Using GFO & Carbon in the same reactor

[Rakan_ar]

I'm planning on using Gfo and Carbon in the same reactor. However, I heard there are two ways into doing this:

1- mixing Gfo & carbon together.

2- separating them with a sponge making carbon at the top and GDP at the bottom with a space to make it tumble.

I'm leaning toward the second choice because it's better to give Gfo space to tumble but I want to know your opinion and thought about which one will work better.

 

[cginter]

Depending on your tank size and reactor your getting you may want to run 2 reactors. Carbon should be changed out every 2-3 weeks. And GFO when needed ( about once a month depending on algae build up). Also GFO needs to tumble as carbon does not. Just my two cents.

 

[bevans116]

I mix them at a 50/50 ratio and change them about once a month. Probably no the ideal way to do it but it works pretty well.

 

[Rakan_ar]

Thank you both

 

[Exodus]

This is all a personal preference. I personally am setting up the new reactor on my tank to mix both in a Mini BRS reactor for the simple reason at 30 Gallons a Dual reactor is ridiculously large for 2 containers holding a tiny amount of each taking up a lot of real estate in my cab. GFO only need to be tumbled to prevent it from solidifying, If you use 1 part GFO to 2 Parts Carbon and thoroughly mix it up there should be no way for the GFO to solidify. The downside is you are wasting GFO as you will have to change it when you change the carbon but with a small tank like mine not much is really being wasted, whereas is a larger tank you might want to consider 2 reactors. The other way people do this is by locking the Carbon in at the bottom with the dividing foam, then set the GFO on top and and set the current to tumble the GFO While it sits on top but honestly either way will do.

 

[cginter]

This is all a personal preference. I personally am setting up the new reactor on my tank to mix both in a Mini BRS reactor for the simple reason at 30 Gallons a Dual reactor is ridiculously large for 2 containers holding a tiny amount of each taking up a lot of real estate in my cab. GFO only need to be tumbled to prevent it from solidifying, If you use 1 part GFO to 2 Parts Carbon and thoroughly mix it up there should be no way for the GFO to solidify. The downside is you are wasting GFO as you will have to change it when you change the carbon but with a small tank like mine not much is really being wasted, whereas is a larger tank you might want to consider 2 reactors. The other way people do this is by locking the Carbon in at the bottom with the dividing foam, then set the GFO on top and and set the current to tumble the GFO While it sits on top but honestly either way will do.

This is all true. I run a 180g. So that is why I use different reactors to GFO/carbon. I should have stated that.

 

[AZDesertRat]

You don't list a tank size or how much media you will be using but I prefer seperate reactors fed from one pump with individual ball valves. GFO and carbon have different flow requirements and different useful lives so keeping them apart is optimal. If you use much media in one reactor you are either stretching the carbon past its prime or throwing out GFO before it is exhausted. If you are talking about a small system and minimal amounts of media then its not a big deal but for larger systems there are advantages to two reactors.

 

[Stephanie11]

The upside of a mix is less work in the future. I use brs reactors with a 2:1 ratio carbon to gfo. When using a lot I mean a cup to a cup and a half sometimes my big reactor clogs. My mini reactor has never clogged.

 

[acolotto]

You don't list a tank size or how much media you will be using but I prefer seperate reactors fed from one pump with individual ball valves. GFO and carbon have different flow requirements and different useful lives so keeping them apart is optimal. If you use much media in one reactor you are either stretching the carbon past its prime or throwing out GFO before it is exhausted. If you are talking about a small system and minimal amounts of media then its not a big deal but for larger systems there are advantages to two reactors.

+1 With reactors being very affordable now, you'll will be throwing money away over time by not fully utilizing the media, probably would be able to get away with 1 pump two reactors. Pump goes into reactor 1 (carbon) then reactor one drains into reactor 2 (GFO) then reactor 2 drains into tank/sump

 

[Rakan_ar]

Iw

You don't list a tank size or how much media you will be using but I prefer seperate reactors fed from one pump with individual ball valves. GFO and carbon have different flow requirements and different useful lives so keeping them apart is optimal. If you use much media in one reactor you are either stretching the carbon past its prime or throwing out GFO before it is exhausted. If you are talking about a small system and minimal amounts of media then its not a big deal but for larger systems there are advantages to two reactors.

I will be using BRS single reactor on 30 gallon cube with 7 gallon refugium, 37 gallon in total. So I will have a lot of space to separate the Carbon & GFO with the sponges. Putting carbon at the top and GFO at the bottom. I got the reactor today I'm just waiting on the pump. I will post updates when I install everything.