How long do you run your carbon reactor?

[Reef Jedi]

I’ve been researching and debating running my carbon reactor 24/7 vs a timed schedule. I’ve been reading that it’s not necessary to run it all the time and scheduling a couple hours a day works just as well but allows you to run the carbon longer without having to change it out as often. I have the BRS small reactor and I’m using Rox .8 carbon.

I wanted to get the community’s experience and thoughts on what works for you and what doesn’t.

 

[56longroof]

24/7. My thinking is the waste is accumulating 24/7. It really doesn't take alot of the Rox per gallon so the cost saving would be minimal. There are other areas alot more feasible to cut costs in my opinion.

 

[X-37B]

I have ran carbon in a reactor 24/7
when running a no3 reactor. I have used a dedicated media reactor many times before also.
I now find that carbon in a nylon bag is my preferred method for the use of carbon.
It's simple to employ and change when needed.
I run carbon 24/7 in all systems and generally follow the rox recommended amounts.

 

[Reef Jedi]

I have ran carbon in a reactor 24/7
when running a no3 reactor. I have used a dedicated media reactor many times before also.
I now find that carbon in a nylon bag is my preferred method for the use of carbon.
It's simple to employ and change when needed.
I run carbon 24/7 in all systems and generally follow the rox recommended amounts.

Curious why you went back to a bag? I switched from the bag system on the rollermat tray and moved to a dedicated reactor. I know water needs to be forced over all surfaces of the carbon to be most effective but do you think your turn over rate is slow enough to allow that longer contact time?

 

[NeedAReef]

24x7 and change carbon each month on the 1st

 

[X-37B]

Curious why you went back to a bag? I switched from the bag system on the rollermat tray and moved to a dedicated reactor. I know water needs to be forced over all surfaces of the carbon to be most effective but do you think your turn over rate is slow enough to allow that longer contact time?

Turnover rate I'm my sump is around 2-3x system volume of 150g's.
I got tired of changing the reactor out so I went back to bags. I see no real difference either way.
Most of the water goes over/through the bag in my 2 IM ext's. This is more efficient than dropping it one of the 400 micron mesh bags, imo.
As you can see in the pic overflow water passes over and through the carbon bag. If I drop on into a mesh bag it gets coated pretty fast with debris. I run gfo the same way when needed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not see the desirability of anything except 24/7. Stagnant water in a reactor is not a desirable thing.

One can use as much or as little as you want. If you believe you do not need a lot, don’t use a lot.

I currently use GAC passively is a mesh bag that is part of my Tunze skimmer. I use ROX 0.8, and plan to swap it out every couple of weeks.

 

[NeedAReef]

agree no stagnant water in a reactor...oooohh that smell

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I run CAC 24/7 and change it every 30 days.
I run Rox in my ozone reactors output chamber. I don’t change that super often. My reactor runs 5 minutes every 60 minutes (OCS).