reactors

lunacris

Active member
hello all need some advise i have been looking into getting gfo and carbon reactors from brs but after looking and a little more reading i have been thinking to go bio pellets any thought if i should do all three or just the bio pellets i have read that most people that have bio pellets eventually shut down the carbon any thoughts
 
Carbon and bio pellets remove different things.I still use carbon in addition to bio pellets.
 
You still want to use carbon no matter what, it removes toxins and other stuff not related to nitrogen cycle. I was using GFO, but since I started carbon dosing using vinegar and using chaeto, I haven't needed to use GFO.
 
ok so skip gfo and get the carbon and bio pellets going thanks guys and any idea how much to start with inside the reactor
 
For bio pellets start slow,about half of recommended dose.Monitor your nitrate,if needed add more after 2 weeks.It takes time for them to work so don't rush with too much to fast.
 
thanks i read alot of people get algae outbreaks and some coral die off but then turns around how often do you replace your carbon and your pellets
 
just picked up my new bio pellet reactor from aquatica today started off slow with half a cup of bio pellets. in about two weeks ill add the additional half cup which will be 500 ml of pellets will add more as time goes on ever few months never leave that place without buying something
 
Carbon and bio pellets remove different things.I still use carbon in addition to bio pellets.

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I found that the biopellets didn't completely remove my phosphates so I run gfo and gac in 1 reactor and pellets in another.
 
thanks i read alot of people get algae outbreaks and some coral die off but then turns around how often do you replace your carbon and your pellets

Most carbon is only good for 30 days. The pellets last a long time and do not get "replaced". You will simply add more pellets to the reactor every 4-6 months or so to top it off.

I've never heard of anyone losing livestock, where'd you hear that?
 
ETR, so you have a dual BRS reactor set and run gfo/gac in one cartridge, and the bio pellets in the other? Or do you have separate reactors with pumps to each to control flow? I have enough room to run both gfo and Rox 0.8 in one cartridge, and was debating whether I should do that and buy some bio pellets for the other canister or not.
 
*no no no i havent recieved my gfo and carbon yet i am thinking of skipping on the gfo until i know for sure i will need it since the bio pellets seem to be the trickiest thing to use im going slow dont wanna loose too much none would be great if phosphates dont go to zero i will add the gfo carbon will be asap with brs single the single is more efficient ive been told for my size system
 
I was asking ETR what he is doing with his setup. I just replaced my GFO and Rox 0.8 tonight, was supposed to do it the 1st but lost track of what day it is already. I have enough room in one canister to put both the carbon and gfo, and would have the 2nd canister empty I could run pellets in if I wanted to try them out.
 
go slow as u know lps tend to be first to not be happy im looking foward to adding larger fish and more feeding gl on u set up
 
Well ive been running gfo for alil over a month and my phosphates have gone down .But now i'm going to add bio pellets just waiting for my bio pellets filters to get in i'll let you know how this turns out ..
 
ETR, so you have a dual BRS reactor set and run gfo/gac in one cartridge, and the bio pellets in the other? Or do you have separate reactors with pumps to each to control flow? I have enough room to run both gfo and Rox 0.8 in one cartridge, and was debating whether I should do that and buy some bio pellets for the other canister or not.

I have 2 separate reactors and mix my Rox 0.8 and gfo in a single reactor and use a 2nd reactor for the bp's. I replace the gfo/gac every 30 days, which is stretching the recommended 2 week lifespan of Rox, but I don't mind if I'm not running "full strength" carbon daily. In my 90 DT, I'm using two 2LF Phosban 150's, so each one has their own maxijet. I put a single BRS pellet reactor under my 75 fowlr and the thing is HUGE comapred to the amount of space a 2LF reactor takes up. I also don't like how the BRS reactors must be mounted to something outside of the sump. In my 75 fowlr, I didn't have room in the cabinet to mount a single BRS reactor, it is actually standing up IN my sump. I'd say it boils down to how much space you have (and want to use) under your tank.

Also, I've never had a dual BRS reactor so I'm not sure how well you can adjust the flow between canisters. You'll need high flow to tumble the pellets and low flow for the gfo/gac. If this can be done then I'd say you should have no problem combining your gac & gfo and use the other for bp's.
 
lil update on my biopellet adventure so fsr so good starting as slow as i did i think i missed the killing of lps all still look good and im up to 500 ml plan is to get up to 1500 which will be full prob gonna add some more today maybe 500 ml the red algae i had on my sand bed has since just about disappeared looks good so far ill be ordering carbon and wait on gfo till i see results also i have only done one water change since starting this and it was 25 gallons
 
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