Rowa phos and carbon

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

+1

They should both have different flow through them to optimize their potential. Slower flow through carbon (no tumbling), and higher flow (tumbling) for rowa.

You could use the reactor for the rowa, and then a sock/bag for the carbon and place it in your sump.

I have heard this said many times, and maybe it is ideal to have them separate. But I can say, too, that it definitely works just fine to have both on the same flow.

I use a DIY reactor (using three old RO canisters), with a prefilter in the 1st, carbon in the 2nd, and HC GFO in the 3rd. I have a line T'ed off my return pump and control the flow with a ball valve. I have it set to have the GFO just at the edge of a tumble, while the carbon does not tumble.

Here is a link and pic of my set-up. Works great for me, and very quick and easy to change the media. I had to also modify the internal refillable media cartridges to remove their fine filters.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...=102101&page=2

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

I have heard this said many times, and maybe it is ideal to have them separate. But I can say, too, that it definitely works just fine to have both on the same flow.

Don't get me wrong, you can certainly do it. There won't be a chemical reaction or anything, and I have done this as well. However, with a single reactor, its just plain annoying. Your design incorperates two different reactor chambers for each media, so changing media is a lot easier, and can be done at different times.

The big thing here is that they will deplete at different times, and could be more costly if put in the same reactor when loose (Rowa is not cheap! and will deplete slower than carbon). If you were to seperate them (or one) media into a bag, it might work better, so that you can change them at different times if need be.

Can it be done? YES

Is it the most cost efficient, convenient, and optimum use of the media? NO

[Reef Pilot]

Yes, I change my media at different times. And I agree there could be some wastage if you have them both in the same reactor and change them together.

[Magickiwi]

It just saves the hassle if you have the carbon in a media bag. Take your bag out, rinse it off change the carbon and toss it back in. Or like was said just toss the bag into your sump and not have to deal with it at all.

[Reeferluke]

Thanks for the info. If I'm just going to burn thru rowa on every change of the carbon, then I be better off with another TLF.

[The Guy]

Originally Posted by Reeferluke

Thanks for the info. If I'm just going to burn thru rowa on every change of the carbon, then I be better off with another TLF.

I run 2 separate reactor's for carbon & Rowa phos. I change out the carbon once a month, Rowa phos every 6-8 weeks depending on my level of phosphates.