Co2 reactor

[ArnoldosAquariums]

So allow me to be stupid here for a minute lol.

I got a multi use reactor which I’m going to use for carbon. (Vertex).

Pretty much for one scene, with a 75 gallon tank I will need about .8 cups.

I get the point of the reactor is that it forces all the water the passes through it to go through the carbon.

Doesn’t .8 sound right? This is the RedSea Reef-Spec... Especially with changing only once a month?

Also, what is the difference between doing this or just literally tying the end of the water pump hose to the mesh bag that holds carbon?

And last but not least… I’m going to attach this to the plumbing that goes to my chiller. The pump does about 800gph.

I was going to attach it to the plumbing coming out of the chiller... or should I attach it BEFORE the chiller? Does it matter?

Thx!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just to clarify the title, this is not a CO2 reactor, right. This is GAC in a cannister?
Flow is way too high for GAC. The amount sounds OK.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I think the difference between just sticking the hose on the mesh bag is that it is being forced to go through it and cant go around in any way. I run a carbon reactor and honestly didn't see much of a difference but whatever, it was like 100 bucks. I just hooked a cheap pump up in the return chamber so that it gets sucked through the reactor and then goes back into the return chamber.

 

[ArnoldosAquariums]

Just to clarify the title, this is not a CO2 reactor, right. This is GAC in a cannister?
Flow is way too high for GAC. The amount sounds OK.

No. That’s a reactor. Not a canister filter.

 

[jda]

It is a canister filter. Vertex carbon is GAC. The flow is way too much - like Dr H-F said... slow it down.

co2 reactor works outside of the tank and is really a canister filter too.

People started calling canister filters "media reactors" about a decade ago to make it sound more sexy. They are no different. Sorry that you fell for the hype.

I strongly suggest that you have a real issue that needs solved before starting GAC. Just running it to run it will not do much (at best) and can do some harm (at worst). What issues are you seeing that lead you to believe that GAC is a good way to go?

I would not do anything to obstruct the flow to the chiller. If you want to run this, then get it it's own pump.

 

[ArnoldosAquariums]

It is a canister filter. Vertex carbon is GAC. The flow is way too much - like Dr H-F said... slow it down.

co2 reactor works outside of the tank and is really a canister filter too.

People started calling canister filters "media reactors" about a decade ago to make it sound more sexy. They are no different. Sorry that you fell for the hype.

I strongly suggest that you have a real issue that needs solved before starting GAC. Just running it to run it will not do much (at best) and can do some harm (at worst). What issues are you seeing that lead you to believe that GAC is a good way to go?

I would not do anything to obstruct the flow to the chiller. If you want to run this, then get it it's own pump.

i’m not asking if I need to use it, I already know I do.

and I’m doing 800gph since that’s what RedSea recommended.

All I’m asking is if the dosage sounds right? .8 cup sounds very little.

 

[MichaelReefer]

i’m not asking if I need to use it, I already know I do.

and I’m doing 800gph since that’s what RedSea recommended.

All I’m asking is if the dosage sounds right? .8 cup sounds very little.

I believe all brands of carbon are a bit different. Mine seemed a bit low for my tank size as well but I went with what the carbon bag told me to use.