rinsing gfo

icemountain · Mar 26, 2013

How do you guys rinse your gfo before starting the reactor up? I have been trying to rinse as much as I can in a small container but I still end up with some debris and "brown" water coming out the return when I start it up.

Kheebl · Mar 26, 2013

I just put the gfo into my reactor and put the output hose into a container and then turn the pump on and let the water run into container until it is clear, then just take hose out of container and place into sump, and dump nasty rust colored water down sink/toilet. Works great for me.

icemountain · Mar 26, 2013

Kheebl said:
I just put the gfo into my reactor and put the output hose into a container and then turn the pump on and let the water run into container until it is clear, then just take hose out of container and place into sump, and dump nasty rust colored water down sink/toilet. Works great for me.

that's not a bad idea. Does it use a lot of water until its draining clear water?

Kheebl · Mar 26, 2013

No only about a gallon or less. I just use whatever bottle I have in my recycle bin, usually a milk jug or juice container. Water is clear about 3/4 full but I run until bottle is almost full to make sure.

Swine · Mar 26, 2013

I must be using some weird GFO. I can rinse through about 10 gallons and it still seems like there is brown/dirty water coming out. I have a resivour of DI water and I run the same 5 gallons through twice. It seems like HUGE waste of water but I need to do it to keep the water clear... I used to adjust the flow to the point where the top had some gfo tumbling but I would continuously get too much brown water. I'm using a BRS reactor.

I've had people suggest to soak it among other things. But I havent found a good method. I'm not sure which GFO Im going to try next but the continiuum seems to be pretty crumbly.

Kheebl · Mar 26, 2013

I am using the cheap brs gfo.

icemountain · Mar 26, 2013

I am using the GFO from premium aquatics which I think is the same thing as the cheaper gfo from brs. I will see how much water it needs to run clean but I am hoping not much. If its a gallon like you said Kheebl, that would be great.

Any other methods out there?

Kheebl · Mar 28, 2013

Have you tried my method yet?

icemountain · Mar 28, 2013

I did use it but I used tap water to rinse it instead of tank water like you did. It took about 2 gallons I would say to clean out about 2.5 cups.

mfinn · Mar 28, 2013

Kheebl said:
I just put the gfo into my reactor and put the output hose into a container and then turn the pump on and let the water run into container until it is clear, then just take hose out of container and place into sump, and dump nasty rust colored water down sink/toilet. Works great for me.

+1

Works great for me.

WillKatt · Mar 28, 2013

It has been my experience that using ro/di or tap water seems to never rinse the GFO completely clean. Im not sure if there is an actual scientific reason for this of if I am just imaging things.

Either way, Like others have stated above I just pull out the output hose on the media reactor and and run a gallon or two of old tank water into a bucket when Im doing my water change. I then just siphon out the remaining water and proceed with my water change as usually. It kind of kills two birds with one stone.