Can you run 2 reactors off one pump and is this a good idea?

[glb]

I have limited space in a 20g tall sump. I'd like to have 2 TLF gfo reactors running, one for GFO and one for carbon. Can I run both of them from one pump? I'm thinking GFO first because it needs to tumble more and then an attached hose to the carbon one, which tumbles less. I know I can also run both in the same reactor but know there are downsides. Would my idea work?

 

[RyanCSGO]

On paper it looks like it would be fine. I just don't know if the head is too long. What size pump and how much total tubing is it pushing through (plus the 2 reactors)
hopefully someone has tried this or is doing it currently and give a direct answer

 

[glb]

On paper it looks like it would be fine. I just don't know if the head is too long. What size pump and how much total tubing is it pushing through (plus the 2 reactors)
hopefully someone has tried this or is doing it currently and give a direct answer

Thanks. I'm trying to conserve space but that's pointless if it's not going to work!

 

[AZDesertRat]

Sure you can, I've done it for years.
I use a Maxijet 900 powerhead which goes into a 1/2" barbed tee with each side having its own ball valve so each reactor can be isolated or throttled separately. Since GFO and carbon have different flow requirements and different useful lives this allows me to fine tune the flows of each and to take one or the other out of service for cleaning, media replacement or whatever.

 

[glb]

Sure you can, I've done it for years.
I use a Maxijet 900 powerhead which goes into a 1/2" barbed tee with each side having its own ball valve so each reactor can be isolated or throttled separately. Since GFO and carbon have different flow requirements and different useful lives this allows me to fine tune the flows of each and to take one or the other out of service for cleaning, media replacement or whatever.

Thanks!

 

[Harry_Y]

I run mine "T"ed off from my main return.

I actually run it first through a media chamber filled with filter sponges to reduce
the particles; then t that off to two reactors one for GFO and the other for carbon.

So short answer is yes

 

[glb]

Sure you can, I've done it for years.
I use a Maxijet 900 powerhead which goes into a 1/2" barbed tee with each side having its own ball valve so each reactor can be isolated or throttled separately. Since GFO and carbon have different flow requirements and different useful lives this allows me to fine tune the flows of each and to take one or the other out of service for cleaning, media replacement or whatever.

You're talking about the Marineland powerhead right?

 

[glb]

I run mine "T"ed off from my main return.

I actually run it first through a media chamber filled with filter sponges to reduce
the particles; then t that off to two reactors one for GFO and the other for carbon.

So short answer is yes

This is my first diy plumbing job so I'm keeping it simple for now. But can always retrofit the plumbing to the reactors in the future. I'm not that daring yet!

 

[AZDesertRat]

Yes, I have a couple of old powerheads laying around and found the 900 is about perfect for two reactors. They don't need much flow since we are only talking about a few ounces of media in each reactor.

 

[zoomonster]

I run a BRS GFO/Carbon dual off a manifold on my return pump but the whole thing is supposed to run with the equivalent of a maxijet 1200 (they sell it with that). GFO is first so it can be adjusted for the right amount of tumble/fluidity. Even rinsing GFO the sponges are prone to clog and usually need to be cleaned at once during the life of a GFO batch. The output from the whole thing runs into a filter sock to catch any additional carbon or GFO fines. A little extra power is always good because usually the flow will need to be adjusted at least once as flow through the canisters starts slowing down before sponges eventually need to be cleaned.

 

[AZDesertRat]

The size of the powerhead depends on the size of your reef system and how much media you need. TLF recommends about 60 GPH which is much less than a MJ 1200 produces so they need to be valved down significantly in a small system. My reef is 100G and I use 50 grams of GFO and about twice that of carbon. 50 grams is about 5 level teaspoons full so not much in a Phosban 150 reactor. Maximum dose per TLF is 10 grams per 10 gallons of water but I prefer to cut that in half and run it as a preventive measure once phosphates are under control and so it will not lead to bleaching of SPS corals which is a common problem with overdosing ferric oxide products.

 

[hybridazn]

Couldn't you use a dual brs reactor and save more space and have less plumbing?

 

[AZDesertRat]

All of the dual reactors like that are much bigger than the TLF versions. Spectrapure sells one that is already plumbed as I described so you can run the two sides independently and is pretty slick for larger systems but still takes up a lot of real estate in a small stand. Another thing I do wit my two TLF reactors is hang them inside the sump so they don't take up room in the stand, also makes it nice if the leak or drip for any reason as it goes right back to the sump.
http://spectrapure.com/MEDIA-REACTORS-MEDIA/MEDIA-REACTORS/Dual-Chamber-Media-Reactor

 

[glb]

Couldn't you use a dual brs reactor and save more space and have less plumbing?

I could but I already have one TLF gfo reactor. If I bought another one and used the same pump, it would save some money without losing performance.

 

[glb]

All of the dual reactors like that are much bigger than the TLF versions. Spectrapure sells one that is already plumbed as I described so you can run the two sides independently and is pretty slick for larger systems but still takes up a lot of real estate in a small stand. Another thing I do wit my two TLF reactors is hang them inside the sump so they don't take up room in the stand, also makes it nice if the leak or drip for any reason as it goes right back to the sump.
http://spectrapure.com/MEDIA-REACTORS-MEDIA/MEDIA-REACTORS/Dual-Chamber-Media-Reactor

I'm going to hang these inside too.

 

[shadow1013]

Not sure if someone else mentioned it but what if you combined the two together into one media reactor?

 

[glb]

Not sure if someone else mentioned it but what if you combined the two together into one media reactor?

I could do that but they exhaust at different rates so you end up wasting some. I read that someone got around this by putting gfo on the bottom, adding an additional filter sponge in the middle, then putting carbon on top of that. Then they can replace the carbon without disturbing the gfo. Has anyone done this?

 

[AZDesertRat]

I tried that at first but didn't work out well hence the two reactors and separate valves.

 

[airmotive]

Just remember that when you T your feed line to feed each reactor, whatever adjustments you make on one reactor's flow will affect the other reactor's flow. So if you increase the flow of your carbon, you'll have to adjust your gfo flow because the increased flow to your carbon reduced the head pressure at your gfo inlet. Of course, when you the make your corresponding adjustment to your gfo, you'll need to go back and check the flow on your carbon. It's a bit of a back and forth game, but it's not as tedious as it sounds. I ended up putting two valves between each reactor and my T...one to adjust flow and the other a shut-off valve. When I need to change media, I simply use the shut off valve and rarely if ever have to adjust flow afterwards.

 

[Robert Ranciato]

Sure you can, I've done it for years.
I use a Maxijet 900 powerhead which goes into a 1/2" barbed tee with each side having its own ball valve so each reactor can be isolated or throttled separately. Since GFO and carbon have different flow requirements and different useful lives this allows me to fine tune the flows of each and to take one or the other out of service for cleaning, media replacement or whatever.

Hi I'm trying to do the same thing is there any way you could take a picture of the plumbing so I know what to buy? Thanks