Reactor Questions

Hey guys,

I am considering getting a few reactors. At the moment i have a 55g tank with a 30g sump. Approx 4-5months old. It is lit up by a 150 CREE LED system with moonlights and all that jazz. It currently houses only a hand full of fish and a few softies, 2 nems, 3 x LPS and 2 x SPS. Flow is provided by an MP10 on Nutrient Transport Mode and some other smaller power heads.

I have a hydor 450 performer skimmer and a two little fishies GFO Reactor and Chiller.

I am having problems with cyanobacteria and a nem acclimating but other than that, the tank is coming along fantastically.

Basically I have a few questions on adding reactors:

- Would it be wise to add NPX biopellet reactor to the system? Considering I already have a GFO phosban reactor?

- Would it be wise to get another reactor for Carbon? I currently have it just sitting in a bag near my return. If it is a good idea, what carbon media is most useful?

- Would it be wise to add a Kalkwasser Reactor? My calcium currently sits nicely at approximately 460 and I barely have to dose it. But my coral load is small. Is kalkwasser the best way to dose calcium.

Or would it be better to get a dosing system set up for Calc, Mg and Alk? Before going a reactor route? Or both???????????

Thanks for the advice guys, im finally trying to move my tank into a more experienced set up.

What does everyone else run? Could you post what reactors you run in your reef tanks and what you dose into it?

 

55 views and no-one knows?

 

I'm in the process of investigating reactors as well, so my answer may not be the most informed one, but seeing as how no one else has answered...I'll take a stab at at least part of the question.

This is what I've learned so far.

GFO and bio pellet reactors on the same system can be a good idea. bio pellets help with nitrates (and some phosphates maybe) and GFO helps with phosphates. If you have issues with these, then running both is no problem.

I was told by several guys who have been keeping reefs for a while that running carbon in a reactor is a good idea...but not as a constant element of your system. They suggested that I run one maybe one week per month or something similar (in fact, I'm planning to run GFO most of the time and alternate out with a week of carbon every so often).

As far as kalkwasser vs. dosing, I've known guys who did either...but almost everyone I've talked to said don't do both. Also, this will only be necessary if your cal/mg requirements are not being kept up by your water changes. If your water changes can keep up with your need for now, then you can avoid adding the supplement. ...and I think ultimately a calcium reactor is the way to go if you have the cash.

Like I said, I've been researching this stuff, but I haven't put it into practice yet, so take my advice for what it cost you. I hope it's helpful.

 

Unless you plan on having an SPS dominate tank, I would just keep running GFO and not run the bio-pellets. Bio-pellets will keep your phos and nitrate at very low levels, and most softies and LPS, don't mind having a little of each in the tank, and actually benefit from lower levels of each.
You can run carbon through a reactor, but it can be a messy ordeal switching it out every 4 weeks. I have found a good way to run carbon is to put it in a media bag, and then place it in a filter sock that it catching the water from your overflow.
As far as kalkwasser and dosing 2 part, I dont think it is necessary in a tank your size, unless you have it loaded down with SPS colonies. Your demand can be kept up with water changes with a quality salt mix that contains these elements.
I ran my tank with just weekly waterchanges for well over a year, then as my tank begin to fill up with multiple LPS and SPS, then my demand was more than the water changes could handle. That is when I began dosing 2 part.

 

Thanks for the advice. I didnt think I would do both. I think when it gets to that stage I will go down the dosing route, purely because you cant get reactors for Mg and Alk.

Thanks for the advice. Thats a great idea on carbon, I will put that into practise when I get home. I can image running carbon through a reactor would be very messy. Especially if it needs to be changed often. My tank isnt loaded with SPS, but at some stage I would like it to be.

Water changes should be enough to support what I want to do at the moment.

Karma ++ for both of you for taking the time to write back after so many views.