CA Reactor media - Refill or Replace?

[jef4y]

The last time I needed reactor media was when I moved down here, so it was easy. Dump what was left and put in new stuff.

Now I'm down to about 1/2 a load of media and need to refill. Just wondering if there is any logic towards dumping out what is in there or just topping it off with new media.

There is a little bit of algae in the reactor due to light getting into it (before I went nuts and wrapped everything in tinfoil), but other than that it should still be good.

Thoughts?

 

[lilrobb]

Algae at pH of 6.x?

 

[jef4y]

LilRobb;614253 wrote: Algae at pH of 6.x?

6.76 right now.. yeah. I can take some pics if you want to see.

 

[gmpolan]

willing to bet, a light near it is causing the algea in there even at 6.xx

 

[jef4y]

gmpolan;614311 wrote: willing to bet, a light near it is causing the algea in there even at 6.xx

That's exactly what it was. In my main chamber and secondary chamber as well. I have since wrapped them in aluminum foil (except for a small window in a dark spot to check media levels).

 

[sharkbait]

I would just dump and replace, oh and clean the algae out as well while you are in there.

 

[rbredding]

I thought that the media didn't break down until PH was lower than 6.5

 

[jef4y]

Rbredding;614342 wrote: I thought that the media didn't break down until PH was lower than 6.5

This totally depends on the media and I believe the time in the reactor. While there is a ceiling to when a media will dissolve, I have great results at 6.7 - 6.9. If I get below 6.7 it dissolves too fast for my tank.

I had been running 6.8-7.1 and dissolving just fine in that window, but the demands have increased a bit so I adjusted accordingly.

CA reactors are weird. You can get the same result in several different ways.