DIY Carbon and Phosphate Reactors

[1lucky1]

So I came across this Reactor: (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gettankedaquariums.com/index_file/Carbon%2520Reactor%2520with%2520painted%2520holes%2520picture.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.gettankedaquariums.com/index_file/DIY.File/DIY.Main.Page.htm&usg=__uq4xPjdIJ_wPzbTpN_jogBUH__k=&h=968&w=712&sz=76&hl=en&start=11&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=qDoA5rIC9lbtiM:&tbnh=148&tbnw=109&prev=/images?q%3Ddiy%2Bphosphate%2Breactor%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1T4TSHB_enUS266US266%26tbs% 3Disch:1)

I liked it, and looks easy. Does anyone run one like it?

I was thinking of building two of these one for carbon and one phosphates, but I was going to adapt them, or a version of them into my sump return pipes in the overflows. I'd have to have the overflow boxes filled up higher to get a gravity feed type action to push water into sump. Would it possibly overflow back into tank because of low flow thru the reactors? I might try it and see what happens.



Any thoughts?



Thanks!

[silentscream]

I'm not sure if I follow your plan all the way, but reactors for carbon and especially phosphate media need slower flow to work efficiently, you may overflow water because your return pump is wanting to push water faster than your reactors can accommodate. The best way to run reactors is from a separate pump in your sump, less chances of things going wrong.

[TheDean]

I'm not sure if I follow your plan all the way, but reactors for carbon and especially phosphate media need slower flow to work efficiently, you may overflow water because your return pump is wanting to push water faster than your reactors can accommodate. The best way to run reactors is from a separate pump in your sump, less chances of things going wrong.

I'm with S.S. on this one due to the fact that yes you will need less flow. Even if the return pump were to be the right flow, you cannot control the progression of build say the carbon were to seize or become clogged due to a bacterial bloom or Mr. Murphy paying a visit. Especially with the GFO, you need a slight tumble, not a tsunami. I'd spend the extra twenty and get a good, reliable, low flow pump. Have you the room in your sump for another pump?

[Tilmo2180]

Sam mentioned once putting a T on your return pipe and running a gate valve on both sides of the T. Run one back to the tank as the return and run the other one into the reactors. That way you can control the flow into the tank and into the reactor's separately. Im sure Sam could explain it a little better than me, but it seemed like a good idea.

[psykobowler]

You don't need an extra pump. Just put a t on your return and add a valve between the t and the reactor to control the flow going in the reactor.