Carbon and gfo in the same reactor?

Emarley · Jul 5, 2019

Hello fellow reefers,

Looking at purchasing a media reactor, ideally I would like two ( one for carbon and one for gfo) but have only got space for one in rear sump.
Could I run both carbon and gfo in the same reactor?

Thanks in advance

Dom

Sweetaz · Jul 5, 2019

GFO is harder than carbon, so there is potential for the carbon to get ground up. Best to run them in separate reactors.

Butuz · Jul 5, 2019

I mix them, rinse them and run in the same reactor. Just make sure the flow is slow, gentle tumble. There is a BRS video on running these together.

tdlawdo · Jul 5, 2019

Emarley said:
Hello fellow reefers,

Looking at purchasing a media reactor, ideally I would like two ( one for carbon and one for gfo) but have only got space for one in rear sump.
Could I run both carbon and gfo in the same reactor?

Thanks in advance

Dom

I’ve tried it. Not good. As above one is harder and the carbon only lasts a week or so before it is basically shot and the gfo needs and can last longer. Another alternative (less effective) would be to use a bag for one instead of the reactor. Or if you only have room for one use the carbon one week a month and the gfo the other weeks. Save the gfo in the sump in a bag for the week the carbon is running. Just brainstorming. There is ideal and there is reality of what we have in front of us.

Mical · Jul 5, 2019

You can but as mentioned above but it will clog and you'll be wasting GFO. I use the small reactor(s) from BRS for GFO and put carbon in filter sock. Carbon gets used up quickly and socks need to be changed weekly so it's a little more $$$ feasible. BRS reactor - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-gfo-carbon-reactor-5-single.html

Dexter_SA · Jul 5, 2019

I dont mix them purely because one can regenerate the gfo. Once the gfo is mixed with carbon you need to throw it away unless you have a way of seperating the two.

Jay Z · Jul 5, 2019

Check out the nyos reactors. They are designed to run both at the same time. Not saying to get one, but look how they separate the single chamber with foam. Gfo on the bottom, carbon above it.