Filtration Question

[hurley12]

I have a JBJ 30 rimless and I am wanting to change up my filtration. I already have a BRS carbon/GFO reactor, but I really want a biopellet reactor. Should I just add it or is over kill and not necessary. My idea is to upgrade the pump and run the whole tank with a larger single pump that feeds both reactors and splits into both feeds that go back into the tank after the reactors. Thoughts? Hoping to pick some peoples brains tomorrow =)

 

[Dowtish]

You can add the bio pellet reactor and keep your carbon and gfo running. It will take the pellets 6-8 weeks before they are fully colonized with bacteria and really start giving you results. After that time, you can slowly phase out your gfo.

Adding one larger pump to run everything sounds good as long as you can seperately control the tumble of all of them independently. That's where you will have to get creative given the size of your tank. Plumbing a manifold system is the easiest thing to do that, but I'm not sure how you will do that with an AIO system.

How do you have the existing reactor plumbed into the tank?

 

[hurley12]

Right now I just have MJ 1200 in the back pumping into the reactor...I was thinking of just having valves before each of the reactors to control flow through each, which is how I control it through the reactor right now. I would just add another one before the bio pellet reactor. do you think that would work or no?

 

[Dowtish]

I dont think that will work. And honestly, thinking about the need for an over rated skimmer for running bio-pellets, it becomes a challenge. That's where the problems with the AIO's comes in. Simply not enough room.

If you have to slow the flow thru the initial 2 reactors, because you dont want gfo and carbon grinding too fast and then it reaches the BP reactor, it wont have enough flow to get the correct tumble. And if you do the BP reactor first then the the biomass/bacteria that sloughs off the pellets will get clogged in the other reactors. You really need the output of the BP reactor to go directly to an oversized skimmer section. Do you have a skimmer on it? And if so, what is it rated for?

 

[hurley12]

I do have a skimmer, but it just the Tunze 9002. Unfortunately not much you can do in the skimmer department other then that. So should I just not worry about the BP reactor?

 

[Dowtish]

In the end it will be your decision, but if that's the largest most capable skimmer you can fit in the back. I would just stick to GFO.

 

[hurley12]

Cool thanks Chris, I will save the money then. I don't see being able to get much better of a skimmer back there that would make it worth it. I think I am good with what I have anyway, I just liked the idea of a BP reactor. I may try and figure out a better way to utilize the media boxes in the back.

 

[Dowtish]

Bio pellets are much cheaper in the long run, and much less of a hassle as far as changing them out of the reactor. But GFO definitely works, I run it on my QT tanks and it keeps my phos down very well.

 

[hurley12]

Any thoughts on the phosphate sponge pads they make? I thought about cutting some of those to fit into the media boxes?

 

[Dowtish]

Don't know anything about those. Who makes them? you gotta link?

 

[gmoney243]

I dont believe in this using overated skimmers for biopellets. My skimmer is old and works great but def not overated and i do just fine. As long as ur skimmer is appropriately rated and works decent it shouldn't be a problem.

But also on a nano i think i would just stick with gfo and chaeto which is What i do on my coral QT. Biopellets are strong and in a nano u dont have a lot of fish making waste so you can strip your water very easy if ur not carefull. Also you dont need a gfo reactor you can use in a media bag which for a nano might be best and for an AIO definitely the best looking option since itll all be hidden.

Does your tank have a fuge section for a light and chaeto?

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[hurley12]

Here is the link for the phosphate pads I was talking about, and the tank really doesn't have a spot for a fuge so that option is out. So would a media bag with some sort of phosphate remover be better then these pads?

Amazon.com: Deep Blue Phosphate Remover Pad 18X10: Pet Supplies

 

[Mr. D]

They're made by deep blue.

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[AirAngel]

lurking along

 

[fireman23]

I use to use sponge long time ago. I dont think they help. Thats just my experience with them. Wont hurt to try. They are inexpensive.

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