

[seased]

no - the power has been fine lately, as far as I know. On this change, I had taken the reactor out and ran it in a 5 gal bucket with half water, half vinegar, to remove the calcium deposits. The screens are clean and nothing is clogging it. Could the residual vinegar cause this?

Yesterday, I removed a little of the return tubing so that it is above the water level. I thought that might be causing the issue - did not help. One thing that is bothering me is that when the screen and media ride up in the reactor, a yellow, stringy gunk is showing?

One other thing, I have the reactor in my sump next to my return pump. I also dose kalk in that chamber, using my top-off water. I was wondering if the kalk could be causing the GFO to bind together?

 

[cee]

Something is clogging somewhere. A flow reduction could cause the channeling you describe. Is your sump lit? Is algae growing inside the feed line? When you turn the pump off (to change media), the back siphon probably clears the blockage temporarily.

Dave

 

[seased]

ok - thanks. I am going to take it apart this weekend and see if I can find a clog. Maybe during my last cleaning, something got lodged in the tubing.