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gettareef

Setting Up AquaMaxx Biopellet reactor on my 75 and have SEVERAL Questions

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gettareef
, 01-04-2014 at 01:48 PM (15094 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

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Updated 01-04-2014 at 04:59 PM by gettareef

Categories
‎ Tank Entry , ‎ Plumbing , ‎ Water Chemistry , ‎ Questions - Need some input , ‎ Equipment

Comments

  1. melev's Avatar
    Dustin, congrats on your new reactor. In one of my product reviews, I know I've typed up a list of suggestions for you to follow, but in the meantime I'll answer your direct questions.

    Don't use your skimmer pump to feed the reactor. The AquaC EV-series needs the right pressure on the clover-leaf injector. Be sure you clean that injector every two months or so. It doesn't take long, but if you don't stay on top of it, the skimmer just doesn't work as well as it could.

    I'd suggest a pump that moves 300-500gph for the biopellet reactor. You'll want to install a ball valve to control how much the pellets tumble within, and in that particular reactor you'll see movement that resembles a rotation cloud similar to a tornado. Slow moving, spinning round and round.

    Maybe I'm nuts, but I do just fill my reactor every single time, and have done so since the first time I used them. If you feel more comfortable putting in 25% initially, that's fine. In a few weeks, add another 25%. As the pellets are consumed by the bacteria, you'll have to replenish anyway. With this particular reactor, it's possible to not notice that the volume has reduced because they are in suspension flowing in rotation. If you stop the flow to the reactor, you'll quickly see how much is left. You could check this every couple of weeks, and mark the reactor with a piece of masking tape if you wish.

    It will probably take six weeks to get them to kick in. The bacteria levels within need to populate. Once they reach a certain threshold, they'll become beneficial to the reduction of NO3 and PO4. For the time being, keep the GFO online. Later, you can remove it if you like. (One less reactor to deal with, right?) I don't use GFO, and haven't in nearly 10 years.

    Dose Microbacter 7 weekly, according to the instructions. I dose all bacteria in an area of high flow, either in the reef directly or in the baffles of my sump where plenty of water movement occurs.

    If you install some type of fitting on the intake of the Mag 9.5, you can lock the tubing from the AquaMaxx reactor to flow directly into the pump. This is ideal, and keeps the waste from the effluent going right into the collection cup.

    Keep your biopellet reactor running at all times. If you have a power outage, be sure to get that reactor running when you turn on your "must have" life support gear. The bacteria in the reactor will die without circulation. This isn't something to panic about, nor will it happen instantly, but within an hour of a power outage, I fire up the generator and keep mine flowing.
  2. gettareef's Avatar
    Melev, thanks for the detailed response in answering all my questions. I will look into what options are available for adding some sort of fitting on the mag 9.5 for the biopellet output. Would BRS be a good place to start? I know they have several different plumbing parts. I'll also check Lowes. So what I'm looking for is some type of fitting that fits on the mag intake, that allows water to be drawn in normally, but also has a tube fitting teed off. This sound about right? Also, where in the sump would you suggest i place the biopellet reactor pump, or does that not really matter? Thanks again for all your help. I will keep everyone updated by posting updates on this blog.
  3. melev's Avatar
    Take the intake of the Mag 9.5 with you to the store and see what fits in front of it. My skimmer uses an Eheim pump, so I used a Tee fitting that I dremeled out to make it hold onto the intake. Then I installed a cap on the opposite end, drilled a hole that the 1/2" tubing would fit through and that has worked well for this setup.
  4. gettareef's Avatar
    Would you mind posting a pic of your modded part (or is there a pic of the part in your review)? Thank you again. Will keep you updated!
  5. melev's Avatar
    Here's a page Google found for me. It's actually not a real website, but looks like one. I was working on a newer layout a long time ago.
    http://beta.melevsreef.com/biopellets