M6S1K3 Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Thinking of adding a dual reactor to the setup. My understanding is a skimmer removes organic compounds from the water that will cause phosphates to appear where GFO will remove already developed phosphates/ water impurities given off from corals and the like? And for carbon and GFO reactors would it be beneficial to run all the time? Could it be detrimental at all to run all the time? Thanks for the help Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Could be detrimental if you strip all the PO4 out of the system and starve your corals. No need to run any Phosphate binders unless your PO4 is over 0.04. And some would argue higher. Carbon is not as big an issue to run all the time to maintain water clarity and remove tannic from the water that causes it to turn a yellowish color. Also pulls some coral toxins from the water as well which can retard coral growth rates. Be sure to start slow ~ 1/2 of recommended doses, and wash well in RODI water prior to introducing to the reactors and your system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6S1K3 Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share Posted April 1, 2015 Ok. I definitely have algae growth. Brown hair on some rocks and get a decent amount on the glass every day or two. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6S1K3 Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share Posted April 1, 2015 When you say wash well in ro/di before introducing you mean the reactors. Or the media ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reburn Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Wash reactors in a 10% vinegar solution overnight. Especially if they were used. It's less important if they are new but it will help remove any contaminants, oils or greases. Rinse media with RODI before putting in the reactor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6S1K3 Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share Posted April 1, 2015 Ok. Thanks. Any special way to rinse media in the RO/DI? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 I just usually hook it up like normal and just run the effluent into a bucket for the first minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6S1K3 Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 Ok. Till the waters clear I'm guessing? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Thinking of adding a dual reactor to the setup. My understanding is a skimmer removes organic compounds from the water that will cause phosphates to appear where GFO will remove already developed phosphates/ water impurities given off from corals and the like? And for carbon and GFO reactors would it be beneficial to run all the time? Could it be detrimental at all to run all the time? Thanks for the help Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I would urge you to get Forest Rohwer's "Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas" Skimmers will not remove dissolved phosphates or nitrates and do a poor job of removing DOC, Dissolved Organic Carbon. Skimmers will remove bacteria that have utilized nitrates and phosphates and carbon hence the developement of carbon dosing to stimulate bacterial growth and heavy skimming to remove said bacteria. But there are natural processes that will reduce phosphates and nitrates without the use of skimming (I stopped skimming in 1997). Phosphates are often accused of causing nuisance algae problems but in my systems that are as much as 23 years old I have found no correlation between phosphates and nuisance algae (click on the "youtube" button in my signature to see video's of some of my tanks) For what it's worth Kleypas, et al, (1999) found the average across all reefs for inorganic phosphates was .13 ppm (as aquarists we can't test for organic phosphate). For an additional reference the pristine Kingman Island used for some of Rohwer's research above has .1 ppm PO4. For a better understanding of skimming and TOC, Total Organic Carbon, I suggest reading Feldman's research below. Ganulated Activated Carbon pt. 1 & 2 http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/1/aafeature1 http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/aafeature1 Total Organic Carbon in Aquaria http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/8/aafeature3 http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/9/aafeature2 Protein Skimate Analysis http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature Protein Skimmer Performance http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature2 http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature Bacterial Counts in Aquaria vs Reefs http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature Here's the link to Kleypas's paper: http://www.ronshimek.com/references/Kleypas_et_al_1999_Environmental_Limits_To_Coral_Reef_Development.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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