reactors

[lostcreekreefer]

Just throwing out something I've been reading & researching on & want to do for my set up. I have been looking on Reef Central, Reef Frontiers and here to get an idea about running Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO - sucks up phosphate) & carbon (sucks up organic material, mostly wastes) on my tank in some sort of "Reactor". I did not really see anything much helpful in the filtration forum here, so I thought I'd ask you-all cuz I know you! I have been looking & pondering for a while, then this weekend I stumbled upon Bulk Reef Supply (BRS) info, A jumbo reactor:
JUMBO BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor - English
or the dual reactor:
Dual BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor - English
or the deluxe reactor (aka 'Darth Vader Style' reactor):
Deluxe BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor - English

also similar units at Tampa Bay Aquatics (TBA) Dual:
Double Chamber Media Reactor for RemPhos or BAC [DOUBLEREACTOR] - $59.95 : TB Aquatics - Top Quality Aquarium Products, Aquarium & Drinking Water Filtration, Amazing Service!
or single (no Deluxe):
Single Chamber Media Reactor for RemPhos or BAC [SINGLEREACTOR] - $39.95 : TB Aquatics - Top Quality Aquarium Products, Aquarium & Drinking Water Filtration, Amazing Service!


all of them can be run with a Mag 3 submersible pump
Mag-Drive Supreme 3 - 350 GPH Water Pump - English
or a Maxi Jet 1200:
Maxi-Jet Powerhead 1200 ( 295GPH) - English.

OK so is anybody using something like this? Everybody tells me I should do this...so how do YOU all do it? This is the first time I've seen/heard about doing it quite this way, these are basically RODI housings used for this purpose; looks simple and effective to me (I am easily duped tho) . I know how easy it is to change media with these units, not so bad. I also hear people complain about other reactors & filters and how much they suck and leak and clog and how messy they are and so forth. This does not looks so bad to me!

Pump size, any comments from the gathered wisdom? with 390 gallons of water, go for 2 Jumbos or the dual? Is there a problem running carbon or running GFO all of the time for my fish or my corals? I seem to remember hearing about bleaching events linked to running GFO in reef aquariums.....
Also how much of this stuff do you use at a time, frequency of changes, problems with NOT changing soon enuff?

that's all for now

[charlie]

I have a little phosban reactor from two little fishes, but I have yet to put it into action, I have a little green algae that grows on the returns and such, but until I see it start on the rock, I am just gonna put up with it

I have also heard that GFO will play heck with your alkalinity Kevin, so watch out. Who is telling you to run GFO?

[DevonM]

I ran a phosban filter but took it out of the system when I added all the cheato and the fuge. I think it just collecting sediment. I checked my nitrates yesterday and the Salifert test read about .2 ppm and for phosphates it read about .03 ppm. I also use HBH Phosphate Pads, half of one, one week on and then one week off.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

[lostcreekreefer]

@Charlie-I guess nobody told me, I just have a plenty of algae all the time in spite of having the refugium going and creatures munching on it. GFO is a way (not the only way?) to take care of PO4 and then not feed the algae as much, I keep reading about & it seems 'lots of people use it'. But just cuz I can does not mean I should, kind of like Veterinary medicine, above all, do no harm...I'm just fishing for people's experience & thoughts. Like it maybe hammers my Alk! thanks for that pointer!
@ Devon- I just do not think my Phosphate test is all that great or accurate. I have never measured anything...let me restate that...I have run the test and it comes up 0 every time. it is a part of an API test kit that I got with the tank from Kyle, I just got a Salifert PO4 test kit in (unopened as of yet), maybe I'll run them both & compare results?

thanks for the comments, questions. I'm going to sleep on it. Literally!

[DevonM]

I have not had good luck with API test kits. Let me know if the Salifert matches the API.

[charlie]

Kevin, read thru this thread, it has some good stuff on GFO and what it did to Greg's tank. Doesn't mean it will do the same in yours, but just a heads up.

I stopped dosing vodka- tank is getting better!

[lostcreekreefer]

thanks Charlie, a good read, I am still just fishing for information. btw: What the heck are you doing up at 5 friggin' AM reading this stuff.....that is shut eye time, or as I call it my beauty rest time. But it never helps, I'm still ugly...maybe GFO would help that?

[charlie]

Beauty rest won't help me so I get up early.