zeo filter before or after skimmer?

[Tom Berry]

I have my zeo filter placed after my skimmer. In an article in the April/May issue of Coral magazine, Jorg Kokott says the following:

"An effective zeolite filter is generally placed before a strong skimmer. One reason is the hypothesis that clinoptilolites emit iron and manganese that precipitate as insoluble metal phosphate. Just like the liquid phospate binders of old, these metal phosphate flakes can be skimmed. Another reason is that during the addition of carbon, portions of the biofilm will be torn off the substrate (zeolite) and can be skimmed as well."

Does anyone have their zeolite filter placed before their skimmer?
Does it make any difference, either way?

Tom

[premnas]

i have read that the die bacteria in the zeolit,are destined to be skimmed out of the tank... (article of Jens Kallmeyer--- [email protected]---) therefore, i think that the zeolit must be placed after skimmer.
bye!

[gqjeff]

I have my reactor before my skimmer intake.. I still get plenty of mulm in the main display after stirring...

Peace, Jeff

[Aged Salt]

Interesting theory by Jens, but remember it's just a theory. As Premnas mentioned the mulm, metal-P04's[theory] should eventually reach our skimmer. I've had my reactor before my skimmer[1st 4 mos] & I now have it after my skimmer[8mos] My corals look much better with the latter set-up. Is it that the 1st 4mos were needed to deplete my nutrients & either positioning of the reactor/skimmer would not have made any difference? Or is it that the bacterioplankton/mulm/metal-P04's reaches the corals first for nourishment before being skimmed? Bob

[premnas]

hi Aged Salt! have you seen a difference of po4, in 1 st and 2nd phase?
bye!

[Aged Salt]

Hi Premnas, sure my nutrients are lower now than in my 1st 4 mos. on ZEOvit. Is this why my corals look better or is it the positioning change of the reactor after the skimmer? Probably, it a little of both. If I had the time, an interesting experiment would be to go back to placing the reactor ahead of the skimmer & observe my corals. To do so would require me to replumb my skimmer & I'll not have time for this interesting experiment right now. Bob

[premnas]

Thank ,Aged Salt! my advice is that your corals loves the mulm! In my tank i 've seen the acropora sp. beautifull, with high and low nutrients (po4-no3) but the look better is alwaise when in the water there are food (aa., plankton, etc)!
bye!
Davide