Refugium vs. Media Reactor ?

[homer1475]

Although reactors are much more efficient do you think fine carbon dust doesn't develop in there and escape into the water column also? I'm sure it does in microscopic amounts.

Probably does, have no way of knowing to be quite honest. I run my reactors in reverse so it forces the water down into the carbon to prevent any tumbling that may occur.

Fine dust, maybe, but certainly no where near the amount that putting it into a filter cup with water crashing into it will.

 

[newbie2014]

I have a Waterbox 60.2 but the sump doesn’t have room for all three amenities

I have a 60G cube and bashsea cube sump. I put live rocks in the first (filter sock) chamber, skimmer second, then return chamber. My carbon reactor get fed from and return back into the return chamber. This way the carbon gets fed with clear water and won’t clog.
while the rocks maybe not as effective as chaeto, in term of nitrate remover, it’s much more simpler and requires virtually no maintenance on my part.

 

[X-37B]

Probably does, have no way of knowing to be quite honest. I run my reactors in reverse so it forces the water down into the carbon to prevent any tumbling that may occur.

Fine dust, maybe, but certainly no where near the amount that putting it into a filter cup with water crashing into it will.

I run both, remote fuge and media reactor. The fuge will eventually replace all po4 reducing media.
I have already reduced po4 media by 2/3.
I mix 1/3 cup of each, rox carbon, gfo, and phosgaurd.
I then put it in an old chemipure nylon sock and place it in the Lifegaurd reactor.
I run a wad of filter floss on the output before the sponge.
This works well and the gfo never clumps or tumbles.

 

[homer1475]

I run both, remote fuge and media reactor. The fuge will eventually replace all po4 reducing media.
I have already reduced po4 media by 2/3.
I mix 1/3 cup of each, rox carbon, gfo, and phosgaurd.
I then put it in an old chemipure nylon sock and place it in the Lifegaurd reactor.
I run a wad of filter floss on the output before the sponge.
This works well and the gfo never clumps or tumbles.

Not sure why this was directed at me, but I pretty much do the same. Mix carbon with GFO, but I run my reactors in reverse(down through the media) so no tumbling can occur. With the carbon mixed into the GFO, it does not need to tumble as the carbon keeps it from clumping.

 

[Apheoxx]

Not sure why this was directed at me, but I pretty much do the same. Mix carbon with GFO, but I run my reactors in reverse(down through the media) so no tumbling can occur. With the carbon mixed into the GFO, it does not need to tumble as the carbon keeps it from clumping.

But what if there is no room for a reactor?

 

[homer1475]

Tie it in a media bag, and throw it in a high flow area.

Are you running a sump? Not sure why you wouldn't have room. They make stand alone units that require a separate pump, as well as those that would sit in a sump with no external pump.

 

[X-37B]

Not sure why this was directed at me, but I pretty much do the same. Mix carbon with GFO, but I run my reactors in reverse(down through the media) so no tumbling can occur. With the carbon mixed into the GFO, it does not need to tumble as the carbon keeps it from clumping.

Sorry it was for the carbon dust comment and I saw it when you respomded to it.

 

[newbie2014]

But what if there is no room for a reactor?

As homer1475 pointed out, a reactor doesn’t have to be in the sump chamber. TLF reactor can be hang on the sump wall. I hang my BRS reactor inside the stand.

 

[Apheoxx]

Tie it in a media bag, and throw it in a high flow area.

Are you running a sump? Not sure why you wouldn't have room. They make stand alone units that require a separate pump, as well as those that would sit in a sump with no external pump.

Here is the sump. The white portion is the skimmer. Greenis obviously Chaeto. The red is the heater. It will be more tightly packed than this, but this is a general idea.

 

[EakTheFreak]

I run dual media reactor with GFO first & Carbon second. I have a Refugium with 3 different types of Chaeto as well. Even with all that my nutrients are still visible.

phosphate - .08
Nitrates - 30 ppm

I only feed LRS reef frenzy and the equivalent to 2 cubes. I also feed full sheet of Nori since I have (2) tangs & (1) Magnificent Foxface.

 

[Apheoxx]

I run dual media reactor with GFO first & Carbon second. I have a Refugium with 3 different types of Chaeto as well. Even with all that my nutrients are still visible.

phosphate - .08
Nitrates - 30 ppm

I only feed LRS reef frenzy and the equivalent to 2 cubes. I also feed full sheet of Nori since I have (2) tangs & (1) Magnificent Foxface.

When’s the last time you did a WC?

 

[EakTheFreak]

When’s the last time you did a WC?

I do them once every 3 weeks. I have tested my RODI water as well and it’s all good.

 

[Apheoxx]

I do them once every 3 weeks. I have tested my RODI water as well and it’s all good.

What size tank do you have? The Chaeto should be removing all of the nitrates?

 

[EakTheFreak]

What size tank do you have? The Chaeto should be removing all of the nitrates?

I sure wish that was true, I have a 131 gallon DT with 40 gallon sump. I’ve even been using NOPOX to reduce nitrate and have a high rated skimmer.

 

[chaostactics]

Refugium just make sure you harvest often so as to not accidentally tank your nutrients and cause a crash. I'm ashamed to say I've done it 3 times because I refuse to learn/ wasn't water testing often enough

 

[Apheoxx]

I sure wish that was true, I have a 131 gallon DT with 40 gallon sump. I’ve even been using NOPOX to reduce nitrate and have a high rated skimmer.

That’s pretty crazy and you only have two fish and feed minimal. This hobby is scary!

 

[Apheoxx]

Refugium just make sure you harvest often so as to not accidentally tank your nutrients and cause a crash. I'm ashamed to say I've done it 3 times because I refuse to learn/ wasn't water testing often enough

Can you elaborate?

 

[chaostactics]

Can you elaborate?

If you fail to harvest cheato and let it grow to such quantity that it removes too much Phos / nitrates from your system you'll have a large die off of Chaeto all at once causing a nutrient bloom. Cheato doesn't self limit well like pods, rottifiers, etc. Do.

 

[Apheoxx]

If you fail to harvest cheato and let it grow to such quantity that it removes too much Phos / nitrates from your system you'll have a large die off of Chaeto all at once causing a nutrient bloom. Cheato doesn't self limit well like pods, rottifiers, etc. Do.

Is there a set amount that should be harvested?

 

[PeterC99]

Is there a set amount that should be harvested?

No set amount of chaeto to be harvested. You get a feel about how much to harvest based on your testing of notary and phosphates.