My filtration is not working - needs to be replaced fast, what do you reccomend?

[reefwars]

Just gonna throw it out there but clams do fine with high nutrients, polishing your water is more of a benefit to corals as clams filter nutrients.

There's not a whole lot of science to reactors basically water in, through media and out again.....the rest is just novelty

[FishyFishy!]

What pump are you using to feed the BRS reactors?

Do you have any other form of filtration on the tank right now?

How long has the tank been running?

What are you looking to get out of this filtration? Mechanical? Nutrient Export? Biological filtration?

More info = better help.

Edit: Is the only thing you have running for filtration at the moment just live rock? And skimmer?

[FishyFishy!]

On the canister filter side of things, I am actually a fan of them if you clean and maintain them regularily. I have a 40g right now with a new Fluval 406 on it, and it's been awesome. I took out all of their filter material, and replaced 3 trays with Live Rock Rubble, and the other tray with mechanical filter pad and carbon. Works well. Maybe something to look in to instead of the G3.

I like the ease of cleaning them too. Just shut it off, disconnect, and take to your sink to clean out. I always do a water change at the same time, so that I have a 5 gallon pail of salt water to rinse everything in. This way your not destroying bacteria with a freshwater rinse.

[mandyplo]

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

What pump are you using to feed the BRS reactors?

Do you have any other form of filtration on the tank right now?

How long has the tank been running?

What are you looking to get out of this filtration? Mechanical? Nutrient Export? Biological filtration?

More info = better help.

Edit: Is the only thing you have running for filtration at the moment just live rock? And skimmer?

Hi - I have a protein skimmer rated for a 200gallon tank, my tank is 55g. The tank has been running since January 2011 but we recently did a tank move from my bfs to my house and the water quality has really only been tip top for about 1.5-2 months (bf let the tank go to sh** at his house, this is why I took ownership).
What am I looking to get out of the filtration? Well I have a skimmer and live rock, that's it (I have a sump now too that I plan to put some chaeto in). So I would like my water to be more crisp, less cloudy (not that its super cloudy but it could definitely be more clear/crisp). I think there are a lot of suspended bubbles that are making it look cloudy, and I'm not sure why there are so many tiny bubbles...(they keep coming out of my return jet in spurts) I also do NOT have high nitrates or nitrites or ammonia...

If theres anything else you'd like to know please ask!

[whatcaneyedo]

Originally Posted by mandyplo

Hi - I have a protein skimmer rated for a 200gallon tank, my tank is 55g.

The manufacturer of your skimmer grossly overrates their handling capabilities.

Why is there a sponge on the intake of the maxijet pump? Is there some reason you chose it over the plastic screen?

[mandyplo]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

The manufacturer of your skimmer grossly overrates their handling capabilities.

Why is there a sponge on the intake of the maxijet pump? Is there some reason you chose it over the plastic screen?

It was part of the troubleshooting that the guys at BRS had me do - they thought I might have gunk going into the pump and clogging it causing the 0 flow output of the dual BRS reactor... but I tested the pump in my sink and well... it shot water at my ceiling and everywhere else so I know it works..

[daplatapus]

This may a stupid question, but have you tried pulling the cartridge out of the housing and tried running the unit to see if water flows then?
Are you sure the cartridge is upright and not upside down?

Sorry, but sometimes the easiest things are overlooked.

[mandyplo]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

This may a stupid question, but have you tried pulling the cartridge out of the housing and tried running the unit to see if water flows then?
Are you sure the cartridge is upright and not upside down?

Sorry, but sometimes the easiest things are overlooked.

Haha its ok, we have tried all of these things - the unit runs great with no canisters in it, and it also runs great with only the GFO canister. As soon as the carbon canister is placed in, the flow completely stops, and the canister is forsure right side up - theres a strainer on the bottom and the washer & threads on the top.

[whatcaneyedo]

You seem to be a bit confused about types of filtration so here is a rough breakdown of the few that you've listed. Canister filters, protein skimmers, fluidized media reactors, and solid organic carbon dosing are all used for different types of filtration. Canister filters physically trap and hold aquarium waste but do not remove it until you clean them out. The trouble with them is that many people do not clean them out frequently enough allowing the trapped waste to break down into nitrate. Protein skimmers remove waste from the water column before it has a chance to break down into nitrate. Fluidized media reactors are an efficient way to run Carbon, GFO or Pellets. Carbon removes yellowing compounds from the water making your tank look cleaner, allowing light to penetrate better. It also removes chemicals that your coral might release into the water to attack other coral within your system. GFO removes phosphate and silicate. Solid organic carbon dosing (biopellets) must be used in conjunction with a powerful skimmer (relative to your system volume). The pellets are biodegradable plastic that bacteria colonize and break down. The bacteria consumes roughly 4 times more nitrate than phosphate while doing this which is why some people still need to use GFO in addition to them and why they simply don't work for others.

[mandyplo]

Originally Posted by reefwars

Just gonna throw it out there but clams do fine with high nutrients, polishing your water is more of a benefit to corals as clams filter nutrients.

There's not a whole lot of science to reactors basically water in, through media and out again.....the rest is just novelty

This is true... if only the water would go THROUGH my reactor