Reactor Feed Pump

[Catastrofe]

I need opinions on my reactor feed pump. I run 1 liter of ZEOs in my reactor, so theoretically I need 100gph for flow. I've been using an Eheim Aquaball, which is rated at a maximum of 172gph. However, it's not a very forcefull flow, and I figure with head loss/back-pressure I'm close to 100gph.

What is everyone else (those running 1 liter of stones) using for a pump?

A secondary question. . .how long before the Chaeto in my sump starts dying off? I've been using ZEO for close to a year, mostly in a bag but for 7 weeks with a reactor. I'm looking at the change to a reactor as "starting from scratch", but my macro is still growing.

Thanks!!

[Orion76]

Do you still have the miracle mud? There may still be plenty of chaeto food left in there

[Aged Salt]

Good point, Timon, as usual

Hi Bob, are you cycling the zeo-reactor on & off at 3 hr. intervals? This is very helpful during the 1st several months of use in developing a balanced nutrient reduction/bacterial colonization. If you color or growth is stymied, maybe a review is in order by answering the questionnaire "tell us about your tank" Thnx. Bob

[Aquatic Image]

The Quiet One 800 works well for a reactor feed pump. Max fow rate is 220gph but it is adjustable. They also have the 1200 which has a max flow of 296gph and it is adjustable as well.

[Catastrofe]

I haven't been running mud for about 7 months now. I changed my sump to a 40 gallon breeder which has some LR, my skimmer (ER CS8-1) and the Chaeto. Since I started ZEO (less the 6 weeks or so that I've had my reactor), my stones were in a filter bag. The old sump allowed me to place them in high flow, but since the set-up of the breeder, there's been very little flow thru them.

My typical dosing is 2 drops Bac/food, 2 times a week. I don't use Start2 as it usually results in brown slime on my panes, even if I dose 2 drops (yes drops) per day. I run a liter of stones in my reactor using the Aquaball as a feed pump. I just measured the flow out of my reactor and it's 1 quart in 11 seconds so that's 81GPH. I'm not cycling the pump because I've been using ZEO for so long, albeit not with an optimum setup.

Coloration and growth have been excellent, until recently when I started noticing some slight tissue recession. I salinity was low (1.024) and I corrected that over the last 2 days (now 1.025).

Here's a review of my system as it stands today. My alk and Ca are high because I nuked some monti eating nudis this morning. A super-saturated mixture kills them on the spot with minimal harm to the coral. My typicall alk reading is 7.4 and my Ca is 440:

1. Gross water volume of your complete system (incl. sump etc.)
140 gallons
2. Net water volume (incl. sump etc.)
110 gallons
3. Are you using a CaCO2 reactor or other technique
GEO calcium reactor
4. Are you using a PO4 reactor (how long, how long ago, etc.)
No
5. Are you using Ozone
No
6. Are you using UV
No
7. What skimmer are you using (type, rated water volume)
Euro Reef CS 8-1
8. What are your actual PO4 and NO3 levels
PO4 is .03 via Salifert. NO3 is undetectable via Salifert
9. What are your actual Ca, Alk and Mg levels
Ca 480
Mg 1410
Alk 9.3
10. What filtration method do you use (refugium, DSB, Miracle Mud, etc.)
Fuge
11. Type of light (Watt, color temp, how old, etc.)
2 x 250DE, 1 X 150DE, all Phoenix 14k new as of Thanksgiving. Previous was AB10K for the 250 and AB20K for the 150
12. What corals do you keep
Mostly monti and acro with some LPS (mycedium, alveopora, galaxea)
13. Tissue color (light or dark)
Medium
14. How long has the tank been running
2 1/2 years
15. Why do you want to use the ZEOvit system
Improved health, color, growth
16. Any supplemental dosing (type, amount, why, etc.)
1 bag of Chemipure in sump
17. Live rock (how much, how old, etc.)
150 lbs, 2 1/2 years
18. Any present problems
Some slight tissue recession on selected acros, on tips. Also, red turf algae has been a problem for at least 6 months
19. Problem description (tissue loss tips, tissue loss base, diatom bloom, algae, etc.)
See above
20. What test kit do you use (how old, recently switched, etc.)
Salifert, 6-12 months old
21. Present dosing, amounts and intervals (ZEOvit, ZEObak, ZEOfood, ZEOstart, ZEOspur2, etc.)
2 drops/twice weekly, BAC and food
22. Other water parameters and water stability (salinity, temp, etc.)++
SG 1.025
Temp 79-80

[Aged Salt]

Thnx. Bob. Can you elaborate on your treatment of the nukes with a "supersaturated mixture"? You raised the intank KH for how long? Sorry for the questions but others, including myself, could benefit from your method. Be sure to bring the KH back into range[hopefully, there will not be any consequences for your SPS] but to be sure I'd wait for a few[2-3] weeks before beginning any dosage changes until the KH change-effect has passed. Please dose your current schedule as above for the next 3 wks. Then, if the corals are stable, but color is not "popping" begin this schedule:

1)dose 1 Cup carbon; knead 3-4x's/wk & exchange monthly.
2)dose 1ltr. zeolites, your flow is fine. Pump-clean the stones 3-4 x's/day, 5 reps. each time. Increasing the cleaning will provide more effectiveness in nutrient lowering & mulm nourishment for our corals[improved color, growth & health]
3)dose 6 drops Bak, & 3 drops Food every other day for one wk. with new zeolites, then dose these 2x's/wk. Turning off your skimmer at your stage with ZEOvit is optional. I no longer do this when dosing Bak-Food. Do dose these in front the your zeo-filter.
4)dose .5ml Start2 2x's/day. Higher doses of the zeo's will not result in darkening film on your panes. If you notice some, increase Start2 to 1ml 2x's/day. After a few weeks, you will notice an amazing improvement in your Acropora's color
5)dose 2 drops AAHC 2x's/day;dose 10-12 drops C-V daily; dose PIF 4 drops 2x's/wk

Please update us on your progress, thnx.Bob

[Catastrofe]

Thanks Bob.

My treatment method for the nudis involves mixing kalkwasser to the point where the kalk no longer dissolves. I then stir the mixture, and use a syringe (with needle) to "inject" the solution on the nudi infected area. This seems to kill them on the spot. I use a similar method on aiptasia, but for them I need to inject the solution into their bodies.

If you could clarify on the "new" dosing, are you saying Start2 doesn't cause the brownish/green film on my panes? I thought I read that it did. . .

Thanks,

Bob

"D

[Aged Salt]

OK, Bob, how long then did your dKH stay out of the norm?

Bob, I crossed the very same path that you're experiencing--low nutrients but dullness from my original coral colors, after initally marked color improvement for months. Sortaof a step backwards in color, despite very nutrient-poor waters. After many conversations with Alexander, he suggested I try much higher dosages of the zeo's, as Bak, Food & Start2 contain special elements necessary for coral chromosynthesis, allowing brightening within the pocillorin reflection[theory] &/or true coral tissue. Within a wk. I noticed improvement in color, more deep & richer. After a time, one can further define our coral's appearance with the additions of the Spurs, which if you wish to try these after a few wks. of the new schedule, I'll be happy to help. I do wish you, though, to hold off from the new schedule, until you feel your corals are healthly for a time. Bob

[Catastrofe]

I'm guessing that my alk was a little high for about 2 weeks. I have a number of acros with TN at the tips and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that resolving the salinity and alk issues get them healthy again.

Thanks for the help.

[Catastrofe]

Thanks for the input.

Another question. . .

My phosphates are higher now than they were when I started using ZEO (they've always been undetectable but now they're at .03). What would cause this? I feed mostly frozen foods although on a daily basis. I also feed one algae tab per day as I have a Maculosus angel that only seems to eat that and my zooanthids .

My RO/DI water and replacement saltwater both test at 0. My Ca reactor effluent tests the same as my tank.

This is frustrating. . . .

[Aged Salt]

Hi Bob, I hope you had a great Christmas. If your corals are healthy & parms stable, then begin the new schedule to hasten reef improvement. Of course, be sure your product water is zero P04's & TDS <5. You may need to run BiPhos3 or Phosgard under your CR effluent[above the waterline]Bob

[Catastrofe]

Thanks Bob. . .just edited my post regarding top-off and replacement saltwater!! Timing is everything. . .