Reactors or Canister Filter, which is better

[ColaAddict]

I don't have alot of space in my sump, so I was thinking of using a Canister filter next to it and put chaeto in the sump. Will Carbon and GFO work as well in a Canister filter or do they work better in a reactor. Thanks.

 

[tmz]

It's debateable. Most favor a reactor. The trick with either is to get water to flow through them without bashing them to pieces. I use them in canisters and reactors.. I like the tlf reactors a lbetter since I can see what's going on and control flow.

 

[ColaAddict]

Gotcha. I was looking at canister filters and seems like the flow is pretty strong on the good ones and you can't control the flow. With reactors, flow can be controlled and you have a better chance of not dissolving/smashing the media (which can lead to them going into your tank).

 

[tecnomage]

Gotcha. I was looking at canister filters and seems like the flow is pretty strong on the good ones and you can't control the flow. With reactors, flow can be controlled and you have a better chance of not dissolving/smashing the media (which can lead to them going into your tank).

I tried to use a canister filter, I had a few issues, flow, startup, etc. It could have just been me but I ended up shelving it and putting in a reactor. Then modified the reactor to run biopellets, but that's another story. With the reactor you can just look in and see how the flow is.

 

[Aquarist007]

I can see using the cannister for carbon but not for a gfo media---at least not effeciently. To be effective a gfo media needs to be slightly heaving which IMO is impossible to do with a cannister filter.

 

[jason2459]

The area that the GFO can be placed is much larger in a canister filter so tumbling is not required so much as its only needed in a reactor to stop the GFO from clumping and creating channels. Pluse most canisters have the same up flow design as a reactore. So I don't see why they couldn't tumble GFO if reqquired. You just can't see it to adjust very well.

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[ColaAddict]

yeah, but usually the good canister filters usually have a much stronger flow than what you use in reactors. I thought you don't want too much flow through GFO, otherwise you can break it up and cause some of it to leach into your water.

 

[jason2459]

yeah, but usually the good canister filters usually have a much stronger flow than what you use in reactors. I thought you don't want too much flow through GFO, otherwise you can break it up and cause some of it to leach into your water.

Very easy to install a ball valve and reduce the flow just like you typically have to do with a reactor.

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