Ozone, UV, Phosphate and Nitrate reactor

[Reefaquariumnut]

My system...Roughly 875g

600g main display (96 x 48 x 30)
160g in sumps
30g refugium
Calcium reactor
Kalk reactor
Media reactor with carbon
65g Volcano skimmer w/Alita 40 pump (not currently running air)
6 x 400w 12k bulbs w/ Icecap ballasts and Lumenbright reflectors
6 x 6201 Tunze controlled by Aquasurfs
Barracuda return pump with Wavyseas
Barracuda CL with OM-4
ACIII Pro w/ all the bells and whistles
Air Exchanger and HVAC dedicated to room

Rock and Sand...

I have around 600lbs of sand and 550 lbs of rock.

Feeding...

A mixture of brine, mysis, bloodworms, halibut, krill, shrimp, silverslides, vitamins, and cyclopeeze. This is fed 2x/day and amounts to 3-4 oz total.

Timeline...

The tank has been online for 2 months and fish have been just added in the last 3 weeks. I have roughtly 30+ fish. I just added one coral this weekend to see how it reacts to environment.

Future...

I would like to have roughly 65-75 fish and a 75/15/10 mixture of SPS/LPS/Softies.

With all that said...

I would like to run Ozone, UV, and maybe a Nitrate reactor. What I am looking for is the best way to accomplish this. I have heard that you can run ozone through the skimmer and the Volcano is built to handle ozone. But it has also been suggested to buy a cheap skimmer and run it through there. I just wonder how long a junk skimmer will last and is it cost effective to do so?

With UV, I am wondering where to plumb it? More specifically the refugium or sump? Also, what cycle do I run the UV? I have heard reverse of the main display lights or in conjunction with the refugium lights.

In regards to the nitrate reactor I am wondering if they are a good thing to consider. Because I feed alot (and its only bound to be more). I have heard of dosing alcohol and amino acids, but then i've heard not to run UV and ozone? Basically, my question is any one have an experience with these? are they the best option to keep nitrates down? What are my other options (zeovit, etc)? I would like something that can be automated and/or easy for someone to understand if i am gone.

Lastly, I have a carbon reactor that runs 24/7 right now. I want to start running a phosphate reactor. Can I run carbon and phosphate together in the same media reactor? Should i buy another one? Does a phophate reactor run 24/7 as well? If I need another one, what is my BEST option?

I am looking for questions, comments, concerns.

Thank you in advance!!

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

Nothing??? No comments?

 

[ivgonmad]

I run my UV sterilizer 24/7 along with my fuge light. My Phosphate reactor is on 24/7 too, and use separate reactors for carbon and Phosban.

For Nitrates your best option is water changes or a big fuge with macro algae. De-nitrators, deep sand bed, vodka all work to reduce nitrates too, I guess its just a question of personal choice

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I prefer to not use a skimmer for ozone, as the flow rates and dwell time are not optimized at all for ozone (too high of flow and too short of exposure time), and I also prefer to run the effluent (air and water) over carbon and that can be hard to do with some skimmers. I discuss such issues here:

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 1: Chemistry and Biochemistry
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/rhf/index.php

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 2: Equipment and Safety
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 3: Changes in a Reef Aquarium upon Initiating Ozone
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-05/rhf/index.php


You can run carbon and GFO together if you want, but that may make changing them on different schedules more complicated. If you run them in series, put the carbon first so you use less of the "expensive " GFO binding sites binding organics.

I do not use UV and do not see any benefit for my system. I also do not use a denitrator, but they can be useful. I prefer to use macroalgae.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

I like the idea of running ozone over carbon...what reaction chamber do you run ozone through if you don't use the skimmer? Also, how much mg/day do I run ozone at? or should i just turn it on/off based on the ORP? Someone had mentioned 2mg/gallon of system volume. I don't know if that means per hour or per day...I am assuming per day.

I will probably buy another reactor to run the GFO. That way I can run the media for specified times and not have to worry about clean-up as much.

Great Information!!

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I show various ozone rectors in the second article, and I'm still using the DIY tubing reactor that I show there. Dosing is there too.