GFO get's hard an won't allow water flow?

[revhtree]

I am having an issue with my GFO and how I have it set up or something. Anyway I set the flow according to the manufactures specification which is a slight tumble. After a few days it "hardens" up to where it will not let but a very little flow through and I mean very little.

Any ideas or tips?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is it in a reactor sort of set up?

I periodically readjust mine.

 

[Mike&Terry]

We speed up the flow thru our reactor once a week for a minute or two to prevent clumping and channeling.

 

[revhtree]

Yes it is in a reactor. Maybe I need a larger pump.

Terry what size reactor do you use on your big tank? How much GFO and what pump?

 

[Robink]

I'm having same problem...

 

[Robink]

brs dual reactor with the pump they recommended. small pump.

 

[Mike&Terry]

Yes it is in a reactor. Maybe I need a larger pump.

Terry what size reactor do you use on your big tank? How much GFO and what pump?

Rev, we're using the TLF Phosban 550. We plumbed in a manifold off of our return line, so no pump. Prior to that, if memory serves, we used a Maxijet 900 throttled down using the ball valve that comes with the reactor. We add approx 6 to 7 inches of GFO to the reactor. hth.

 

[revhtree]

Thanks!

 

[Up2no6ood]

I pretty much gave up on gfo for that reason. About every 4 days my gfo would turn rock hard and quit tumbling in the reactor. Funny thing is I took it off line and most my nuisance algae just died off.

 

[skiwez]

I know BRS sells their reactors to do all sorts of things, but in my experience the only thing they work well with is carbon. I too use the TLF for GFO with the maxijet and it works well, very nice fluidized tumble. I thought I remember Randy saying the GFO has the potential to accumulate calcium with may be contributing to the clumping.

Rev how often are you changing the GFO?

 

[Aquaph8]

Mine does the same of I don't crank it up a little here and there.

 

[billwill]

I used to have mine solidify when I dosed two part. Turns into a solid. Doesn't do it now with calcium reactor. How high is your alk?

 

[4FordFamily]

Yup I'm having same issue with my tlf 550 and a 150 and I dose two part

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I used to have mine solidify when I dosed two part. Turns into a solid. Doesn't do it now with calcium reactor. How high is your alk?

That is probably because the CaCO3/CO2 reactor dropped the pH, so reduced the tendency for the GFO to cause precipitation of calcium carbonate between grains.