GFO and Carbon - single reactor

[CRW Reef]

Anyone running GFO and Carbon in a single reactor? Any disadvantages other than carbon being exhausted faster than GFO?

 

[Andrew_bram]

I think you get better with seperate but i have used that clear fx and loved it and that has both in a single bag. What is the worst that could happen. I mean if you look at it your using way less gfo than normal so it really isnt that much of a waste.

 

[CRW Reef]

Ya I have a spectrapure dual reactor but tight on space under my stand (pain in rear to change canisters). So got the BRS mini reactor to save space. Agreed Gfo isn't to expensive and neither is carbon but wanted to see if there was any disadvantage to gfo not tumbling what so ever.

 

[Andrew_bram]

Ya I have a spectrapure dual reactor but tight on space under my stand (pain in rear to change canisters). So got the BRS mini reactor to save space. Agreed Gfo isn't to expensive and neither is carbon but wanted to see if there was any disadvantage to gfo not tumbling what so ever.

Sure gfo wont be as effecient but i think it would be ok. Just my .02

 

[FishTV]

Hi cap gfo is more expensive, but doesn't get tumbled. I think for the most part, if mixed with carbon, regular gfo doesn't need tumbling. Tumbling really just helps it from clogging imo. With it mixed with the carbon, not tumbling will help reduce fines being released also.

 

[clowninaround7474]

I run carbon and GFO mixed together in a single reactor and don't have any issues.

 

[SynDen]

The only real drawbacks to a single reactor that I can think of are :
- You have to change the gfo more often. When the reactor is separate you can usually get gfo to last quite a bit longer then carbon, so in the long run you use less gfo. But in a single you have to change when the carbon runs out.
- You cant flow as much water through the carbon as you can if you separate because you dont want the gfo to tumble much at all with the carbon or it will break up into mush.

 

[Jeremiah]

I run both in my reactor....both are high quality and I let them slow tumble. Never. Noticed any issues, as for breaking up during tumble....no issues..

 

[CRW Reef]

Thank you everyone for your input I greatly appreciate it.

I decide to run a combined reactor and used Spectrapure spectrazorb phosphate removal media and Spectrapure spectrazorb granulated active carbon

 

[Balz3352]

I noticed a huge difference in reduction of phosphates when I switched from mixed gfo and carbon to separate. That's a big contributing factor of what caused my mini phosphate crash.