Arrival!

[Viv]

Well, it came! The geo reactor and all the goodies. I have directions to go over a few times so that I can understand this fully...have to get the c02 (local supply place is only open M-F , but that will give me time to read over everything....need media also, so have a hunt going locally... I was loaned a co2 tank (full) but the solenoid isn't the right type for this tank-it just has a female hookup whereas the solenoid is male with a screw on cap to tighten the adjustment. Sounds like it would work but there is no collar on the tank side for the cap to screw onto..arg!

There is one thing I already don't quite understand...water is fed from the sump to the reactor? But the effluent is dripped to the sump? That doesn't make sense! The effluent in the sump water is treating the sump water and is not what is in the tank...it would seem that the reactor should be fed by the tank and the effluent should drip to the sump right before being returned to the tank. Can someone shed a light bulb on this for me?

[Viv]

, , ok,ok, as I said got lots of reading to do first!

[Weatherman]

Since the flow of water through the sump is probably around 1,000 times faster (30,000-50,000 ml/min) than the flow of water from the sump to the reactor and back again (30-50 ml/min), it doesn’t matter.

[Weatherman]

Originally Posted by Viv

, , ok,ok, as I said got lots of reading to do first!

I guess you figured it out before I got a chance to complete my post.

[Viv]

Directions help! I gotta go read and play...I'm sure I'll be back with setup or along the way to setup...thanks for the help up to this point!

[Leonardo's Reef]

Good luck setting up! I would recomment to use a pure Calcium Carbonate media, instead of coral media (you probably know this already) This because of the Phosphates.

Leonardo

[Weatherman]

Leonardo,

Do you have any recommendations on a brand? A lot of distributors claim their media is phosphate-free, but I've seen only one study and that was quite a while ago.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/short.htm

[Leonardo's Reef]

I've always heard and read that Caribsea was a good brand-low phosphates. The link you gave also claims that.

Sorry, I don't have other info, but I can ask around a bit

btw, a lot of people let their reactor output run over GFO, to get rid of any phosphate.

Leonardo

[Viv]

Got a question, of course, ...The reactor directions state to use 16 lbs. of Schuran Large Grain reactor media or equivalent. If I use the ARM by Carib Sea (I got two containers 1 gal apiece) which according to Carib Sea equals about 8lbs, each...well 2 would equal the 16 lbs. But in no way do I think this is going to reach the fill line on the reactor. Do I go by the reactor fill line or the lbs.? Any ideas? Suggestions?
On a better note got a deal from a local weld shop-10lb Co2 tank, I know it'll probably last a year, but he didn't sell smaller, it was full and good to go for 75 bucks, so I felt it was a good deal...he will do the refills and give a loaner when it has to be "recertified" .

[Weatherman]

If you have a GEO 6x24, then 16 lbs is plenty. I use 8 lbs in my 6x12. Smaller media occupies less space, so it allows plenty of room at the top of the reactor.




Looks like you got a good deal on the CO2.

[Gmoney]

I'd follow the directions and get the larger media. From what I read it helps with the flow through the reactor where the smaller media can restrict flow , especially as it breaks down.

Gal

[Loverotties]

Great stuff!

[Viv]

ok, new question. It's about placement. How do I know weather the pump has enough strength to pull up from the sump. Size is 14x14mm. 3/4 G, if that helps...its a pan world magnet pump...
If I raise the reactor up so it is above the sump, will the pump have enough strength to pull the water from the sump straight up, make a curve to the pump? Is there a way to figure this out? Or , should I pull off the return line to the tank (there are two, one to left side of tank-one to right side of tank) which are 1" pipe that I could size down to 3/4".

I think I'm making this a lot harder than it has to be...but here's another question regarding the effluent...does it need to go to the skimmer to blow off the CO2 ?

[Weatherman]

I guess it depends on how high you want to mount the reactor above the sump. When I got my GEO, it recommended to the use of a MaxiJet 1200. That pump is rated as having a maximum head of 69", so it would be more than capable of pushing water up about four to five feet even with the frictional losses from the tubing.


Directing the effluent from the reactor to the skimmer may help a bit to restore CO2 equilibrium with the air in the room, but the process of restoring equlibrium is pretty slow.

[Viv]

Got the maxijet pump idea its the recirculating pump I meant (should've been clearer, sorry) it is at the base of the reactor. There is a feed line that should enter to the pump. At least I believed that is what it does. It has a ball valve to adjust the amount coming in to the reactor and the pump at the base. I would believe some of this water enters the base of the reactor and some of this water goes to the pan world pump up the line to where it mixes with the CO2. If I raise the reactor above the sump will the pan world (this is a small pump) be strong enough to pull water up from the sump? How can I find out if it is strong enough other than to try it out? Is there a way to figure it out?