Bulk Reef Supply dual stage reactor? Good choice?

[Dylan]

I'm upgrading to a 120 SPS dominated tank, and this is the reactor I have in mind to run carbon and phosban. Does this sound okay? Just makin sure before I pull the trigger on it.

Dual BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor - English

 

[jerl77]

tagging along :wink:

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I'm upgrading to a 120 SPS dominated tank, and this is the reactor I have in mind to run carbon and phosban. Does this sound okay? Just makin sure before I pull the trigger on it.

Dual BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor - English

Dylan,I came across this same decision when I was setting up my tank,it was either the dual reactor or 2 single reactors but I ended up going with 2 single reactors.The reason is that GFO/Carbon need 2 different flows to run through them and with a dual you can't have individual flow and not to mention GFO doesn't need to be changed as often as carbon does.I beleive in the BRS demo on the dual reactor they explain it is better to go with 2 single reactors rather then a dual
reactor.

 

[Dylan]

Dylan,I came across this same decision when I was setting up my tank,it was either the dual reactor or 2 single reactors but I ended up going with 2 single reactors.The reason is that GFO/Carbon need 2 different flows to run through them and with a dual you can't have individual flow and not to mention GFO doesn't need to be changed as often as carbon does.I beleive in the BRS demo on the dual reactor they explain it is better to go with 2 single reactors rather then a dual
reactor.

Thank you! That's exactly the reply I needed. Do you recommend any other reactors? What are you using?

 

[TopNotchCorals]

Thank you! That's exactly the reply I needed. Do you recommend any other reactors? What are you using?

I have never tried any other reactor before as I am using the ROX carbon and the HC GFO in 2 single BRS reactors

 

[NaClCrocodile]

Dylan,I came across this same decision when I was setting up my tank,it was either the dual reactor or 2 single reactors but I ended up going with 2 single reactors.The reason is that GFO/Carbon need 2 different flows to run through them and with a dual you can't have individual flow and not to mention GFO doesn't need to be changed as often as carbon does.I beleive in the BRS demo on the dual reactor they explain it is better to go with 2 single reactors rather then a dual
reactor.

This. Good information. I went the cheap route and wish I'd gone two singles. Doesn't matter now, but I think I'll start running N/P Biopellets in one and carbon in the other.

 

[Dylan]

I have never tried any other reactor before as I am using the ROX carbon and the HC GFO in 2 single BRS reactors

Well in my nanocube I've had more than enough success with putting my carbon and phosban in a mesh bag in a high flow area. I figure as long as the dual stage reactor works decent, it'll do enough for me.

 

[Dylan]

Why do you wish you went with two singles? Do you have the dual?

 

[TopNotchCorals]

Well in my nanocube I've had more than enough success with putting my carbon and phosban in a mesh bag in a high flow area. I figure as long as the dual stage reactor works decent, it'll do enough for me. I've seen some decent reviews, but can it hold enough for a 120?

It really depends on what you plan on keeping in your tank.If you plan on keeping sps then PO4 must be contained but if your planning on a lps tank then PO4 is not as much as a factor.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

My brother runs the BRS dual reactor on his Oceanic 120RR but his tank is LPS dominant with only 1 sps which is a pretty hardy green slimer

 

[NaClCrocodile]

Why do you wish you went with two singles? Do you have the dual?

I have the dual, but the fact that I've got to find that perfect medium of flow is a bit of a pain. The two singles allow the GFO to tumble more quickly to ensure that it doesn't solidify. Carbon, when it tumbles, creates fine particles that can go back into your water and cloud it up, so you want lower flow through carbon. It's one or the other with the dual reactor.

 

[Dylan]

I have the dual, but the fact that I've got to find that perfect medium of flow is a bit of a pain. The two singles allow the GFO to tumble more quickly to ensure that it doesn't solidify. Carbon, when it tumbles, creates fine particles that can go back into your water and cloud it up, so you want lower flow through carbon. It's one or the other with the dual reactor.

Ahhhh okay. So I'll go with the two singles. I've been looking into some biopellets too, not too sure what those do yet... But I can switch out my GFO for biopellets later, right? If anybody wants to explain in a short summary I would appreciate it

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I have the dual, but the fact that I've got to find that perfect medium of flow is a bit of a pain. The two singles allow the GFO to tumble more quickly to ensure that it doesn't solidify. Carbon, when it tumbles, creates fine particles that can go back into your water and cloud it up, so you want lower flow through carbon. It's one or the other with the dual reactor.

You do not want your carbon to tumble at all it will defeat the purpose of running it as it captures the small particules that cause the clouding of water and if it tumbles it will release whatever it captures not to mention the small carbon particules that will be floating around in your DT.As for the GFO,you want it to slightly tumble at the surface.

 

[NaClCrocodile]

Ahhhh okay. So I'll go with the two singles. I've been looking into some biopellets too, not too sure what those do yet... But I can switch out my GFO for biopellets later, right? If anybody wants to explain in a short summary I would appreciate it

Yes, Biopellets (caution, this is only from what I understand) are a solid form or carbon. Similar to VSV, or Vodka dosing. The premise is that you supplement your bacteria with more carbon so that they reproduce faster and in turn speed up the nitrogen cycle, converting more ammonia into nitrite to nitrate. Then once they're in NO3 form, your oversized skimmer pulls the nasty out and you end up with a cleaner tank. With this you will have to have an over sized skimmer but you'll be able to fine tune your SPS corals through feedings (fish and coral).