What should I run in my second reactor?

[RonMidtownStomp]

Alright team! Survey time!

My tank came with two very nice reactors. I have GFO going in the first one. What should I run in the second one? Carbon? Something else? Put lights around it and grow macro algae in it?

 

[hann1bal]

Carbon for me! (although i thought about the algae thing as well but never tried it)

 

[Diamond Jack]

Carbon!

 

[drdoug]

Biopellets

 

[Gone Tidepoolin]

I'd say carbon, but...what's in the tank?

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

SPS, zoas, fish. The GFO is to address my rising phosphate issue. Presumably it was leeching out of the rocks.

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

Does anybody run the BRS Rox carbon? So far all I've done is make a mess. I have a Reef Octopus reactor and it doesn't matter if I trickle flow to it. It floats and makes a mess. I ran the output into a 5 gallon bucket and I think more carbon went into the bucket than stayed in the reactor.

I tried reversing flow as suggested in a thread and that didn't improve anything.

 

[FoothillCorals]

Are you running both the top and bottom sponges in the reactor?

I know a lot of people will disagree but I think that the Rox carbon is too aggressive, watch out for HLLE if you are keeping tangs.

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

Both sponges and the plastic plates that hold them in place. Basically flows right through the sponge.

 

[CLeadfootS]

I always rinsed mine with Rodi water in a strainer before using it in the tank. Did you rinse it?

 

[FoothillCorals]

Both sponges and the plastic plates that hold them in place. Basically flows right through the sponge.

I had the same problem with the Rox

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

My very scientific testing has concluded it still floats even after heavy rinsing. I'm going to just email BRS and ask them how on Earth I am supposed to use their media.

 

[Paulca916]

Ron I used Rox for years in a MR1 reactor and I found it was necessary to run floss filter under the top sponge or use two sponges.
It's great carbon I wouldn't use any other carbon myself.

 

[Diamond Jack]

Also a little really goes a long way. Make sure not to exceed the recommended amount. I think i've overdone it with ROX before.

 

[Paulca916]

Also a little really goes a long way. Make sure not to exceed the recommended amount. I think i've overdone it with ROX before.

Yes IIRC I only used a 1/4 of what I did whit other carbons.
There use to be a chart on BRS on how much to use also for their GFO.