BRS Carbon Reactor & GFO Reactor Setup Challenges and Tips to Get It Right in Your Reef Tank.

Our BRS Media Reactors for Carbon and GFO have been with us since the beginning. If there's one media reactor for reef aquariums that we trust and use, it is definitely these! BUT...we've learned some valuable tips and tricks over the years. If your reef tank needs a media reactor, try these out but don't make the same mistakes!
BRS Carbon and GFO Reactors that have stood the test of time!
➡ BRS Mini Reactor : brs.li/BRS_Mini_Reactor
➡ BRS Dual Media Reactor : brs.li/BRS_DualMedia_Reactor
➡ BRS High Capacity GFO : brs.li/BRS_HighCap_GFO
➡ BRS ROX 0.8 Carbon : brs.li/BRS_ROXcarbon
These Reefing Mistakes will have you cringing!
➡ brs.li/BRStv_TopReefing_Mistakes
BRStv Community links!
➡ #AskBRStv Facebook Group : brs.li/AskBRStv_Facebook
➡ BRS R2R Sponsor Page : brs.li/BRS_R2R_Sponsor
Legal Stuff
The content contained in this video is general information on the topic and should not be relied upon as your sole source of information or safety advice for this project or topic. Each product or situation is different and has its own concerns related to successful completion and safety that must be fully researched by the individual considering the project or product. The purpose and content of this video is to provide general information regarding the products and their applications as presented in the video. Aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents disclaim all express or implied warranties, in any way, related to the products and their application as presented in this video, make no representation or warranty regarding the products and the application as presented in this video and shall not be liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages of any type, including but not limited to punitive damages, or from personal injury or death resulting from or in any manner related to the video, and the products in and contents of the video. The viewer expressly agrees that aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses related to the products in and content of the video and hereby agrees to hold the foregoing harmless from any such losses or damages.
00:00 Mistakes-BRS Reactors
00:15 Buying The Big Reactor When The Small Will Do
00:55 Don’t Overlook Silicon Tubing
01:28 Not Realizing It Can Be Set Directly In The Sump
01:52 Not Having Extra Foam Pads
02:25 Overlooking The Colder Push Connect Fittings
03:03 Not Understanding When The Dual Reactor Is The Right Choice
04:18 Do Not Tumble Your Carbon
04:47 Not Understanding When Your Carbon Is Depleted
05:58 Not Understanding When Your GFO Is Depleted
06:51 The Difference Between Getting Your Levels Down & Keeping Them Down
07:41 The Difference Between Prevention And Treatment Of Algae
09:05 Using Too Much GFO

[@crankbait09]

didn't realize you could use that flexible silicone tubing. thought my only option was that stiff white tubing. the fittings in order to make the silicone tubing work, are KEY! never thought of that. will definitely make that change. the stiff white tubing is very stiff!

[@bthefountain]

Going to add some things to my cart. I had no idea the push connectors were a thing!

[@fuffoon]

Don't tumble the carbon. Thank you for the tip. It was one of my questions. I was going to tumble it. Now I will pack it gently. My goal with the carbon is to see if I can reduce the water changes because I feel like the aquarium prefers more time between changes. It looks best a week after the change, the day that I will do another change and I think two weeks between changes may be better. I have a few complementary ICP kits with coral purchases that I can use to see what is trending in the water.

[@mmccown1]

I used to put mine in the sump but noticed the screw on the valve was rusting. Make sure you don't submerge the valve.

[@BriannesFishFam]

First to comment, by the way I watch all of your videos! Love them!

[@AAfitzy88]

What side does the valve go on? In some pictures it is on pump side and others pictures output side??

[@joec2174]

Make a bracket for hob use!!

[@daveybreedlove8650]

I want that funnel

[@sarrington2005]

Been trying for a month to get one but you’re still out of them. Any ideas on how long before I can order the mini reactor?

[@Ray-wr2wr]

are you recommending mixing gfo with carbon in the media reactor ? lps 150g

[@pineappleking1467]

Im looking into getting carbon and gfo and was going to get the dual reactor but after watching the video I don’t know if I should get it.I have a 55 gallon tank, and if a dual reactor isn’t a good for my tank then what should I use?

[@IN54ANE]

Single reactor running a mix of gfo and carbon

[@danieltheaker4429]

Hi guys great video I have a small reactor could I add carbon and rowaphos together but separate using a sponge?

[@BRStv]

You might not have quite enough room, depending on how much of each media you're using. Often times, mixing the two medias together is actually easier.

[@danieltheaker4429]

@@BRStv I’ve a Max Nano running rowaphos only approx 2 tablespoons in was looking at adding brightwell purit as well could this work? The media reactor is a IM all in one media reactor desktop

[@megadeth1763]

JUNK SICCI WATER PUMP matched with a mediocre Brick-maker. All about $$. I asked for advice but laughed at my issue with a mismatched piece of Junk. Thank you BRS

[@luisdiegocordero6000]

Can you use two mini reactors linked and powered by just one pump?

[@BRStv]

You can, however, the flow tends to be pretty slow. Especially over time as they get clogged with detritus.

[@BIGCARP1970]

What causes it to to push out water slow after it runs awhile ? Like the media moves to top and plugs the lines or AM I using to much media GFO CARBON

[@BRStv]

The most likely cause is detritus building up on the sponge inside of the reactor, causing slower flow. Using less media, but cleaning it out more frequently should help quite a bit.

[@eternaldienasty7270]

Do you need a reactor if I’m running a uv light ?

[@BRStv]

UV won't do the same job as carbon or GFO, but you can certainly run just one or the other if that fits your needs better.

[@fishstix1988]

When would you put the output tube in the same chamber as the reactor vs a different chamber?

[@dantlarose]

Is there some Sort Of trick to getting the lid off the small containers … i can’t get mine apart ever

[@BRStv]

Your reactor should have come with a canister wrench. If you've misplaced yours, you can pick up a new one here: www.bulkreefsupply.com/wrench-for-reverse-osmosis-canister.html

[@edwardwilliams2564]

Once the carbon in the reactor is spent could you use it to feed phytoplankton or macroalgae in a separate tank? or does the carbon just get rid of the nutrients entirely?

[@BRStv]

The issue with used carbon is that detritus and other "gunk" gets trapped in the carbon's pores. For that reason, we will usually just discard the old carbon and change it out for the new.

[@edwardwilliams2564]

@@BRStv With that being the case, wouldn't it be possible to "recycle" the carbon into a separate tank rotation for feeding to phytoplankton? I'm wanting to get into reefing sometime and would like to grow all the food for the fish and corals at home. that being phytoplankton, copepods, and possibly krill.

[@camerongarcia3128]

Can a regular sponge be used in lieu of the foam pad?\

[@BRStv]

The foam pad is best as a typical sponge will restrict flow through the reactor more significantly.

[@usmc2msu213]

Sure would have been nice to hear you say a tank size when you talk about mistake number one. We have a 180 with a big 100 sump. That little guy is good?

[@BRStv]

For that water volume, you'll likely want to go with the full size reactor. The capacity on the mini isn't quite large enough to run our BRS recommended amount for 280 gallons of water volume. You can play around on the BRS reefing calculator if you want to see how much carbon we recommend for certain size tanks based on the carbon type you go with. www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator

[@usmc2msu213]

@@BRStv thanks!

[@AquamanES]

What is the adapter needed to connect silicone tubing to the small BRS canister again?

[@BRStv]

That would be a stem x barb fitting

[@martinhblake]

I fill bags with that carbon and bags with resin like phosphate minus and put them strait into the sump, is that a huge mistake?

[@BRStv]

You can certainly use media bags if you don't have a reactor. It's just more effective to use a reactor as you're forcing water through the media.

[@martinhblake]

@@BRStv Thanks for the advice!!!!!!!!!

[@passenger3]

When did bulk reef supply's start with the advertisements 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩

[@megadeth1763]

Probably at birth ?

[@tomk3952]

Why not just add the silicone tubing instead of the stiff tubing can’t cost that much more. I’d pay the difference

[@BRStv]

You can get a silicone upgrade kit at the link below. Silicone tubing is significantly more expensive vs the RO style tubing, but if you want something easier to work with, it's worth the upgrade. www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-reactor-silicone-tubing-upgrade-kit-bundle.html