reactor question

Eddie7144 · Jul 28, 2017

hey all, I'm installing an algae reactor to my 150 gal tank this weekend to help with nutrients, currently im running a 2 little fishes 150 reactor with phosgiard, so the thought occurred to me to link the two together . fist into the algae reactor then into the 150 reactor, I'm wondering if this is a good idea ? over kill ? or a bad idea ? Please drop me some feed back guys ! thanks !!

Scott.h · Jul 28, 2017

Personally I'd run the two separately. There may be a day you don't want gfo. That way you could just unplug the one.

Eddie7144 · Jul 28, 2017

and is it a good idea to run both ? would that strip the water to much ?

Scott.h · Jul 28, 2017

I do not run gfo at all in 3 of my systems anymore. I've experienced negativity, and the only reason I did is because of numbers on a screen. I feel it's better to have a good balance between the N and P and let it go. That said I don't have problems. I do have duel reactors and ready if needed. I also have big fuges on all 3 systems. To be honest I don't feel the macro do a great job of significantly lowering P alone.

But to answer, yes you can run both and most do. What are your numbers?

Eddie7144 · Jul 28, 2017

my phosphate is at .2 kind of high

Scott.h · Jul 28, 2017

Eddie7144 said:
my phosphate is at .2 kind of high

Depends. What is your N? Do you have issues? Extreme algae? How mush do you use, how many gallons total volume?

One of my my tanks last I checked (rarely do) was 40 and .18.

Eddie7144 · Jul 28, 2017

i got 2 little tuffs of gha, its a 150 gal with 30 ? gal sump? maybe more, idk what my N is but my phos. is at .2

Scott.h · Jul 28, 2017

Well I think having chaeto in a fuge or reactor is definitely a good thing. It's a natural approach and gives off carbohydrates for the corals too.

Starting it up isn't going to suck out your nutrients that fast. Run the two separately and Just let it play out. Depending on what you house, or plan to house, you should see what your N are. I'm a big fan of the red field ratio which is 16:1 N to P. Despite seeing "high" numbers I've always had luck running fuges and keeping the two in the 16:1 balance.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 29, 2017

The algae reactor will take out N and P in a relatively fixed ratio. If you have excess P beyond that ratio, the reactor won't take it out and something like a phosphate binder may be needed. I used many methods, including GFO and macroalgae at the same time, but you might wait to see if the phosguard is needed.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 29, 2017

Scott.h said:
Well I think having chaeto in a fuge or reactor is definitely a good thing. It's a natural approach and gives off carbohydrates for the corals too.

Carbohydrates? What is the evidence for that?

Scott.h · Jul 29, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Carbohydrates? What is the evidence for that?

I have no scientific evidence myself, but with my tanks over the years I've always found my corals did better with macro despite the nutrient levels. Die off possibly? Recently it's put into writing by triton. I think it briefly talks about it in the main brochure here. I'm not sure if @Tim@Triton can add more details?
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/guide-to-the-triton-method.299187/

Doesn't the slime coating of corals also have substance in it that helps the Zooxanthelle use carbohydrates as well as store them? And as it's released also ends up being reused? So maybe the same thing happening?

Also seen here: