Using carbon

[msujohn]

i have a 90 gallon reef. Can I use carbon in a media bag in my sump instead of using a reactor? Would I put it in high flow or low flow area? Will it be as effective as having it in a reactor?

 

[cloak]

You can, but like you said running it passively like that won't be as effective as putting it in a reactor. Then again, running GAC is not really a necessity in a reef tank either.

 

[Oscar47f]

Yes you can use carbon and i recommend chemo pure blue but regular carbon will work great as well and a reactor is best because you get better water flow through it but a high flow area of your sump can work well too... check out brs' video on carbon and reacts its quite helpful

 

[msujohn]

I currently use a brs dual reactor for gfo and carbon. I'm just tired of all the problems I have with it ( clogging, leaking, etc). I'm looking to upgrade to a better reactor. Looking at the tlf150 (2 of these) or get a tlf550 and put both media in it. Or use carbon in a media bag. Decisions! Decisions!

 

[Bpb]

The TLf is not an upgrade btw. That's a downgrade

 

[Downbeach]

I ran the BRS single reactor's for many years without a problem. The GAC(ROX 0.8) as a down-flow, connecting the pump to the "output" side of the reactor to eliminate any movement of the media, using a Cobalt MJ 300 for flow. The GFO(BRS HC) was connected normally, as an up-flow, giving enough movement of the media to keep it from clumping, using a Cobalt MJ600. If you prefer a dual chamber reactor for GAC and GFO, I would suggest you take a look at the Spectrapure dual chamber media reactor. It's designed with the GAC side as a downflow, and the GFO side as an upflow, using ball valves to regulate the flow from a single pump.