REACTORS

[ED WELSON]

HY, EVERYBODY!!!

STILL TAKING INFORMATION TO BUILD MY SALTWATER REEF TANK WITH THE INTENTION TO RAISE SPS AND LPS CORALS. NOW IS TIME TO FOCUS IN REACTORS AND YOUR OPINION WILL BE VERY APPRECIATED. COMBINED WITH A REEF OCTOPUS PROTEIN SKIMMER SRO PS 5000 WHAT IS THE REACTOR NEEDED? CALCIUM REACTOR, ZEOLITES, PHOSPHATE REACTOR... LET ME KNOW YOUR EXPERIENCE.

AGAIN, BEST REGARDS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH

 

[twilliard]

Hi!
I would do a reactor for carbon.

 

[ED WELSON]

Hi!
I would do a reactor for carbon.

OK
BUT DO YOU THINK IT'S GOOD TAKING ZEOLITES, CARBON, PHOSPHATE AND BIOPELLETS ALL IN THE SUMP?

 

[twilliard]

I wouldnt see an issue at all but there might be a chemistry issue behind it.
Might want to hit up @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wouldn't add zeolites. I see little use for them, unless you are simply providing a convenient substrate for bacteria to grow on.

You do need, right up front, to pick a method of calcium and alkalinity supplementation. A CaCO3/CO2 reactor is one of several good ways. I compare the methods here:


The Many Methods for Supplementing Calcium and Alkalinity - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/the-many-methods-for-supplementing-calcium-and-alkalinity

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You also need to think how you are going to export nutrients, and a phosphate binder (which is possibly what you mean by a phosphate reactor, but I'm not sure) is one of several good ways to go (there are also others).

I describe them here:

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/nitrate-in-the-reef-aquarium

 

[twilliard]

Thank you Randy

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK
BUT DO YOU THINK IT'S GOOD TAKING ZEOLITES, CARBON, PHOSPHATE AND BIOPELLETS ALL IN THE SUMP?

By carbon, do you mean granular activated carbon (the black stuff) or some other term, such as a carbon denitrator or organic carbon dosing?

I don't prefer biopellets to other forms of organic carbon dosing (vodka, vinegar, etc.), but some people like them.

Don't forget possibilities such as growing macroalgae, algal turf scrubbing, etc.

 

[ED WELSON]

Good morning, Randy.

Again, thanks a lot for your attention.
Yes, I mean granular activated carbon!
Maybe on the next time I choose for algae scrubber or something similar. For now reactors is a possibility. But I'm thinking is too much to mix all of these reactors (zeolite, biopellets, activated carbon, phosphate and calcium).
What is your personal opinion?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The zeolite does nothing useful except provide a substrate for bacteria when using soluble organic carbon. If you are using biopellets instead, there's no benefit to the zeolite.

I use limewater in an ATO, GFO in a reactor, GAC (ROX 0.8) in a reactor, skimming, growing macroalgae, and rock fulled refugia. If I wanted a low nutrient system, i'd skip the rocks in the refugia.

 

[ED WELSON]

The zeolite does nothing useful except provide a substrate for bacteria when using soluble organic carbon. If you are using biopellets instead, there's no benefit to the zeolite.

I use limewater in an ATO, GFO in a reactor, GAC (ROX 0.8) in a reactor, skimming, growing macroalgae, and rock fulled refugia. If I wanted a low nutrient system, i'd skip the rocks in the refugia.

Mr. Randy,

another issue come to us: use of bare-botton in association of miracle mud and rocks in refugia.

Is it a good option?

we heard that a bare-bottom aquaria don't have a "long life"

best regards

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Mr. Randy,

another issue come to us: use of bare-botton in association of miracle mud and rocks in refugia.

Is it a good option?

we heard that a bare-bottom aquaria don't have a "long life"

best regards

I'm not sure what you mean by not a long life. While I've never really searched around to see how long folks keep bare bottoms relative to sand bottoms, I do not have the sense that they have a greater failure rate. Perhaps folks with long term bare bottom reefs will comment.

As to substrate, I like some sand becasue it looks natural to me, not because I think it does much in my system.

I'm not really a fan of mud. If I want to add trace elements, such as iron, I can do it easily and cheaply enough, and in a more controlled fashion than some random mud degradation will. If the goal is denitrification, I'd typically do it other ways.

There are certainly many fine reef tanks with mud in their refugia. I think a reasonable to question to ask is whether they are nice is because of the mud, in spite of the mud, or unrelated to it.

 

[ED WELSON]

I'm not sure what you mean by not a long life. While I've never really searched around to see how long folks keep bare bottoms relative to sand bottoms, I do not have the sense that they have a greater failure rate. Perhaps folks with long term bare bottom reefs will comment.

As to substrate, I like some sand becasue it looks natural to me, not because I think it does much in my system.

I'm not really a fan of mud. If I want to add trace elements, such as iron, I can do it easily and cheaply enough, and in a more controlled fashion than some random mud degradation will. If the goal is denitrification, I'd typically do it other ways.

There are certainly many fine reef tanks with mud in their refugia. I think a reasonable to question to ask is whether they are nice is because of the mud, in spite of the mud, or unrelated to it.

I mean long term bare-bottom reefs
In your opinion, what's the possibility to control nitrate and phosphates? Is GFO, GAC and macro Algaes sufficient in a bare bottom sistem!?
Best regards

 

[nervousmonkey]

There is nothing inherently wrong with bare bottom reefs and their longevity. In fact, a well maintained BB tank will keep a lot of detritus from building on the bottom of the tank where a sandbed would normally trap it. Unless you are relatively diligent about keeping the sandbed clean and detritus free, there are some who would argue that the sand bed tank will have end of life earlier than BB. I know Randy doesn't suction or clean detritus from his sump, so I cannot speak to the scientific validity of either argument. I can only state for a fact that there are many ways to maintain a tank; as long as you keep up with your method of husbandry and really understand the chemistry behind your tank methodology, you will have results. It is more about finding what you like, understand, can maintain and above all, stability of what you do. The reactors you mention will all work but they are not required. I would start slower and first figure out what your tank needs, otherwise you will have pigeonholed yourself into a very specific methodology (though successful in many instances) of tank husbandry. No zeolites though. Unnecessary and will take daily effort to keep clean.

 

[nervousmonkey]

At the risk of appearances in emulating Randy, I would actually recommend starting with his methods. They are simple, straightforward, easy and will keep your tank clean. Then maybe consider other methods. E,g., it's much easier to start organic carbon dosing with vinegar than with a Biopellet reactor so you understand and can learn how your tank reacts, then think about biopellets so you can add them later.

 

[ED WELSON]

No risco! I perfect understand.
I have in mind using bare-bottom, GAC, GFO, live rocks, macro algae and calcium reactor. Maybe vinegar or vodka later.

 

[Sgt Jonny]

I just use a BRS dual reactor for carbon and GFO. Works great for me.