TLF Reactor Questions?

[GeoHawk]

I am picking up a TLF reactor from a local hobbyist, and I am trying to decide if I should pick up 2 of them. I am planning on running ROWAPHOS in one of them, but what I don't know is if I should get another one to run carbon. I currently have my carbon in a filter sock. My tank is a 60 gallon cube.

 

[GeoHawk]

Any opinions?

 

[Cyber-Burn]

If you are going to run Carbon you will benefit form running it in a media reactor such as a TLF reactor. Running it so that the media does not fracture is the key. Carbon fines in the aquarium are not good. A gentle flow will allow a good contact time with the carbon. Running it in a filter sock is fine, but does not provide as much contact time.

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

I would pickup both them if your getting a good deal on them used. Can always use another in the future for GFO or something else.

 

[GeoHawk]

Can you run them both off a single pump if you T the tubing off?

 

[swannyson7]

Yep, if it's a big enough pump. You could also run the outlet from one reactor to the inlet for the 2nd reactor.

 

[Paintguy 209]

I am running 2 TLF reactors right now, and they are running on 1 maxijet 1200 and controlled by two ball valves and are doing fine. But connecting one to the other is a great idea to reduce the amount of tubing running through your sump.

 

[Cyber-Burn]

Yep, if it's a big enough pump. You could also run the outlet from one reactor to the inlet for the 2nd reactor.

That is how I have my reactors setup currently. I run my pump to the GFO first as that is more delicate and likely to fracture in high flow and set the flow rate according to the flow in the GFO reactor.

The only problem is sometimes when you turn on the pump all the air from the lines in the first reactor will go to the second reactor. I have had to burp the air out of the reactor before by turning them a bit so that all the air escapes or sometimes it does not want to start.

 

[jr999]

I run 2 off the same pump MJ 1200 also. Pump to inlet reactor 1 (gfo), outlet R1 to inlet R2 (carbon) and outlet R2 into sump. Using enough tubing to give you 4-5" of space between reactors makes it easier to unscrew main body for replacing media for me. I keep 2 extra reactors of carbon and 1 of gfo rinsed out, with the lids on and submerged in RO/DI ready to go. Just have to remove spent media and screw in new.

Few things I figured out over the years to make filling reactors easier:

- the cardboard cone of a paper towel roll or extra piece of .75 or 1" PVC pipe makes sliding the foam disk down to the bottom of the reactor a breeze

- cutting the bottom off a dollar store funnel helps getting media into the reactor

-the cap off a certain lip balm has the perfect inside dia. to cap the inside tube of the reactor to keep media out while filling

 

[AZDesertRat]

I run two Phosban reactors off a single MJ400 powerhead running in to a tee then splitting off to each reactor with their own ball valves on the outlets. GFO and carbon both have different useful lives and different suggested flow rates so being able to control each individually is a big plus.

 

[turfster26]

I run two Phosban reactors off a single MJ400 powerhead running in to a tee then splitting off to each reactor with their own ball valves on the outlets. GFO and carbon both have different useful lives and different suggested flow rates so being able to control each individually is a big plus.

GREAT idea running them to a tee first and then to each reactor.

What size 'T' do you use? And where and/or what ballvalves do you use?

Many thanks for the great tip........

 

[AZDesertRat]

The TLF reactors come standard with a ball valve. I use the same size barbed tee as the lines that come on the reactors, I think its like 3/8" or 1/2" ID. Lowes and HD have barbed tees that size in the plumbing section or even where the drip irrigation and sprinklers are.