RO/DI, GFO and Carbon Reactor Question

[SoBe CowFish]

I got my first time home owner check today so I got the ok to get an RO/DI system. I've been looking at the ones at Bulk Reef Supply. do I need to use a GFO and Carbon reactor even if im useing the water from my RO/DI system? sorry if this is a dumb question, but what are the benefits from the GFO and carbon reactor?

 

[shroutk3]

The GFO/Carbon reactors are going to filter the water from waste and such while its in your aquarium. They remove phosphates from food and fish waste as well as chemicals released by corals.

The RO/DI system purifies your source water before you introduce it to your aquarium. You could probably do without the reactors if you did weekly water changes, but most people run carbon regardless.

 

[SoBe CowFish]

Thats GREAT thanks so much.

 

[shroutk3]

for what its worth I use RODI and have a single brs reactor. I run carbon all the time, and and run phosphate remover as needed- which hasn't been necessary in a while.

 

[SoBe CowFish]

Im thinking about going with the single carbon and gfo reactor. I put my order in for my RO/DI unit ABC pet city.

 

[talon4x4]

FWIW, I run all 3. I had a knock off RO/DI unit I got cheap on eBay. I just replaced all the filters in it with a set from BRS. I also run a single reactor from BRS. I have both carbon (BRS Rox carbon) and GFO in the same reactor. The Rox carbon is a bit more but it seems to work much better than the Black Diamond brand I had before.

 

[captain7359]

The RO/di is a necessity to get clean water for topoff and salt mixing. The carbon is helpful in removing organics and other trace elements from the tank water. The gfo will remove phosphates from the tank water. If I'm diligent about it I run carbon two weeks on the tank, then water change, then two weeks off carbon(since thewater should be clean and I don't want to remove any of the good trace elements from the fresh salt mix). The gfo, or any other phos remover, should be based on your PO4 level. If you're in the 0.05 to 0.00 range, then no worries, any higher and you may want to treat it.