CA Reactors and Media replenishment

[scubadude]

I have a dual chamber Geo reactor and I will be replacing the media in the first chamber very soon...it seems to have almost diminished down to nothing...however it still does have about 3"+ of media left but most of it is very fine grain kinda like a powder. My question is should I take all the media and replenish all of it with total brand new or can I just add new media ontop of the powdery stuff?

[golfish]

Rocky,
When I do it, I just top it off..

[DukeDog]

I need to change or add to mine very soon also. I thought I read somewhere on here about it getting clogged from the very fine particles and that you should add new but I cant find it:eek3:
Jeff

[scubadude]

Im just gonna add new....I got plenty of media....the stuff is like powder...im not gonna chance it....Thanks guys

[golfish]

Jeff, is correct. If the media gets to fine it could probably effect the flow. I haven't had this problem, Yet.

Mark

[Ironreef]

Mine has clogged. I would just replenish and clean out good every year Not so much the containers but the tubes and fittings get clogged so can the pads if used. But a good cleaning every year isn't bad. Except when its time to do so . Or just wait till the drips stop then your forced into maintance. Thats what happened to me. Took over a year before that happened

[RWD]

I'd rinse the left over stuff and reuse it. I have also had my reactor clog with the fine silt. What happens is the co2 can no longer pass through the silt and builds up in the bottom of the chamber. Bob

[golfish]

Ok, I just tore apart my sump, skimmer, calcium reactor, Nilsen reactor, closed loop and top-off system (spring cleaning)

My calcium reactor was so clog at the bottom water could hardly flow through. This was after one year.