GFO-Carbon Reactor?

Right now I'm running a canister filter with only carbon. Soon I'll add the GFO. I can't say how it works just yet, but I think it would work pretty well, which is why I planned it out this way.

 

Well i plan on leaving one of the carbon bags in there and replacing the other with GFO but I wonder if the flow of the filter will cause the GFO to rattle around and break down in to smaller particles which can cause issues...

 

GFO and carbon both need lower flows. Too much velocity and they grind to dust.
Its best to keep them in seperate bags or reactors too since they have different useful lifespans, when mixed together you either waste GFO when the carbon is exhausted or extend the run time to get the life out of GFO but have long exhausted carbon. Neither is a food idea so keep them seperate.

 

What if I just run GFO then?

 

GFO needs low flows like 40-60 GPH in a small reactor. Its very soft and does not take much agitation to grind to dust. The idea behind the reactors is they have a bottom up flow that slightly fluidizes the media for good surface contact without agitating it too much.

 

I have it in a sock in my xp4 two socks on a tray just don't pack it tight. I noticed a difference in my tank. but I am now ready for perfect so will be moving to a reactor.

 

My plan is to run them in separate filter bags within the canister. I can replace the carbon and GFO separately when needed and they wont be in contact with each other, since they are not only in separate bags but in separate compartments within the canister.

Cheers.

 

What is the flow on the canister though, 60 GPH is about tops so you will probably have to valve it back or trim the impeller to lower the flow rate. Aslo does the canister flow up from the bottom so it fluidizes the media or from the top so it makes the media stick together in a clump? You want bottom up flow.

 

It has a flow adjustment. It flows from the top to the bottom on one half, the other half flows from bottom to the top. This second half is where I plan to keep the GFO.

 

Mine is from the bottom. will be checking on the gfo tomorrow.