Plumbing TLF Reactors - Waterflow Together or Seperate?

[Ryan-b]

Yes you are right. I should have clarified, by tumble I meant I have enough flow in the carbon reactor to lift it about 3/4 of an inch off the bottom, of the reactor. Where the water "comes through" the carbon there is a slight tumble. On the whole there is very little tumble, and next to no "tumble" in the gfo.

[FishyFishy!]

Yeah I actually have a seperate pump for each one. I just plumbed them together the other day to have less tubing everywhere. I wonder if I should go back to the regular setup, or even plumb them individually from my return pump.

When I plumb my new system, these will be running off a manifold from my return pump, so I will plumb them all seperate I think.

[scherzo]

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

When I plumb my new system, these will be running off a manifold from my return pump, so I will plumb them all seperate I think.

The more I do research the more I think I may go this route as well. Might just need a bigger return pump.

[subman]

Imho the one on the left is superior as long as you have the ball valves before each reactor. As mentioned above the two medias need different flows through them. I have the brs dual chamber reactors and I think I'm going to swap it out for 2 seperate reactors so I can adjust for optimal flow though each media. I like your idea of one pump split to the 2 reactors though.

[PFoster]

If you want an even cleaner setup bleed some water off of your return pump to feed the reactors individually.

[fishytime]

if you want proper flow to each media with only one pump then a manifold is the only way to do it......carbon and gfo have different optimal flow rates and "daisy chaining" them together doesnt work.......I've always used two separate pumps

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by fishytime

if you want proper flow to each media with only one pump then a manifold is the only way to do it......carbon and gfo have different optimal flow rates and "daisy chaining" them together doesnt work.......I've always used two separate pumps

Yeah I'm going to do the manifold in my new build for sure. But I also have 2 Reactors hooked up to my FOWLR, so I think i'm going to do a manifold for that one too. I'll just have to do some quick re-plumbing.

That being said, does GFO have to tumble?? And faster or slower flow through the carbon reactor? I use the Kent Reef Carbon, so it's bigger pellets. Right now it's got enough flow through it to lift it about 3/4" off the bottom of the reactor.

[e46er]

i have mine off a manifold from return pump works like a charm

i had issues with clumping using option 2 i vote or option 1