What GFO Reactor do you use?

I use a single BRS reactor for my GFO. I chose to go with a single instead of a duel. I wanted better control of flow with a single. Mine works great. I did try mixing GFO and carbon for a while, but did not like it as the flow changed with time. So I just do GFO via single reactor and a carbon bag for carbon. I am thinking about getting another BRS single for carbon alone, just because I think it may be easier to change, than a carbon bag. Bottom line, I was concerned about water flow control with a duel reactor, you may be finding that your flow changes with time.

 

I have a dual reactor from BRS and honestly, I hate it. Ok, it is more that I hate the pump that they bundle with it. Maybe if I had a lot smaller tank (currently at 120gallon), but in order to get enough GFO in there, I pretty much fill the one canister (minus a little space for the light tumbling). Put any amount of carbon in the other canister and it sort of tumbles still, but at full flow, just barely. So I run it with the second canister empty, and it doesn't take long at all (a couple of days is all)for the flow to need to be cranked to full and after about 2 weeks, it doesn't tumble at all.

So I guess that the pump is really the issue, but if I had to do it over again, I would get two separate ones with two separately purchased pumps for a little more money, more flow, and better control.

 

The key to the design is making sure you have a constant supply pressure. I happen to use my return pump as a supply pump to a single canister. My return pump does not change the pressure (potential) even if there is some other changing restriction somewhere else in the system. The reason I did not buy a dual reactor is because of my concern with a single source, water just like anything else will take the path of least resistance. If one chamber begins to restrict flow, the other chamber will become the path of least resistance. So the change in flow in one chamber will have a direct change in flow in the other chamber. I am not 100% sure about the exact flow of the dual reactors, but is really does not matter. If they are in series or in parallel you will still get a change in flow if the other one starts to clog or restrict. I suggest if you want both GFO and Carbon, that you have them as two singles. I have a big enough return pump that I could use if to feed a pair of canisters.

 

Not sure that I follow your thought process on the path of least resistance when they are in series (through the GFO chamber first and then the carbon chamber second). I can see if there was a T-fitting that split the source to both, and then yes, if one starts to clog, it forces the water through the other chamber.

In series 100% of the water that goes into the first chamber goes into the second chamber, and 1005 of the water that makes it to the second chamber had to go through the first chamber first.


Sort of like holding a garden hose with water running. If you kink the hose, it slows or stops water from coming out. That is like what happens if the 1st chamber clogs, nothing comes out the hose just like nothing would go to the second chamber.

 

Sorry for the poor explanation. Bottom line, what I am saying, IMO is the best way to control flow through a reactor is to have it isolated and totally independent from another or second reactor. Your hose example is spot on. If one chamber starts to restrict flow, the other chamber will loose flow as well. You loose that light tumble action we desire and need. So, that is why I chose not to go with duel chamber reactors. I look at the tumble on my single GFO reactor in passing and I rarely (many weeks) have to adjust flow. I usually only have to mess with the flow when I change out the GFO. I am not helping you out though, sorry, the question is tips and tricks for a dual reactor. Hopefully someone else can pipe in and tell us how they adjust their dual reactor.

 

I think that the only real solution to an "in-series" dual reactor setup is a large enough pump to keep things moving in the GFO chamber, and then using a media bag in the 2nd chamber so that all of that flow isn't tumbling the carbon.

I agree 100% that now that I have a dual reactor that I wish it was 2 singles and better pumps.

 

You can make your dual reactor a single. Just take fitting out between the. And order a few fittings from their site. But I use the dual and have for like 2 years and no problems.I am using the mj1200 that came with it. Check in the top of the reactor where the elbow screws I. And see if anything might be stuck In there. Hope that helps

 

And you really don't need much flow through the reactor for the media to work just barely make the top of the gfo dance a bit. As long as you are getting a slow stream out its working. As you can see by your test results.

 

BRS single