How does everyone rinse their reactor?

[75galOCD]

Hello
I'm getting a reactor for carbon and I wonder what do we use to rinse out the carbon/GFO? I know ideally RO but I hate to through al that precious RO down the drain. Am I a cheap skate or would tap be OK just to rinse with? I wonder what affect the tap would have with a short exposure?
Thanks

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I used to rinse mine in the water I was taking out during a water change. I take 5 gallons out and put it in a 5 gallon bucket so it made it a good place to rinse something in saltwater at least. A good shake with the reactor or media tube in the water will get most detritus and dust buildup to come out. Not the perfect way to do it (is there even a perfect way to do anything in this hobby??) but it worked well for me.

 

[zachxlutz]

Hello
I'm getting a reactor for carbon and I wonder what do we use to rinse out the carbon/GFO? I know ideally RO but I hate to through al that precious RO down the drain. Am I a cheap skate or would tap be OK just to rinse with? I wonder what affect the tap would have with a short exposure?
Thanks

I rinse ROX carbon with tank water through the reactor. I replace the carbon and let the effluent flow into a 5 gallon bucket until it's clear. I usually don't have to rinse long as the ROX carbon has almost no fines whatsoever.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I rinse in tap water. Clormine will degrade in sunlight. I don't belive anything else will be added in any significant amounts just stuck to the acrylic.

Folks do wash their socks in the washing machine after all.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Tap water :)

 

[dealseer]

Tap water :)

Me too.

 

[75galOCD]

What a relief I never even though about using the reef water at a WC but the tap water is just right! I could rinse to my harts content!:)

 

[FirstContact]

Garden hose on the back porch.