Bio Pellet reactor plumbing

[Chadthresher]

I just ordered A Reef Octopus 200 skimmer and a Reef Octopus BR70 reactor. I am gonna ween my tank off a wet/dry set up. I am up in the air about trying to plum the reactor to the inlet of the skimmer. Only way I can figure to plum it is a T type fitting. Tank is a 90gal and sump is 55gal with a portion of it reverse daylight with live rock. I assume I dont need the light reach the skimmer/reactor area.

 

[Chadthresher]

I did read this article which I think is very good, http://blog.marinedepot.com/2014/05/biopellets-beginners-guide.html I was just interested in some peoples opinion on the plumbing and such. I am planning on dividing the light better in the sump better than I have now I have noticed some algae growth on the skimmer I have now. The reason I am changing skimmer and adding a reactor and removing wet/dry is the Nitrate and phosphate levels. Nitrate 10ish ppm and phosphate about .25ppm. I havent ran any Phosphate remover just carbon.

 

[Lenny_S]

I plumb my biopellet reactor directly to my skimmer as well. The 'T' fitting is a good idea because the flow required by the skimmer will almost certainly be higher than the flow coming out of the bio pellet reactor. You can put the effluent of the reactor into the top of the 'T' and let the end of the 'T' just make up the difference it needs from the sump. And FWIW, carbon will just keep adding to the phosphates in your tank, all of them leach some amount of phosphates. The bio pellets will do a great job on the Nitrates, but will have minimal impact on the phosphates... you may want to periodically switch out the carbon for GFO to keep the phosphates down.

 

[vic5hands]

I plumbed my bio pellet reactor into my protein skimmer. Bad move my protein skimmer was out of control. I separated both and have better results. Just saying..

 

[FarmerTy]

I plumbed my bio pellet reactor into my protein skimmer. Bad move my protein skimmer was out of control. I separated both and have better results. Just saying..

I'd make sure you "T" it off like the poster above mentioned or else the difference of flow will cause issues with your skimmer. Also, the skimmer will start pulling more skimmate because of the higher load of bacteria going through it so you will probably want to adjust it down a little bit to compensate for a bit until it normalizes.

 

[Chadthresher]

Thanks I was wondering if any one would ever answer my post, I really appreciate it, I am gonna try the T fitting, My sump is in a room under my stair case so I mess around in there alot so I can watch the skimmer. Have already ordered Some phosphate remover I just dont know if I should wait for the bio balls to establish and run to use it or go ahead and run it a week or so before I install bio balls. I have to still ween off my wet dry yet so I have some time