Which reactor: BRS or TLF?

[Big_Pun]

Me neither. In fact, I'm kind of curious why it was blowing by any sponges? It's supposed to tumble, not be crammed between sponges like GAC.

I never said I cram it like carbon , it just slowly floats up and past the the upper sponge and eventually clogs the bottom filter to the point it starts to rise off the plate. the low cap is almost like a powder compared the bigger granules of high cap. for the amount I need to use my reactor isn't tall enough I guess to tumble it and keep it from going past second filter.

[Cammed_02]

never had it blow by my sponges on the tlf

How do you like your tlf reactor?

[rrasco]

I never said I cram it like carbon , it just slowly floats up and past the the upper sponge and eventually clogs the bottom filter to the point it starts to rise off the plate. the low cap is almost like a powder compared the bigger granules of high cap. for the amount I need to use my reactor isn't tall enough I guess to tumble it and keep it from going past second filter.

I didn't mean to imply you did, just creating a visual. My GFO doesn't float at all, but I use like 1/4 - 1/2 inch of low cap. The first time I used it I put half of the recommended amount, which was like 1 1/2 - 2" and it severely ticked off pretty much everything in my tank. Took me forever to get them happy again. I just keep it at a mild tumble where only the surface layer bounces around.

[350gt]

where does it mention to measure by the inch? On my tank... BRS recommended a little over a cup, I did a cup. On ROWAPHOS, what Im using now, it said 100 ML for 100 gallons, so thats what I used even though my tank is bigger with sump and all...

[rrasco]

It doesn't, I was using it for a reference relative to the size of the reactor. I don't remember what they recommended or how much the measurement was, so I just took a stab at how much I thought was in there. When I started back up, I just put very little because at that point I was throwing their recommendation out the window. I doubled it after a few weeks, and I'll up it a little more next time too. Just easing things on.

[350gt]

ahh okay...lol


man I bought this ROWA stuff from louis, he got it on a special order that wasnt picked up..... I am really liking it, my phosphates dropped drastically overnight almost...... and no ill effects..

I hope he carries it, I will buy....

[rrasco]

I've heard of that, but not looked into it. Are they like bio pellets? Carbon dosing?

I just looked it up, seems to be a phosphate and silicate remover? What improvements have you noted?

[350gt]

no improvements visually.... My tank has always been algae free for the most part. But I tested I want to say monday night with a cheap API test kit and it was a teal color. I checked today and it was clear with just a tiny hint of yellow, barely noticeable.....

I know, no numbers.... But API SUCK but are great for reference... I will probably scoop up a better phosphate test soon.

[rrasco]

Everything is relative; based on your test you can determine there was a reduction in po4. I personally don't believe a phosphate test can be accurate in most situations, just because if you have algae, you will still get a low reading. My tank was reading 0.03 on a Hanna, which is where most people would say is ideal, but you could clearly look at it and determine there was more in there, or there would not have been GHA all over the place. Finally getting that back under control though.

[350gt]

What do you think was attributing to the GHA?.....


This tank has been up for over 2 years now and never had a issue with GHA or any other forms of algae.. Besides my little stint with cyano not to long ago, which was because my reduction in water chamges(trying to be lazy).... Lol