Reactor in line with canister?

[nim6us]

I'm putting a new canister filter on my tank and while I'm switching out the gear I'd really like to put in a GFO/carbon reactor. I already have enough equipment in my tank so I'd like to try and avoid putting the reactor in the tank as well.

• My question is can I put a reactor in line with my canister filter?

• If so would the reactor need it's own pump, or would the canister filter push/pull the water through itself?

• And finally presuming thats all possible would the flow go: TANK --> CANISTER --> REACTOR --> TANK?

The tank is 55 gallon with fish, invertebrates and coral; the new canister is a Fluval FX4. I realize a sump may be more ideal, but I'm still new to the hobby and want to get a handle on all the other operations and maintenance before I add a sump to the mix

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Put the carbon and gfo in the reactor. IMO.
Same thing. Lay the bag of gfo flat so it's not bunched and as much surface area is exposed to flow. That's the purpose of tumbling in a reactor. Lay the carbon bag down so it's thick s flow goes through it.
Again, like a reactor does.

Save some money On gear and buy some corals.

 

[Halostemanic]

I run a canister filter on my 100 litre frag tank. On the outlet to it I have an algae reactor. The difficulty I faced was that there was too much flow initially and then as the sponges/floss in the canister clogged a little the flow changed. So now I just have live rock in the canister. I think it will work for you but things you need to consider are flow, input of bacterial malm into the reactor and also fines from the reactor going into the DT.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I run a canister filter on my 100 litre frag tank. On the outlet to it I have an algae reactor. The difficulty I faced was that there was too much flow initially and then as the sponges/floss in the canister clogged a little the flow changed. So now I just have live rock in the canister. I think it will work for you but things you need to consider are flow, input of bacterial malm into the reactor and also fines from the reactor going into the DT.

Floss in the top layer worked for me. Pop the top and swap it.

 

[nim6us]

Put the carbon and gfo in the reactor. IMO.
Same thing. Lay the bag of gfo flat so it's not bunched and as much surface area is exposed to flow. That's the purpose of tumbling in a reactor. Lay the carbon bag down so it's thick s flow goes through it.
Again, like a reactor does.

Save some money On gear and buy some corals.

Was a little confusing, are you saying skip the reactor and and just lay a bag of carbon and GFO in my canister filter?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Was a little confusing, are you saying skip the reactor and and just lay a bag of carbon and GFO in my canister filter?

Yep. It is in fact a reactor.

 

[nim6us]

I run a canister filter on my 100 litre frag tank. On the outlet to it I have an algae reactor. The difficulty I faced was that there was too much flow initially and then as the sponges/floss in the canister clogged a little the flow changed. So now I just have live rock in the canister. I think it will work for you but things you need to consider are flow, input of bacterial malm into the reactor and also fines from the reactor going into the DT.

So do you have a separate pump on your reactor or is the canister filter pump handling all the flow?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

A reactor is a container that holds chemical filtration media. Each type needs slightly different types of flow through or around it to be most efficient.

A canister can be used with many types of media.

So I only use the canister. Because it is a reactor.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Funny isn't it.

 

[Ebbi Flow]

But I'd t off return from canister and have two ball valves that way, you can focus on the reactors turnover and the return line..

 

[Ebbi Flow]

The way I designed it was for Canister to pull into intake from tank then through canister two directions back to tank and to your reactor..
By separating and valving you have ability to control flow through Media Reactor at rate you desire!

 

[Ebbi Flow]

Yes a canister is a combined reactor with many different types of filtration, but can't control rate as easily.

Need to valve slightly, so small percentage of Back-Pressure isn't slowing canister itself.

Instead let the excess pressure push through your reactor for more contact time, slower turnover rate and less heat created from canister.

In my design, I am keeping Back-Pressure to Zero; thus increasing available head pressure.

By Creating some resistance with Gravity and Reactor Media inside reactor, helps with dissfusing extra rating of canister without heating water. Will be able to tune turnover rate to my systems desired levels.

If I need more contact time, I too am T-ing off exhaust and re-circulating back into Bio-Tower.

 

[Halostemanic]

So do you have a separate pump on your reactor or is the canister filter pump handling all the flow?

Canister is handling all the flow thru an algae reactor.