External GFO Reactor

[Travis Stewart]

I have about 45 gallon total volume. I am out of room in my sump and have a phosphate reading of .223. What is the best for me? Should I try using a little GFO?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea, that would do it.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Yea, that would do it.

Any recommendation on external Reactor for that small of water volume?

 

[flyfisherman]

Any recommendation on external Reactor for that small of water volume?

Nextreef mr1 used or two little fishies hang on style. Use 1/3 recommended dose, or you'll kill/bleach a few corals.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Nextreef mr1 used or two little fishies hang on style. Use 1/3 recommended dose, or you'll kill/bleach a few corals.

My corals are very happy. Recommended for water volume?? Or...I may even start with less than that

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Any you can afford I suppose. Add GFO slowly.... You can also put it a hi flow area of the tank. like a bag right on the return pump. Then you can just add another tablespoon each week and see if you like it.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Look into the the Two Little Fishes type reactor you will want one that has a bracket to hang on the side of the sump or tank.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Look into the the Two Little Fishes type reactor you will want one that has a bracket to hang on the side of the sump or tank.

I will give it a shot. Is there an internal pump that brings the water inside the reactor and a hose out that puts it back into sump?

 

[jd371]

Here's one I just bought and I'm very happy with. It was between this one and the TLF reactor, but I decided with the Aquamaxx and glad I did. The build quality is a lot better, thicker plastic and no screw on cap. My friend had the TLF and would get salt creep from under the cap and make it hard to unscrew when it was time to change the GFO. It costs a little more than the TLF, but worth it. I have mine paired with a Cobalt FJ1200 pump.

https://www.amazon.com/AquaMaxx-Car...d=1488811539&sr=8-2&keywords=aquamaxx+reactor

 

[Travis Stewart]

Here's one I just bought and I'm very happy with. It was between this one and the TLF reactor, but I decided with the Aquamaxx and glad I did. The build quality is a lot better, thicker plastic and no screw on cap. My friend had the TLF and would get salt creep from under the cap and make it hard to unscrew when it was time to change the GFO. It costs a little more than the TLF, but worth it. I have mine paired with a Cobalt FJ1200 pump.

https://www.amazon.com/AquaMaxx-Car...d=1488811539&sr=8-2&keywords=aquamaxx+reactor

Does that come with a pump?

 

[jd371]

No, you will need to get a pump and a valve to adjust the flow to the reactor.

 

[Travis Stewart]

No, you will need to get a pump and a valve to adjust the flow to the reactor.

Now it's getting complicated.

 

[Travis Stewart]

No, you will need to get a pump and a valve to adjust the flow to the reactor.

You don't think this is too big for 45 gallons?

 

[jd371]

Now it's getting complicated.

You can tee off the return pump instead of using a separate pump and just add a valve to adjust the flow to the reactor. GFO needs to be able to tumble a bit for it to be effective, that's why you need a valve to adjust the flow. You adjust it so you get a slow tumble, not aggressive otherwise the GFO will grind against each other and put fine particles into your tank that could cause your corals to be irritated.

You don't think this is too big for 45 gallons?

It should be okay. Use half or even less than that of the recommended amount of GFO and test. You don't want to deplete the tank of Po4 totally or too quickly. I like to keep the Po4 around .02 - .04.

 

[Travis Stewart]

What's the benefit of using this over a media bag?

 

[jd371]

In the reactor you can adjust the flow so the GFO can move around and not clump up. In a media bag the GFO will just clump and the water will just flow around it like a rock and not do much.