Reactor media question

[JonPhillips]

Have a two little fishes reactor 150. In your opinion, what media/cycles of media will be most helpful?


My tank is 65g. decent amount of live rock. sump with live rock currently in it. stocked with coral beauty, lemon peel, two clowns, mandarin, scooter, peppermint shrimp, crabs, snails.

looking to grow soft and hard corals...

 

[Waters]

I have always ran both GFO and Carbon. I guess it depends on what you are trying to achieve? Do you have an algae/phosphates issue? If not, then I would just run carbon for water clarity and to keep any soft coral attacks at bay :-)

 

[JonPhillips]

I have always ran both GFO and Carbon. I guess it depends on what you are trying to achieve? Do you have an algae/phosphates issue? If not, then I would just run carbon for water clarity and to keep any soft coral attacks at bay :)

Good advice. Thank you. trying to achieve the most colorful reef possible. No problems currently. Guess I am actually faking it right now as my tank if FOWLR. Planning to try coral, just don't want to kill them right off the bat...

 

[Waters]

Sounds like you are in good shape.....ideally it is a good idea to at least have the availability of both carbon and GFO to combat any future problems.

 

[Porkchopz]

Some run both in the same reactor... that being carbon and GFO. I think if I could only run one though I'd run carbon or a mix.

-Porkchopz

 

[JPSika08]

Problem of using one reactor for both media is that Carbon has to be changed sooner than GFO so it's a hassle changing it, also, GFO is requires tumble a little and Carbon doesn't, managing flow is achievable but more difficult to achieve in one chamber.

In my tank as it's new, I'm just running carbon, just letting nature take its course, once I have a more established system, if phosphates are still a problem, I'm just 1 turning valve away to kick start the GFO reactor.

My suggestion would be, get a good phosphate test kit and apply GFO only if needed.

 

[JonPhillips]

Problem of using one reactor for both media is that Carbon has to be changed sooner than GFO so it's a hassle changing it, also, GFO is requires tumble a little and Carbon doesn't, managing flow is achievable but more difficult to achieve in one chamber.

In my tank as it's new, I'm just running carbon, just letting nature take its course, once I have a more established system, if phosphates are still a problem, I'm just 1 turning valve away to kick start the GFO reactor.

My suggestion would be, get a good phosphate test kit and apply GFO only if needed.

Thanks, man. Appreciated your youtube video on this subject as well. Very helpful!

 

[JonPhillips]

Some run both in the same reactor... that being carbon and GFO. I think if I could only run one though I'd run carbon or a mix.

-Porkchopz

Great idea!

 

[JonPhillips]

Sounds like you are in good shape.....ideally it is a good idea to at least have the availability of both carbon and GFO to combat any future problems.

Yup. Getting stocked up!