BRS GFO REACTOR

[Silvanna79]

I have the BRS GFO DELUXE and it keeps clumping the GFO. Somehow the GFO got pushed under the sponge. I have the flow all the way up but when it was lower it would tumble for a bit and then clump.

 

[cdemoss01]

Bumping hoping someone has had something similar to this?

 

[BryanM]

Its a wild ride trying to get the GFO just right.

Full on flow for me pushed all the GFO to the top of the reactor.

It was very finicky to get the tumble just right. I lean towards the side of more aggressive flow through the GFO, but not so much that it pushes the product up to the top of the reactor.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Back in the day got tired of trying to keep gfo suspended and floating around in a reactor. It’s so much easier (for me but I’m weird) to just mix gfo in with carbon and completely fill the reactor. No messing with flow or pulling one’s hair out trying to keep the gfo moving.

 

[Silvanna79]

Bumping hoping someone has had something similar to this?

Thanks.

 

[Silvanna79]

Back in the day got tired of trying to keep gfo suspended and floating around in a reactor. It’s so much easier (for me but I’m weird) to just mix gfo in with carbon and completely fill the reactor. No messing with flow or pulling one’s hair out trying to keep the gfo moving.

You just add both to a reactor and it works for you? Mine used to tumble. I am not sure what the heck is going on.

 

[Silvanna79]

Its a wild ride trying to get the GFO just right.

Full on flow for me pushed all the GFO to the top of the reactor.

It was very finicky to get the tumble just right. I lean towards the side of more aggressive flow through the GFO, but not so much that it pushes the product up to the top of the reactor.

I have the valve pretty open. Maybe I need to adjust the flow on the pump as well? It used to work seamlessly and now it doesn’t. I even removed the bottom sponge.

 

[LeftyReefer]

I have a (variable) DC pump on my reactor and then have an adjustable gate valve on the inlet of the reactor.
between the variable pump and the gate valve, you should be able to dial in just enough flow to keep your GFO (or any media) tumbling.

I use a cheap reactor and with this setup, mine works fine. no clumping.

Are you using standard GFO or HC GFO?

I use both HC GFO and AquaForest Phosphate Minus in my reactor and both tumble equally fine using the above setup.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

You just add both to a reactor and it works for you? Mine used to tumble. I am not sure what the heck is going on.

Yeah, no problems at all. About 2-1 carbon to gfo, intermixed, no tumbling so either fill the reactor completely or add extra sponges to keep everything confined.

Here’s a link to the brs reactor setup page. They describe the pros and cons of mixing both carbon and gfo in the same reactor.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...SQ-P7NhdkaIkBi5m-NOHH3XIRyjlHgNRfQTAW-VPH6qmS
To your point about it working fine in the past but not now. Are you using more gfo in the reactor than before? Maybe there’s too much for the pump to tumble it. You also mentioned gfo particles making it past the sponge. Maybe it’s time for new sponges? Do they still fit snugly or are they loose within the reactor? Only other thing I can think of is a change in flow rate. Maybe the pump needs to be cleaned, the cartridge could not be seating fully, or there is an obstruction somewhere

 

[BryanM]

I have the valve pretty open. Maybe I need to adjust the flow on the pump as well? It used to work seamlessly and now it doesn’t. I even removed the bottom sponge.

I think you could also try running maybe 1/3rd less GFO and see if that helps. Obviously it would need to be changed more, but if it works it would be worth it.

 

[Silvanna79]

I have a (variable) DC pump on my reactor and then have an adjustable gate valve on the inlet of the reactor.
between the variable pump and the gate valve, you should be able to dial in just enough flow to keep your GFO (or any media) tumbling.

I use a cheap reactor and with this setup, mine works fine. no clumping.

Are you using standard GFO or HC GFO?

I use both HC GFO and AquaForest Phosphate Minus in my reactor and both tumble equally fine using the above setup.

I don’t have HC GFO, just AF. Currently using a SICCE 1.5 on it. Currently only top sponge on to prevent particles from ending up in tank. I will adjust the flow om the pump and see if that helps.

 

[Silvanna79]

Yeah, no problems at all. About 2-1 carbon to gfo, intermixed, no tumbling so either fill the reactor completely or add extra sponges to keep everything confined.

Here’s a link to the brs reactor setup page. They describe the pros and cons of mixing both carbon and gfo in the same reactor.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...SQ-P7NhdkaIkBi5m-NOHH3XIRyjlHgNRfQTAW-VPH6qmS
To your point about it working fine in the past but not now. Are you using more gfo in the reactor than before? Maybe there’s too much for the pump to tumble it. You also mentioned gfo particles making it past the sponge. Maybe it’s time for new sponges? Do they still fit snugly or are they loose within the reactor? Only other thing I can think of is a change in flow rate. Maybe the pump needs to be cleaned, the cartridge could not be seating fully, or there is an obstruction somewhere

Yes, I am using more GFO. I cleaned the pump a few days ago, the sponges fit snuggly still but I have extras on hand and will try swapping them after I adjust the pump flow. Do you use sponges with your GFO?
I read somewhere to take them out for GFO.

 

[Silvanna79]

I think you could also try running maybe 1/3rd less GFO and see if that helps. Obviously it would need to be changed more, but if it works it would be worth it.

I will try that if increasing pump flow does not help.