BRS Deluxe media canisters vs regular

[acroholic]

I was hand tightening my 3+ year old BRS regular media reactor back onto the bracket after a GFO change and the bracket snapped off where the screws hold it onto the wall. Decided to order the deluxe media canisters and they are really nice. Nice to be able to see into the canister more easily.

 

[joseayes]

Does your canisters tend to clumb the media at the point to not fluidizing it anymore? I know little more flown will solve the issue but just wondering, I have used them before. I was considering something like this http://www.marinedepot.com/CAD_Lights_Conic_Media_Recirculating_Bio_Reactor_Biopellet_Reactors-CAD_Lights-3X50299-FIFRISBP-vi.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/CAD_Lights_Conic_Media_Recirculating_Bio_Reactor_Biopellet_Reactors-CAD_Lights-3X50299-FIFRISBP-vi.html</a>
But don't know if actually this one will work ok with carbon or GFO with out grinding the media...
Thanks I'm advance for your opinion!

 

[acroholic]

joseayes;860703 wrote: Does your canisters tend to clumb the media at the point to not fluidizing it anymore? I know little more flown will solve the issue but just wondering, I have used them before. I was considering something like this http://www.marinedepot.com/CAD_Lights_Conic_Media_Recirculating_Bio_Reactor_Biopellet_Reactors-CAD_Lights-3X50299-FIFRISBP-vi.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/CAD_Lights_Conic_Media_Recirculating_Bio_Reactor_Biopellet_Reactors-CAD_Lights-3X50299-FIFRISBP-vi.html</a>
But don't know if actually this one will work ok with carbon or GFO with out grinding the media...
Thanks I'm advance for your opinion![/QUOTE]

That seems overkill for a GFO reactor to me at $175. I don't think you want to use it with carbon, as carbon should not be tumbled. Might work with GFO. I have never had a problem with GFO clumping in the BRS reactor. The key is to have enough flow to keep it tumbling. IME, when it slows down in the old style BRS media holders (fits inside the reactor), it means the filter sponge the GFO sits on is getting clogged and needs to be rinsed. If it slows down in the new style media holders (no sponges), it doesn't have enough flow. I have a dedicated external pump for my two single BRS reactors, so I have a lot of available flow.

 

[jdavid]

you can mix carbon and GFO in a single reactor and the GFO will not clump. You wouldn't want the media to tumble though because the carbon will grind into dust if it tumbles with GFO. Only downside is the carbon needs to be replaced before the GFO.

 

[acroholic]

I haven't had GFO ever clump up on me. Does it happen often?

 

[jdavid]

i dont run a reactor but according to the guys at BRS it will if the flow is too low

 

[acroholic]

I've never seen the merit of running carbon and GFO together because GFO requires such a slower flow rate through it than carbon. Maybe if space was an issue to prevent using two separate reactors. I use separate media reactors on both my reef systems.

One lesson I did learn is to have the carbon and GFO reactors empty into a 50 micron filter sock. Keeps the fines out of the sump.

 

[jdavid]

the idea of running them together is to save space. you just run them both at a slow flow rate.

just offering a solution to joseayes, if your GFO is clumping due to low flow, you can mix it with carbon and it will not clump. the idea is for the media not to tumble when mixed, or you will have fines released into the tank.