How often do you clean the CA reactor or change media?

[Anonymous]

I have had my reactor running for over a year. It is a Geosreef running Gen-X media.

Link to media.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... ode=cmedia

The media is over 1/2 gone and allot of buildup is in the reactor and between the media thats left.

I have cleaned my feed pump and replaced the CO2 tank once so far. I have never cleaned the reactor (PITA to get to and remove. I am talking about removing the sump to get it out.

Should I clean it or change the media now?

 

[Len]

I clean mine every year and top off the media when it goes below a threshold (usually half a pound every month). My reactor instructs people to top off rather then to wait until it runs low.

I think it's time for you to do a full clean and replacement. Besides, I like making your life miserable.

 

[Anonymous]

I think it's time for you to do a full clean and replacement. Besides, I like making your life miserable.

Thanks Len :twisted:

 

[Anonymous]

I have had my reactor running for over a year. It is a Geosreef running Gen-X media.

Link to media.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... ode=cmedia

The media is over 1/2 gone and allot of buildup is in the reactor and between the media thats left.

I have cleaned my feed pump and replaced the CO2 tank once so far. I have never cleaned the reactor (PITA to get to and remove. I am talking about removing the sump to get it out.

Should I clean it or change the media now?

It should be simple enough to reverse the flow inside the reactor, backflush detritus from the media and have it drain off into a bucket. We do this once a month. You should have unions at the top and bottom of the reactor. Just a matter of hooking up the right connections.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, also, why on Earth is your reactor inside your sump? Does it leak or something?

 

[bleedingthought]

I have had my reactor running for over a year. It is a Geosreef running Gen-X media.

Link to media.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... ode=cmedia

The media is over 1/2 gone and allot of buildup is in the reactor and between the media thats left.

I have cleaned my feed pump and replaced the CO2 tank once so far. I have never cleaned the reactor (PITA to get to and remove. I am talking about removing the sump to get it out.

Should I clean it or change the media now?

It should be simple enough to reverse the flow inside the reactor, backflush detritus from the media and have it drain off into a bucket. We do this once a month. You should have unions at the top and bottom of the reactor. Just a matter of hooking up the right connections.

That's an interesting thought, Matt. How much would you let drain out, though?

 

[Anonymous]

The reactor has a union on top and then it connect via a hose fitting on the bottom near the pump. I'll have to take a pic. The water also flows from the bottom to the top.

The reactor is NOT in the sump but its wedged in the stand with the sump. there is 35 inches of space. 24 for the 20G sump and 9 for the reactor. Tight fit. I was looking for a custom sump that would be 20 in but have not found one.

 

[Anonymous]

I have had my reactor running for over a year. It is a Geosreef running Gen-X media.

Link to media.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... ode=cmedia

The media is over 1/2 gone and allot of buildup is in the reactor and between the media thats left.

I have cleaned my feed pump and replaced the CO2 tank once so far. I have never cleaned the reactor (PITA to get to and remove. I am talking about removing the sump to get it out.

Should I clean it or change the media now?

It should be simple enough to reverse the flow inside the reactor, backflush detritus from the media and have it drain off into a bucket. We do this once a month. You should have unions at the top and bottom of the reactor. Just a matter of hooking up the right connections.

That's an interesting thought, Matt. How much would you let drain out, though?

As much as it takes until it's clear.

I probably pumped 50 gallons of water through each one of ours. Keep in mind it's a 4' stack of media though. I'm guessing a couple 5 g buckets of water (it need not be saltwater either) would do it for most reactors. You can use DI water, old tank water, whatever. It all will just get flushed down the drain anyhow.

 

[Anonymous]

The water also flows from the bottom to the top.

Really? The water is flowing up from underneath the media?

 

[Anonymous]

The water also flows from the bottom to the top.

Really? The water is flowing up from underneath the media?

yes There is no drain at the bottom either. I guess the best thing to do would be to take it apart and rinse the media. SHould I add more media or leave it?

 

[Anonymous]

The water also flows from the bottom to the top.

Really? The water is flowing up from underneath the media?

Mine flows up too.

Rob, and you just tank the effluent line from the tank and drain it somewhere while flushing? If you run an airpump into the co2 inlet, you should get a great mixing of the media.

 

[Anonymous]

hm - I'll try that