Why Does My GFO Do This?

[justdeb1107]

Why do my GFO granules do this? Tumbling on the bottom and a big clump on top? I finally put a filter sponge on top of the media because the top of the cartridge clogs with fines and eventually I lose most of my water flow through the chambers. Do I need to try a different kind of granule? This is Phosban. I read somewhere about someone using pelleted GFO. Would that work better in a media reactor?

 

[Formulator]

Do you have a 500 gallon tank? Part of your problem is that is a massive amount of GFO. I use about half that or less in a 120g system. Then its a matter of tuning the flow to the right level. You need a valve before the filter to adjust.

 

[EricR]

No idea since I don't have a reactor but would wonder about how flow dynamics inside a canister like that actually behave.
My color changing DI resin (in my RO/DI sys) always seem to deplete from the top and the bottom, sorta similar to your GFO accumulations.

 

[justdeb1107]

Do you have a 500 gallon tank? Part of your problem is that is a massive amount of GFO. I use about half that or less in a 120g system. Then its a matter of tuning the flow to the right level. You need a valve before the filter to adjust.

I have a 210 gallon. Went by the amount of GFO it said to use in the Phosban directions. And, yes, a valve would help. There is one, but it won't fit on the line I have on the pump. My Sicce 2.0 was supposed to come with the correct adapter that would fit my line but it didn't. That said, I thought the GFO was clogging due to too little flow, so I appreciate your input. Thanks!

 

[justdeb1107]

No idea since I don't have a reactor but would wonder about how flow dynamics inside a canister like that actually behave.
My color changing DI resin (in my RO/DI sys) always seem to deplete from the top and the bottom, sorta similar to your GFO accumulations.

Hmm, that is very interesting.

 

[Formulator]

I have a 210 gallon. Went by the amount of GFO it said to use in the Phosban directions. And, yes, a valve would help. There is one, but it won't fit on the line I have on the pump. My Sicce 2.0 was supposed to come with the correct adapter that would fit my line but it didn't. That said, I thought the GFO was clogging due to too little flow, so I appreciate your input. Thanks!

It does that when there is too much flow. And it kind of gets stuck there so you have to turn the flow off for a few minutes and tap it a little to get it to fall back down to the bottom. Then start it back up with less flow. I use a valve and start with it closed, then slowly open the valve until it is just starting to tumble at the top like a nice rolling boil.

 

[justdeb1107]

It does that when there is too much flow. And it kind of gets stuck there so you have to turn the flow off for a few minutes and tap it a little to get it to fall back down to the bottom. Then start it back up with less flow. I use a valve and start with it closed, then slowly open the valve until it is just starting to tumble at the top like a nice rolling boil.

Awesome, that was the exact info I was hoping for. Thanks!

 

[DED65]

Since you have a Sicce 2.0, have you closed off the flow all of the way to see if that helps?

 

[Formulator]

Awesome, that was the exact info I was hoping for. Thanks!

No problem. It is also harder to dial in with a lot of media, so if you still have an issue when using a valve you may just need to split it into 2 reactors for your large tank. I’m betting the valve will do the trick though.

 

[Waters]

I agree with @Formulator .....I also agree that it appears to be a lot of GFO. I would start with half the recommended dosage and test your water. GFO strips phosphates pretty quickly.

 

[justdeb1107]

Since you have a Sicce 2.0, have you closed off the flow all of the way to see if that helps?

No, I don't have a valve on the line. Went to two different places today to find one and struck out at both. Probably need to order.

 

[DED65]

No, I don't have a valve on the line. Went to two different places today to find one and struck out at both. Probably need to order.

I meant did you turn the pump all of the way down. The dial on the front of the pump will either open the flow or close it to limit the flow. If you remove the first cover, you can see how far it is opened.

 

[DED65]

 

[justdeb1107]

No, I don't have a valve on the line. Went to two different places today to find one and struck out at both. Probably need to order.

I meant did you turn the pump all of the way down. The dial on the front of the pump will either open the flow or close it to limit the flow. If you remove the first cover, you can see how far it is opened.

No, but I will. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Formulator]

I use the same pump and still need the valve to restrict the flow even more than all the way closed on the pump. But you have it packed with more GFO, so worth a try. This is the valve I use that also comes with the BRS reactors: In-Line Ball Valve

 

[DED65]

I use the same pump and still need the valve to restrict the flow even more than all the way closed on the pump. But you have it packed with more GFO, so worth a try. This is the valve I use that also comes with the BRS reactors: In-Line Ball Valve

Yes, I do the same with my reactor. Just trying to help out for the time being. Amazon has ball valves too, they might get it to you a little quicker!

 

[justdeb1107]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the help.

 

[justdeb1107]

I was finally able to get a valve that fit my tubing size, and thanks to everyone's help, my GFO is tumbling instead of clumping. THANK YOU!