2weeks

[Amatuer21]

Running a 20g nano. Added a shrimp for a week watched ammonia spike, drop, nitrite spike then drop and nitrates steadily went up. The Shrimp decomposed to nothing. My question is, would i be good to go on a small 2 gallon water change?

[brcb7tuner]

A water change is only going to help.

[Amatuer21]

0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20ppm Nitrate

[shaginwagon13]

After a cycle I do a 40% water change

[Amatuer21]

Actually closer to 40ppm

[Amatuer21]

Ok ive had 2 gallons mixing should i up it?

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by Amatuer21

Ok ive had 2 gallons mixing should i up it?

It can't hurt to do a larger one. It gets some of that nasty cycle water out. You will get an algae bloom in the next week or so when you start running your lights and thats when you buy a CUC and let them go to work.

[Amatuer21]

Geat!! Im actually looking forward to the algae bloom. Thanks alot for your help!

[shaginwagon13]

Awesome.

Also, I would start running GFO and carbon. It will keep algae down, and you will be happier later if you start now.

[Amatuer21]

How do i run them, can i use media bags?

[shaginwagon13]

yes media bags can be used but are pretty inefficient as the media just tends to bulk together and no water flows threw the bag.

Pick up two of these:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/phosban-reactor-150.html

I wouldn't buy it new, you can find then used for $20 and you can run them out of your sump.

[brcb7tuner]

Media bags are the cheap way and a reactor is the more efficient way.

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by brcb7tuner

media bags are the cheap way and a reactor is the more efficient way.

+1

[Amatuer21]

Hmm ive never looked into a media reactor. Does it work like a canister filter or something similar?

[shaginwagon13]

You pump water into it, and it allowed the media to have an even flow of water around it so you maximize how much media comes in contact with tank water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FWD3tkE2Hs

[Amatuer21]

Ok i see. So im guessing the pump is included?

[shaginwagon13]

If you buy them used, usually the pump is included.

If you want (which will also save you on the clutter of a pump and help keep the water temp lower), you can plumb the reactors of your main return pump. Just use valves before the water enters the reactor so you can control the flow.

[Amatuer21]

Hmm sounds complicated only because i have no idea how to do that. Im liking the idea of the reactor. I was thinking about where i could put the hoses since my tank is an aio. It would only be two hoses right?

[shaginwagon13]

Yes only two hoses (one for each reactor).

This is a larger tank, but it gives you the idea how to plumb your reactors and chiller from your return pump:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...&pp=25&page=16

[cjcolvin]

Two hoses to supply the reactors and two for the output unless you run these in series i.e. output of one going into input of the other. Id just put a T in your return line and run the reactors from this, as shaginwagon13 has suggested. Very easy and much less clutter.

[Amatuer21]

Ok ill have to figure it out. Will i still be using my original return pump that im using now? Doesnt seem to complicated now that im thinking about it.

[cjcolvin]

Yes you will still use your orginal return pump(provided it has enough flow for the added resistance). I would go ahead and plumb it in and see. Be sure and add a ball valve, a gate valve would be better but a little hard to fine and more expensive than ball valves, before the reactors so you can control flow to them.

Just think of it as branching the water flow off of the main return line to feed the new reactors. The I would just let the output of the reactors run back into the sump. Easy peasy

[Amatuer21]

Ok im getting it. I havent messed with my return pump or the line yet so itll be something new. My return pump is a rio 800. My ato is also in that chamber.

[Amatuer21]

Heres a pic of the return section