Carbon reactor help

[Bent17]

Just set up a carbon reactor with red sea carbon.. this is on the lowest setting.. too powerful?

 

[homer1475]

Yes! turn that thing off!

Carbon should never tumble! Reverse the flow on that reactor so the water pushes down through the reactor and not up through.

 

[Bent17]

Yes! turn that thing off!

Carbon should never tumble! Reverse the flow on that reactor so the water pushes down through the reactor and not up through.

I just put the pump on the in as it mentions on the reactor!

 

[solitude127]

Yes, too much flow.

 

[Bent17]

I reversed the pipes and its like this now... which I think is worse than before?

 

[Bent17]

Ok this should be good now?

 

[ptrick21186]

Did it come with sponges to hold the carbon in place? Ya at that flow it's gonna pulverize the carbon in no time

 

[ptrick21186]

Ok this should be good now?

No that's still too much. Literally no tumble is what you're shooting for

 

[Bent17]

Yes it did but it pushed them up with the flow earlier so didnt drop them back down.. final flow setting.. what do you think?

 

[Bent17]

No that's still too much. Literally no tumble is what you're shooting for

Oh really? Thought it needs a bit of movement..

 

[ptrick21186]

Ok put your bottom pad in. Put the amount of carbon in you need. Then put the top pad on top. That's ok if it goes to the top. As long as it's not moving around.

 

[ptrick21186]

Oh really? Thought it needs a bit of movement..

You're thinking GFO

 

[Bent17]

Dialled it down a bit more...

 

[ptrick21186]

Seriously. Use the pads. You don't need to sacrifice flow then. As long as the carbon is firmly in between those pads it doesn't matter where it sits in the reactor. By lowering the flow all you're doing is lowering the efficiency of the unit.

 

[Bent17]

Will drop them down and crank up a bit the flow then. I added a flow valve to lower the flow as the pump was a bit too powerful at its lowest level. Infact the pads floated up due to the pressure..

 

[Bent17]

Also - how do you know when the carbon is depleted? Or just take it as a rule to replace monthly?

 

[ptrick21186]

Will drop them down and crank up a bit the flow then. I added a flow valve to lower the flow as the pump was a bit too powerful at its lowest level. Infact the pads floated up due to the pressure..

That's fine if they float up as long as both pads and the carbon are floating up together. When I use mine I put the lower pad in a few inches and start adding the carbon. If I need to add more I push the carbon and lower pad down a bit more (base of a measuring cup works good here). Once I've got all the carbon in, I add the top pad and push it down until it's just at the top. Then install the lid. So when you start it up it's packed down firm and has no more room to travel up when the flow hits it.

 

[ptrick21186]

Also - how do you know when the carbon is depleted? Or just take it as a rule to replace monthly?

Not even monthly. Carbon will do most of it's work within about the first week. I remove after 2 weeks. Otherwise it just starts to collect detritus.

 

[Bent17]

Not even monthly. Carbon will do most of it's work within about the first week. I remove after 2 weeks. Otherwise it just starts to collect detritus.

Ok as redsea mention 1-2 months.. so I have 2 pads.. one coarser than the other one. My lfs told me no need to put one in the bottom, but just add both to the top having the finer one on the very top part

 

[ptrick21186]

I use a BRS one so I'd have to see some pics of yours to see how it works