Which reactor is best?

[crew]

A lot of us run reactors.. GFO, Phosban, katalyst, zeo...

Of all the nutrient reactors out there, which do you think is best?

 

[lilrobb]

You ask for reactors, but list reagents.

Are you looking for the reactor (MRC, TLF, Geo) or the Chemical (GFO, Phosban, etc)??

 

[smallblock]

I really like Bulk Reef supply reactors, very well made and easy to use. Some people say the biopellet reactor they made wasnt very good but I havent hooked mine up yet so I couldnt tell you on that. I run Gfo and Carbon and have been very pleased with the quality and performance. I run the dual reactor but If I could do it over again I would get 2 brs delux reactors and run them seperate. Also like I told dawgface get 2 extra inner cartridges so you can load them and just stick them in when it comes time to change the media. This way you dont have to clean the used ones at that moment you can slide the clean loaded ones in, rinse and go. Then clean the dirty ones and have them ready for next time. I'll post the links if you want.

 

[crew]

I meant the chemical inside, my bad

 

[smallblock]

well, in that case all I have experiance with is BRS, GFO granuals, and BRS, Lignite Carbon. The Lignite carbon has been linked to hole in head syndrome so after I run out I will be switching to ROX 8. I'm giving BRS biopellets a shot starting this weekend. I've been very pleased with the Carbon and GFO and plan on keeping that going forever

 

[crew]

lignite carbon is just coal filled with cellulose, I can't imagine that would be good for dosing. I've worked with it in my lab.

 

[smallblock]

its more of a mechanical type filter I think. It absorbs the yellow and catches detrius. Usually last about 2 weeks in my system. Gfo 3 to 4 weeks. The GFO tumbles in the reactor but Carbon stays still.

 

[crew]

is GFO a dissolving additive or does it collect things like carbon?

 

[smallblock]

gfo is granular ferric oxide I think, not sure how it works but it tumbles to increas surface contact. Go to Bulk reef supply and watch the videos about it he explains it very well. I'm sure someone like you will understand it fully. They are not long either. They show you all about the carbon and show a test of the 3 differant ones they have. I can't remember the gfo video.

Edit: no it doesnt dissolve any you have the same amount when its time to change it, its just absorbed all it can when its time to change.

 

[crew]

gotcha, so it's like carbon. I will go watch the videos. Thanks for the tip

 

[smallblock]

yeah man no prob, there may be other options. These are the ones I have experiance with and have been very pleased with the results.

 

[smallblock]

Amici;675446 wrote: I like most any upper end LARGE grain carbon (Seachem Matrix is still my favorite). They all pretty much do the same thing and tend to rinse a lot easier. I just change it ever 1-2 weeks. I also like NP Biopellets, I saw a decrease in algae while using them in an octopus reactor. I really saw the biggest improvement when they were truly tumbling. I do like GFO, but sometimes if water changes cant get my PO4 low enough I just grab a bags of purigen and phosban to throw in the sump and it usually gets it down low enough to kill whatever algae is creeping up. When I was experimenting with GFO I did experience some of the burning associated with it even though I introduced it slowly. I haven't seen this issue by using purigen and phosban because there is never any part of the media that could leach into the system as far as I can tell.

Its really about being diligent about maintenance with any mechanical/chemical filtration. Leave it unattended and its more of a harm then help.

I havent experianced any of this, I wonder if my carbon catches whatever could leach out since I run a dual reactor. The gfo is first and then the next reactor is carbon. Dunno but he usually knows what he is talking about. Most of us here use the BRS gfo and Carbon

 

[crew]

I asked because I just started a reactor full of katalyst http://www.marinedepot.com/Brightwell_Aquatics_Katalyst_Bioreactive_Filtration_Media_600g_-Brightwell_Aquatics-BW01447-FIFMBOBC-vi.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/Brightwell_Aquatics_Katalyst_Bioreactive_Filtration_Media_600g_-Brightwell_Aquatics-BW01447-FIFMBOBC-vi.html</a>

I dose marine bactor 7 per the instructions on the bottle and so far it is following the expected trend that the bottle says.. The first couple days I got a very small cyano reaction, and since then it has gone away and my nitrates and phosphates are dropping. After 4 weeks my tank should be at 100% reactor strength.. anyone know anything about this stuff?