Bio Balls In A Media Reactor?

Bubba77 · 02/23/2015, 11:43 PM

I am having a GHA problem in a 40 breeder tank. Phosphates are reading 0 on a crappy test kit. Low level Hanna is on the way. I picked up a used BRS dual reactor that I know is way to big for my tank but will work when I upgrade. Could I run Bio Balls in one and my GFO Carbon mix in the other. Any Thoughts Would Be Great. Ordering my media soon.

bundybear1981 · 02/24/2015, 12:54 AM

Can you provide more details on you setup?
Thing like water source? Is it RODI?
Lighting?
Feeding?
Stocking?
Filtration currently in use?
General tank details?

Are you currently using the bio balls? They tend to cause issues in our systems.

What are your other water parameters? Do you have any macro algae in the tank? A skimmer or sump in place?

These factors will all help you.

Pife · 02/24/2015, 05:54 AM

Bio balls will not help you one bit.

Dmorty217 · 02/24/2015, 05:56 AM

+1^ they will only add other problems to your system like nitrates

whosurcaddie · 02/24/2015, 07:59 AM

You need to run GFO in that reactor not bio balls.

Bubba77 · 02/24/2015, 03:11 PM

I have an RO/DI, I have a CPR HOB Skimmer, A Reef Octopus HOB Medium Fuge W/ Micro and Figi Mud in it. Changing 5 gallons of water out a week and topping off evap daily. 1 1/2" sand bed and 60 pounds of LR. 36" coralife lunar t5 with 3 itinics and 1 coral white ati bulbs. Zoas, star polips kenya tree, hammer colal and candycane. Small Sail Fin,3 1/2",Small Coral Beauty, Small Clown, 7 Line Wrass,4 margarita snails,4 of what I call Zombi snails(recent additions) Lawnmower Blenny, 8 snails,4 blue and red hermits, 2 emerald crabs. I have not put the reactor on the tank yet. It is a dual reactor from BRS with a cobalt 600. 40 gallon tank needs 1 cup GFO and 2 cups Carbon. That dosn't take up any room inside one side of this reactor set up. Just trying to find a way to use both reactors and not leave one empty.

Bubba77 · 02/24/2015, 03:15 PM

I have cut back on my feeding, using pellits, and only have my lights on for 8 hours. I vacuum top of sand not digging in to it when I do my water changes. I'm pretty shure I've been feeding to heavy. Just trying to clean up the tank without breaking the bank.

Sk8r · 02/24/2015, 03:16 PM

You do not near fill a chamber. The load should be about 4" deep and should run as a fluidized bed---think of quicksand: stays at the bottom and constantly heaves and rolls, but maintains an even surface. Running both chambers with GFO would probably hasten the removal.

Bubba77 · 02/24/2015, 03:21 PM

I've read using too much media can cause problems. I was going to run GFO and Carbon mixed in one reactor. From what I have read over the last two weeks is One cup GFO and Two cups Carbon. Just enough Media for One side of this Dual Reactor. I am new to this so thank you everyone for your thoughts. Keep them coming.

GilliganReef · 02/24/2015, 03:40 PM

I wouldnt run both in the same reactor. Your going to burn through your GFO. Best option is to run gfo seperate. Start at 1/2 cup of gfo and let it run for 2 weeks. Replace with another 1/2 cup for another 2 weeks. But during this you notice your phosphate levels rising then replace. After that start adding 1/4 cup let run for a month or until you notice Phos levels rising. Once you get to a 1 cup of GFO let it sit for 4-6 weeks before you replace or like mention before if you notice phos before replace. Carbon I would start with 1/2 cup also. Dont mix them have them in seperate reactors. I currently running a 40b with 20l sump. I have 1 1/2 cups GFO running with 1/2 cup of carbon. I had GHA problem and with just doing the GFO steps i mentioned. GHA was gone in a month. I didnt have a carbon reactor until a month ago. Good luck.

Bubba77 · 02/24/2015, 04:26 PM

Just from reading here and the instructions for the GFO and Carbon I was going to start at half dose. It seems as if running them together may cost minimally more with the GFO lasting longer than the Carbon, but not enough for the ease of running them together.Thank you for your thoughts, this is giving me more to research and think about. I will be doing something soon or I will lose this tank. Keep the info rolling. I am here to learn.

02/23/2015, 11:43 PM	#1
Bubba77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Waukegan Illinois Posts: 6	Bio Balls In A Media Reactor? I am having a GHA problem in a 40 breeder tank. Phosphates are reading 0 on a crappy test kit. Low level Hanna is on the way. I picked up a used BRS dual reactor that I know is way to big for my tank but will work when I upgrade. Could I run Bio Balls in one and my GFO Carbon mix in the other. Any Thoughts Would Be Great. Ordering my media soon.

02/24/2015, 12:54 AM	#2
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	Can you provide more details on you setup? Thing like water source? Is it RODI? Lighting? Feeding? Stocking? Filtration currently in use? General tank details? Are you currently using the bio balls? They tend to cause issues in our systems. What are your other water parameters? Do you have any macro algae in the tank? A skimmer or sump in place? These factors will all help you. __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

02/24/2015, 05:54 AM	#3
Pife Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 7,408	Bio balls will not help you one bit. __________________ Brandon I'm not saying let's get rid of all the stupid people.* I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out. Current Tank Info: 150g DT plumbed to an 80g frag tank and 220g sump in the basement. ~6-MP40s ~ 12 ATI powered t5s ~ Reefbrites and Radions supplementing ~ Custom GEO Skimmer ~ GEO CA Reactor 6x24~ Iwaki 70 Return ~

02/24/2015, 05:56 AM	#4
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	+1^ they will only add other problems to your system like nitrates __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

02/24/2015, 03:16 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You do not near fill a chamber. The load should be about 4" deep and should run as a fluidized bed---think of quicksand: stays at the bottom and constantly heaves and rolls, but maintains an even surface. Running both chambers with GFO would probably hasten the removal. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/24/2015, 07:59 AM	#5
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	You need to run GFO in that reactor not bio balls.

02/24/2015, 03:11 PM	#6
Bubba77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Waukegan Illinois Posts: 6	I have an RO/DI, I have a CPR HOB Skimmer, A Reef Octopus HOB Medium Fuge W/ Micro and Figi Mud in it. Changing 5 gallons of water out a week and topping off evap daily. 1 1/2" sand bed and 60 pounds of LR. 36" coralife lunar t5 with 3 itinics and 1 coral white ati bulbs. Zoas, star polips kenya tree, hammer colal and candycane. Small Sail Fin,3 1/2",Small Coral Beauty, Small Clown, 7 Line Wrass,4 margarita snails,4 of what I call Zombi snails(recent additions) Lawnmower Blenny, 8 snails,4 blue and red hermits, 2 emerald crabs. I have not put the reactor on the tank yet. It is a dual reactor from BRS with a cobalt 600. 40 gallon tank needs 1 cup GFO and 2 cups Carbon. That dosn't take up any room inside one side of this reactor set up. Just trying to find a way to use both reactors and not leave one empty.

02/24/2015, 03:15 PM	#7
Bubba77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Waukegan Illinois Posts: 6	I have cut back on my feeding, using pellits, and only have my lights on for 8 hours. I vacuum top of sand not digging in to it when I do my water changes. I'm pretty shure I've been feeding to heavy. Just trying to clean up the tank without breaking the bank.

02/24/2015, 03:21 PM	#9
Bubba77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Waukegan Illinois Posts: 6	I've read using too much media can cause problems. I was going to run GFO and Carbon mixed in one reactor. From what I have read over the last two weeks is One cup GFO and Two cups Carbon. Just enough Media for One side of this Dual Reactor. I am new to this so thank you everyone for your thoughts. Keep them coming.

02/24/2015, 03:40 PM	#10
GilliganReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 379	I wouldnt run both in the same reactor. Your going to burn through your GFO. Best option is to run gfo seperate. Start at 1/2 cup of gfo and let it run for 2 weeks. Replace with another 1/2 cup for another 2 weeks. But during this you notice your phosphate levels rising then replace. After that start adding 1/4 cup let run for a month or until you notice Phos levels rising. Once you get to a 1 cup of GFO let it sit for 4-6 weeks before you replace or like mention before if you notice phos before replace. Carbon I would start with 1/2 cup also. Dont mix them have them in seperate reactors. I currently running a 40b with 20l sump. I have 1 1/2 cups GFO running with 1/2 cup of carbon. I had GHA problem and with just doing the GFO steps i mentioned. GHA was gone in a month. I didnt have a carbon reactor until a month ago. Good luck.

02/24/2015, 04:26 PM	#11
Bubba77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Waukegan Illinois Posts: 6	Just from reading here and the instructions for the GFO and Carbon I was going to start at half dose. It seems as if running them together may cost minimally more with the GFO lasting longer than the Carbon, but not enough for the ease of running them together.Thank you for your thoughts, this is giving me more to research and think about. I will be doing something soon or I will lose this tank. Keep the info rolling. I am here to learn.