Jump to content
Premium Aquatics Aquarium Supplies

Minimax Carbon + GFO amount in 10g


Starrkie

Recommended Posts

Hey there fellow reefers! I'm a newbie reefer that's been reefing for around half a year now and started with a IM fusion 10g tank. I recently decided to purchase the IM minimax reactor, and I'm not sure how much GFO and Carbon I should add to the reactor. I checked out the reef calculator from BRS, and it said that around 2 Tablespoons of GFO should be used for a 10g. So, my question is whether or not 2 tablespoons sound reasonable. Also, If i were to add carbon into the reactor, how much carbon should I add on top of the 2 tablespoons of GFO. Thanks guys :):)

Link to comment

Well, I have one of those reactors and love it!!! However, I was told you can't really run both carbon and GFO together because GFO likes to tumble and carbon doesn't as carbon will disintegrate/break up with tumbling. BUT a good person to ask is Sk8n Reefer. He has a 16 gallon and runs both GFO and carbon I believe. He may actually state how much he runs in his thread as well.

Link to comment

Well, I have one of those reactors and love it!!! However, I was told you can't really run both carbon and GFO together because GFO likes to tumble and carbon doesn't as carbon will disintegrate/break up with tumbling. BUT a good person to ask is Sk8n Reefer. He has a 16 gallon and runs both GFO and carbon I believe. He may actually state how much he runs in his thread as well.

 

Thanks for the swift response! I just messaged Sk8n Reefer and linked him to this thread. Hopefully he can give us some insight as to our question and to help other fellow reefers with the same problem.

Link to comment

Hey there Starrkie, yes I do run both on my Nuvo 16 in the minimax. It can tricky so here's how I do it. Other people do mix them together but as Stellablue said the GFO will break down the carbon into dust if it tumbles. Then that carbon can be released into the tank. I run them separate- this will be pretty detailed so bare with me.

 

Two tablespoons of GFO is similar to what I use. I use teaspoons because the size of the spoon is easier to place the media. Using smaller amounts of GFO is better because it reduces at a slower rate which is safer and then when you change it it's not a huge change in the water chemistry. your phosphate levels will dictate how long you use the GFO - continiously until it is under control then for a week or two at a time to keep phosphates around .02-.04- that's the levels that have been successful for me. Some corals (SPS) prefer a little phosphate

 

1. Place the reactor in the tank and take the chamber out and dry the inside completely. Dry the sponges completely. Work at a sink area. Have a container or glass of RO/DI water (RO is fine) ready to rinse the media. A roll or a few sheets of paper towels is helpful.

2. Place one of the sponges in the bottom and scoop in your GFO. Let's start with 3 teaspoons

3. Now turn on the hot water in the sink to rinse the chamber with GFO in. I turn on the hot water cause the GFO media can stain the sink when rinsing. Now pour a little bit of RO water in the chamber and let it drain out into the sink with water running? Do this until the water out of the chamber is clear. Usually only takes 2-4 little pours until it's clear. You only need to fill about an inch of water above the GFO to rinse.

4. Now take a paper towel and dry out the chamber above the GFO. This is important to keep the other sponges in place.

5. Now take another sponge and place it about 3 -4" below the top- this will be the carbon area. Place it level to hold the carbon. I also place the top on temporarily to gauge where this sponge should go- you'll want 3 teaspoons of carbon also. It's better to place it to high- then you can gently place it farther down once you place the carbon/sponge and the top. This will also make a 3-4" area for the GFO to tumble.

6. Now GENTLY place the carbon in place. About 3 teaspoons. This is the tricky part- if the chamber/sponges are wet they won't stay in place. If it falls down just empty and start over- don't waist your time trying to save the media- it's too frustrating

7. Now this is tricky also- you'll need to rinse the carbon. Gently pour very little water over the carbon and let it rinse through the chamber and through the GFO and out again into the sink with warm running water. Do this about 2-3 times- GENTLY- you can knock the whole sponge/carbon loose.

8. Now place an additional sponge above the carbon and GENTLY place the top on. When placing the top it can push the carbon down slightly to fit so just be gentle with it.

9. Now you can place the chamber back in the reactor and turn the pump on for about 2-3 seconds- shut it off for another 2-3 seconds then turn bak on and your done. What this does is when you first turn the reactor on the GFO rushes to the top where the sponge/carbon is. I found by shutting it off after a few seconds it settles then when you turn it back on its tumbling correctly.

 

Shine a light down into the side of the reactor to check on the tumble. I tend to turn the reactor very slightly daily to keep the tumble going. Lifting the reactor out of the chamber fir a second will also cause better tumble so Imwill do that every few days. It tends to stop tumbling after about 5-6 days and I will run it for an additional few days then either remove or remove and replace depending on the phosphate levels.

 

To change its easy to remove and place into a plastic bag and shake the media loose- collect the sponges clean and rinse the chamber - dry chamber and sponge and you are ready to go. This sounds like a big job but really only takes 10 min. at most. Hope this helps let me know if you have any questions- most likely I am off line all day tomorrow having surgery but I will be back on Friday......good luck!

Link to comment

Hey there Starrkie, yes I do run both on my Nuvo 16 in the minimax. It can tricky so here's how I do it. Other people do mix them together but as Stellablue said the GFO will break down the carbon into dust if it tumbles. Then that carbon can be released into the tank. I run them separate- this will be pretty detailed so bare with me.

 

Two tablespoons of GFO is similar to what I use. I use teaspoons because the size of the spoon is easier to place the media. Using smaller amounts of GFO is better because it reduces at a slower rate which is safer and then when you change it it's not a huge change in the water chemistry. your phosphate levels will dictate how long you use the GFO - continiously until it is under control then for a week or two at a time to keep phosphates around .02-.04- that's the levels that have been successful for me. Some corals (SPS) prefer a little phosphate

 

1. Place the reactor in the tank and take the chamber out and dry the inside completely. Dry the sponges completely. Work at a sink area. Have a container or glass of RO/DI water (RO is fine) ready to rinse the media. A roll or a few sheets of paper towels is helpful.

2. Place one of the sponges in the bottom and scoop in your GFO. Let's start with 3 teaspoons

3. Now turn on the hot water in the sink to rinse the chamber with GFO in. I turn on the hot water cause the GFO media can stain the sink when rinsing. Now pour a little bit of RO water in the chamber and let it drain out into the sink with water running? Do this until the water out of the chamber is clear. Usually only takes 2-4 little pours until it's clear. You only need to fill about an inch of water above the GFO to rinse.

4. Now take a paper towel and dry out the chamber above the GFO. This is important to keep the other sponges in place.

5. Now take another sponge and place it about 3 -4" below the top- this will be the carbon area. Place it level to hold the carbon. I also place the top on temporarily to gauge where this sponge should go- you'll want 3 teaspoons of carbon also. It's better to place it to high- then you can gently place it farther down once you place the carbon/sponge and the top. This will also make a 3-4" area for the GFO to tumble.

6. Now GENTLY place the carbon in place. About 3 teaspoons. This is the tricky part- if the chamber/sponges are wet they won't stay in place. If it falls down just empty and start over- don't waist your time trying to save the media- it's too frustrating

7. Now this is tricky also- you'll need to rinse the carbon. Gently pour very little water over the carbon and let it rinse through the chamber and through the GFO and out again into the sink with warm running water. Do this about 2-3 times- GENTLY- you can knock the whole sponge/carbon loose.

8. Now place an additional sponge above the carbon and GENTLY place the top on. When placing the top it can push the carbon down slightly to fit so just be gentle with it.

9. Now you can place the chamber back in the reactor and turn the pump on for about 2-3 seconds- shut it off for another 2-3 seconds then turn bak on and your done. What this does is when you first turn the reactor on the GFO rushes to the top where the sponge/carbon is. I found by shutting it off after a few seconds it settles then when you turn it back on its tumbling correctly.

 

Shine a light down into the side of the reactor to check on the tumble. I tend to turn the reactor very slightly daily to keep the tumble going. Lifting the reactor out of the chamber fir a second will also cause better tumble so Imwill do that every few days. It tends to stop tumbling after about 5-6 days and I will run it for an additional few days then either remove or remove and replace depending on the phosphate levels.

 

To change its easy to remove and place into a plastic bag and shake the media loose- collect the sponges clean and rinse the chamber - dry chamber and sponge and you are ready to go. This sounds like a big job but really only takes 10 min. at most. Hope this helps let me know if you have any questions- most likely I am off line all day tomorrow having surgery but I will be back on Friday......good luck!

 

Wow! Thanks for such a detailed response. I'll be sure to keep you updated when I do attempt to set up the media reactor. Hope your detailed response can help with fellow reefers as well! Also, good luck to you on your surgery tomorrow! I definitely hope that all is well.

Also, If it is not too troublesome, it would be great if you can post a photo of your media reactor ;)

Link to comment

Wow! Thanks for such a detailed response. I'll be sure to keep you updated when I do attempt to set up the media reactor. Hope your detailed response can help with fellow reefers as well! Also, good luck to you on your surgery tomorrow! I definitely hope that all is well.Also, If it is not too troublesome, it would be great if you can post a photo of your media reactor ;)

Thanks appreciate it! Ya, I was going to do that but the top w/carbon slips down when I pull it out- next time I change it out - maybe this weekend I'll take some pics of the process. I tried to be detailed so don't get frustrated with the long post. It will be a fairly quick process but has some key points

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recommended Discussions

×
×
  • Create New...