Setting Up AquaMaxx Biopellet reactor on my 75 and have SEVERAL Questions
by
, 01-04-2014 at 01:48 PM (13526 Views)
Hello everybody!,
So this Christmas I decided to treat my reef with a needed piece of equipment: the AquaMaxx Biopellet Reactor. I got the XL reactor as it was only an extra $40 or so and for when I upgrade to a larger system in the future. I went with the AquaMaxx brand mainly due to Melev's advice/review and bc I was impressed with AquaMaxx's quality, price, and customer service. For pellets I went with Ecobak, for no reason in particular, getting the 1000ml package.
This will be the first time I have carbon dosed so I'm a little nervous and will be relying a little on you guys to help me out with troubleshooting and setting it up correctly. I have not set it up yet as I have some questions. I plan to run the reactor externally, with it sitting in the stand right next to my Aqueon Proflux model 2 sump. From what I've read/seen biopellet reactors usually output the water near the skimmer input pump or even directly plumbed into the skimmer input pump plumbing. I could do either, but was planning on just plumbing the BP outlet into the skimmer pump input. Any advice here? I know a good skimmer is needed for a biopellet reactor to work to its fullest potential and I think I have a efficient enough skimmer. On my 75 (also with 20 gal sump) I have a AquaC-EV 180 skimmer powered by a mag 9.5 pump which I believe does a good job pulling gunk out. I have it set to pull (dry) thick, gunky, dark skimmate out, which does a good job filling about half the skimmer cup every 3-4 days. So as for plumbing, what do you all think? Plumb directly into skimmer input or near skimmer pump? Also, I was planning on just using simple tubing for this plumbing (not PVC), which is the same I am using now for my skimmer. Any suggestions to this?
I also need to figure out the pump for the reactor. What pump and flow rate would you suggest for this particular reactor? Would it be possible/advisable to use the existing mag 9.5 I have plumbed in the skimmer, and just Tee a section off to power the reactor, and then output back into the same skimmer plumbing? OR plump it off of one of my returns (a mag 7 or the Iwaki MD30)? What would you suggest? I plan to install a heavy-duty ball valve on the input plumbing to adjust flow. And is there a particular place the BP pump should be located in the sump (1st section, 2nd fuge section, return section)?
These are the things I need to figure out BEFORE setting this bad boy up!
Melev, you suggested soaking the pellets in tank water for a full 24 hours, stirring a little every hour or so, before putting them in the reactor. I plan on doing just that. You also suggested to just fill the reactor up completely from the start instead of following the advice of "putting only 25%-50% pellets in to get it going". With my tank only being a 75 gallon (or 95 gallon total volume), what amount of the 1000ml of pellets I have would you recommend starting with? You also mentioned that I should make sure I am dosing some type of bacteria. Since then I have bought a 1000ml bottle of Acro Power by Two Little Fishies and a big bottle of Microbacter 7. I am unfamiliar with dosing bacteria. Would you recommend dosing one or both of these, and in what amount and how often? And do I need to start dosing a certain amount of time before I setup and run the BP reactor?
I also run a single deluxe BRS reactor for GFO and another deluxe BRS reactor for carbon. The GFO reactor does a good job keeping phosphates at bay. With starting to run a BP reactor, is it advised to take my GFO reactor off line? If so, do I do this right when I begin running biopellets or when exactly?
I told you I had several questions! Sorry about that, but I want to make sure I do it right the first time. Is there any other questions I should be asking, or any areas I have not covered? I am very excited to get the BP reactor up and running and to see its benefits! About how long does it typically take before you start seeing the benefits? I plan to test religiously as soon as I set it up, nitrate and phosphate in particular. I have phosphate under control using GFO, but my nitrate levels have always hovered between 25-60 despite low feeding, regular water changes, good husbandry, etc... I think lowering nitrate will help the corals greatly and allow them to finally take off. I also am looking forward to feeding both the fish and corals more as now I always have to monitor what I feed due to the nitrate levels. They (and I) really appreciate all your help and expert advice]
Thank you so much for all your help and advice. Please ask away if more info is needed. ~ dustin getta