GFO Reactors - Help

It seems to me like you already have an amount that you use that's working for you. If it's getting the job done and not causing anything bad to happen, I would go with what works. Are you seeing nuisance algae or a phosphate issue? If you're still using the same product, I wouldn't change the amount that you're using.

Also, not all phosphate reducer products are the same. Some are mixed with carbon and other stuff and require that you use more. If you do decide to change the phosphate reducer product that you use, go back to the vendors recommendation based on your water volume. With BRS, they have different granule sizes and that may matter too. I've heard that if you use way too much, you can do bad things to your tank. One guy (that I know of) on NanoReefs blames a tank crash that he had on using an excess amount of GFO. Maybe right, maybe not...but it certainly makes me thing twice about varying significantly from the vendor guidelines.

Long story short, if you have a amount that's proven to be working for you, stick with it. Best case scenario, you're using less than the vendor recommended amount but still getting the job done. You're saving money on product. Worst case scenario, you don't get all the phosphates out, you grow a little algae, and re-evaluate the amount that you're using and increase it a bit.

Just my two cents.

--AJ

 

Yeah, test kits can only go so far when it comes to phosphates because the nuisance algae gobbles it up. Based on the product that you're using, how much does it recommend that you should be using for your water volume and how does that compare to how much you're using? If you're using less than the recommended amount, increase it and see if it makes a difference. Try to find a way that you can benchmark things For example, clean out your overflow and watch to see how much grows in two weeks using your current amount. Then increase that amount and repeat the process. If you're getting less growth and everything in your tank is still doing good, you may even want to try again and increase a little more.

What are you growing for macro in your sump?

--AJ

 

Speaking of nitrate reactor...which one do you use and have you been happy with it?

--AJ

 

I've heard good things about those reactors. Thanks for sharing your experiences with it.

--AJ

 

I put two times the monthy dose so I only have to change it every other month. Never been a problem.

 

i will second the mw sulfer denitrators i also have the xl on my 450+ gal system and it works perfectly. I plan on making a sulfer denitrator for my brother for xmas i am just going to use the bulk reef dual phos reactor and fill the first chamber with sulfer pellets and the second chamber with calcium media and then down size the input and output lines to 1/4 inch and hook a aqua lifter to the input and a 1/4 needle valve on the out put to control flow rate it won't have a circulation pump tlike the midwest aquatics does but my brothers tank is only 40 gallons so it should be fine

 

recommended dose is 1 gram per gallon.  the TLF 150 holds 150 g, and is therefore rated for a 150 gallon tank.  the top of the media should be gently tumbling (hence the term 'fluidized reactor') to keep from clumping.