Carbon Reactor

[kien]

Originally Posted by htfn

I'm wondering what everyone use reactor for your carbon. I am currently using TLF 150 for vertex rox 0.8 carbon. And I hate it. Everytime I replace my carbon air lift up black sponge inside of reactor and carbon will escape into the sump. Maybe I'm not doing right but I tried very slow flow for few hours to let air goes but still same issue. Do you have any better reactor or anyone point out what I'm doing wrong.
Thanks
Hiro

Ya, I gave up on the TLF reactors too. As you said a real pain! It would just clump and clog and was a pain to refill. Like others, I just run them in a media bag now and massage the bag periodically. It's about ease of maintenance. I find media bags easier to maintain so I'm more likely to service them rather than yanking out a reactor, pump and servicing that.

[htfn]

I use to use only media bag but it was also had air issue and media bag was floating. I wasn't sure it's effective because half bottom was in the water and upper wasn't. I tied it to LR but again I wasn't sure it works. I am thinking to use BRS dual reactor but I don't want to see same problem.

[kien]

Originally Posted by htfn

I use to use only media bag but it was also had air issue and media bag was floating. I wasn't sure it's effective because half bottom was in the water and upper wasn't. I tied it to LR but again I wasn't sure it works. I am thinking to use BRS dual reactor but I don't want to see same problem.

Do you rinse the carbon before you use it? I believe it is recommended that you rinse it first. I rinse it in RO water until most of the carbon fines sink. They are filled with air pockets so that's why they float. They will sink once those air pockets fill with water. Don't rinse with dirty or tap thought. That will just end up filling those air pockets with dissolved organics and other water impurities thus utilizing your carbon before it even enters your tank :-)