Phosphate reactor - yes or no?

slower flow is best. Most GFO medias are harmful to SPS as dust (such is the rumor anyways). Higher flow areas will grind them on each other.... not much, but still. Pick a less violent flow spot within your sump or get the reactor.

 

GAC and GFO arr soft medias so will no stand much flow or they grind themselves to dust. In my nano I use a mesh bag with a little media but I place it in a medium to lower flow area so the media is not as agitated.

 

I would suggest watching the video for GFO on the bulk reef supply website. It should have a very light tumble.

 

Do you run GFO in a media bag also?
If so, I'm thinking of doing the same on my system.

 

Great question. I wonder about that as well.

 

Judging from both of his posts, that would be my first guess. I know many reefers that do run gfo just use a mesh bag same as with gac. While it may be slightly less effective, it still works. I agree with placing it in a lower flow area as that also allows longer contact time for better absorbtion of contaminants.

 

Thank you!! All your answers have been very informative

 

Yes, in my 16G nano I run small amounts of GFO and GAC in a mesh bag. I have a modified AC110 HOB refugium and stick the bag inside it towards the fare end so it receives some flow but does not grind itself up.

The disadvantage is the bags get dirty and coated with slime so need to be rinsed out or replaced more often than with a reactor where you can filter the water or choose what chamber you draw the water from in your sump such as the return chamber.

In my 100G I use two reactors manifolded together with individual valves with GFO in one and GAC in the other. They hang on the side of the sump and draw water from the return section using a MJ600 powerhead. I really like the Phosban reactors since they are smaller and clear so you can see the media much better. It doesn't take much media so most of us dont need huge reactors.