Protein Skimmer and Plankton Reactor

Hey all,

I am seriously considering getting an Aquamedic Plankton Reactor that grows micro aglae for Zooplankton so I can get ready for SPS and more NPS coral, like sea fans etc.

Im just thinking if I run it with a protein skimmer, is the skimmer just going to filter out all my goodies? so to speak?.

Or should I have the skimmer off at night and then run the plankton reactor at night only?

What are your thoughts on zooplankton for general coral and tank health?

 

no answer came the reply

I wish someone would answer for you (and me)

 

Have you considered other options for growing phytoplankton? In my opinion the AquaMedic reactor is massively over priced. You could make an equally effective/convenient reactor out of clear PVC (2-4"), with a gate valve glued onto the bottom, and a cap with 2 holes drilled into the top for aeration.

A protein skimmer will filter out a portion of the phytoplankton/zooplankton you dose, but not all of it. I guess it is just a balancing act. I don't really see it as a "waste", just because phytoplankton is super easy to grow.

Zooplankton provides extra nutrition for fish, some corals, and may even help water quality by scavenging. Go for it!

 

To be honest im not very much a DIY man. I would just prefer to save and buy something that is already done for me .

I am pretty keen on this, I haven't really been able to find out to much information about how these work. Does it come supplied to do everything? Do you have to buy some phytoplankton first to fill it it with? Has anyone used one of these reactors before? Or similar?

I'm pretty keen to learn more about them and give it a go.

 

IMOPE, your skimmer will only remove a small percentage. If you feel it might still be an issue, you could run a prefilter sponge on the intake.

 

Fantastic. Im not worried about it. I just didnt know. Thanks clarifying that everyone.

I just need to learn more about how these things work, what are the requirements etc and ill probably get one at about the same time I get some dosing pumps.

 

Fair enough! I'm sure the AquaMedic reactor is still very nice.

Most phytoplankton "reactors" are basically just a container with an airline inside for aeration. You simply fill the container with water, add nutrients, and then add a small amount of phytoplankton. The AquaMedic reactor follows this basic design. I grow phytoplankton in erlenmeyer flasks that have a rubber stopper with two holes drilled into it, but you can grow it in virtually any container. Aeration isn't even needed as periodic swirling also works.

You will need to buy phytoplankton, I doubt it comes with the reactor. You can only grow one species per reactor at any given time. There are many species that work well for hobbyists in that cultures last a long time, so they are low maintenance, and are resistant to contamination. I would suggest Dunaliella salina, which is actually cultured commercially in Australia so hopefully it is easily available where you are. I buy my phytoplankton from UBC, NCMA, and UTex in North America. I'm not sure where to get it in Australia, but I'm sure universities there sell it.

You can usually buy specialized nutrient mediums for microalgae from the same place as you get the live phyto. I use the F/2 medium, which is sold commercially by Proline. You can also grow it with water soluble fertilizers that are available at any gardening centre, such as Miracle Grow. You may have to experiment a little with nutrient concentrations before finding the optimal level.

Also, to make it easier on yourself take some basic steps to prevent culture contamination. This can include keeping your nutrients in the fridge, filtering water through fine sediment filters prior to filling the reactor, possibly boiling the water too, and wearing gloves every time you work with the algae.