Running Little Fishie Reactors??

[term_paint]

Quick question before i do something wrong. Imagine that!! lol Anyway i have two little fishie reactors the 150 size. I want to run one with Carbon, and One with Phos Ban or some type of phos reducer...Can i do this and if so do they have to be in a certain order like phos ban first and then carbon or visa versa?? Thanks for any help...​

 

[merkywater]

If you have the same pump running on both reactors I would put GFO/Phos first then Carbon so you get a tumbling affect with GFO the rate of flow can be slower through the carbon, (more dwell time better) JMO

 

[hnguyen]

I run both bio-pellets and carbon in the same reactor with an additional foam padding in between the two. Never had a problem and it works right.

 

[jake09mid]

I have been told by several members to run carbon first then phosban and it has been working great. I believe their reasoning was that carbon can leach phosphates so the phosban is there to remove them. I could be way off though. Also, if you are running both from the same pump (like I am), the flow rate in each reactor will be the same regardless. Mine are on a maxijet 1200 with a ball valve in between but it is completely open.

 

[gmpolan]

What if your running them independently to be able to control the flow? Do you just dump them into the same spot in the sump i assume?

 

[lilrobb]

merkywater;604331 wrote: If you have the same pump running on both reactors I would put GFO/Phos first then Carbon so you get a tumbling affect with GFO the rate of flow can be slower through the carbon, (more dwell time better) JMO

Oh Nate...
why would there be less flow in the second chamber if the same pump powers it? Is there a leak between chamber 1 and two, haha

Just messin

 

[merkywater]

I dont know which is correct. I got my info off Bulk Reef Supply, there directions on how to set up there dual reactor for both GFO and Carbon. I assume from the different responses it really doesn't matter which way you go unless I completely misunderstood BRS' take on setting up there dual reactor.

 

[lilrobb]

I have no idea on the order of media,

but two connected vessels will always have the same flow... (unless there is a leak or the diameters are different...

 

[merkywater]

I'm sure you are right I guess they were assuming there could be clogging of line by GFO pellets or granulars

 

[sharkbait]

merkywater;604364 wrote: I dont know which is correct. I got my info off Bulk Reef Supply, there directions on how to set up there dual reactor for both GFO and Carbon. I assume from the different responses it really doesn't matter which way you go unless I completely misunderstood BRS' take on setting up there dual reactor.

The only reason to put carbon first and GFO second is because carbon leaches phosphates so it would be counter productive to run the carbon after the GFO and have phosphates dumped back into your system...

 

[merkywater]

Yea I get that, but BRS is saying that if you run carbon first it could get trash and particles built up in that chamber and restrict water flow through GFO which would hender the tumbling and cause the GFO to not be utilized properly. I'm just going off BRS video, which you can go watch it yourself to understand their prospective of which to run first. I'm only referring to a dual chamber reactor not two individual reactors.