BRS GFO/GAC Reactor dumb question of the day

I am beginning to think that aquarium equipment just doesn't come with good directions.... or what is obvious to others just isn't obvious to me.

I bought a BRS GFO/GAC reactor. The media containers have three foam filter pads in them. One at the top, one in the cap at the bottom and one additional one in the middle. When delivered, the middle one was in the middle of the canister clocked vertically, not across the whole cannister.

The direction at BRS aren't very clear, at least for me.

So... for some reason is that the way the middle pad is supposed to be?? I would think not, but who knows.

If the middle pad is supposed to be oriented horizontally across the cannister as one would think, does the media go between the top and middle or between the middle and the cap?? I guess the answer could be different for GFO and GAC.

Sorry, never done a reactor before.

Help appreciated.

Mark

 

The middle one is optional. It is used to separate media if using 2 different kinds in the same reactor.

 

The middle pad is for carbon. You stuff the carbon all the way at the top of the bottle, and then hold it there with the sponge. You do not want the carbon to tumble, so you hold it in place.

 

Got it. Thanks.

I am slow, but I get there....

M

 

That's the dumbest question... just kiddin.
I was going to say the same as jonjon but powerman makes sense too.

 

this will answer all your questions

YouTube - BRS Reactor for Carbon and GFO

hope this helps!

 

Yeah... reactor up and running. Thanks.

I actually think my tank is "set up" with the exception of the AC Jr. controller that I ordered today. It has taken me two months, but it is starting to come together. I ABSOLUTELY could not have done this without the 3reef community.

THANKS
Mark

 

BTW --

xxTechxx, Great idea to look on YouTube... maybe I am showing my age. Never thought of that.

Av8BlueWater, Thanks for making me smile. I look forward to when I can answer questions and not just ask them. So how is your Algae Scrubber working?? Do you run a refugium/skimmer with that also??

 

jonjon is right too. Putting two medias in the same reactor is the same. Yuo want the GFO on the bottom to be able to tumble, the sponge in the middle holds the carbon up and keeps the media saperated. GFO is much harder than carbon. GFO needs to tumble to keep from sticking together. If carbon tumbles, the abrasion wears it down and releases fines. I supoe if you ran it long enough it would disapear. I use ROX, but other carbon is much softer than ROX, so it is even worse.

 

We all start in the same palce.