another quick fauna marin question....

[Marc Foord]

just wanted to check/clarify.

i added the initial amount of ultralith a week or so ago.

the instructions on the tub (and the FM website) state

"
In the beginning, please use only 500 g of Ultralith for 400 L / 100 gal. of water. After 30 days the amount can be increased to up to 1000 g for 400 L / 100 gal.. Exchange 25 % of UltraLith for fresh material after 6 weeks.
"

yet on the ITC site it states

"
1 liter Ultra-Lith per 100g aquarium water, net bag.

Start with 20% of the recommended amount of Ultra-Lith, increase this weekly by 10%
"

(don't you just love the g vs ml :laugh: )

so, should i add a small amount more each week, or should i wait and add the other 500g ?

also, if i'm going to see if dip in nitrates, how long do i expect to wait to see the dip roughly ??


thanks

marc

[maestro]

I noticed the same, I remember weighing and measuring an amount and Its a while ago but I dont think there was too much difference.

I use the ml because thats what zeovit said so thought it maybe was the correct one :D

I would use ITC's method although being impatient I added it in one go instead of small increases and a couple of corals did suffer.

It was only when I started cycling the reactor that I noticed a big decrease in Nitrate, came down from 15-20 to around 1-2 in under a week.

[Marc Foord]

thanks maestro

don't intend buying another reactor (if i can help it!), so just using the FM 'half method' i.e. bag in the sump

i'll add a small bit each week until i'm up to the limit, then change some of it every 6 weeks and will see how it goes then (sigh....pinning my hopes on yet another nitrate reduction method :rolleyes: )

[KeithM]

Marc you will get better results with a reactor especially with nitrates because you can cycle the zeoliths (on/off) with a reactor. This will help promote better nitrate reduction

Also, try putting your zeoliths in plastic basket instead of a bag - this will help you get better flow around the zeo stone and also make shaking the stones easier - especially if you use a basket with a handle.. something like this:

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/image/75226_bu.jpg

[Marc Foord]

thanks keith

who's selling the ultralith reactor's currently out of interest ? couldn't see any mention on the itc site ?

[maestro]

I aquatics do the best reactors, coralculture sell them,

alternatively if your handy you can make your own, doesnt look too difficult

http://zeovit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34

[Reef Encounters]

Hi Marc,

We noticed a drop from a 100 (:o ) to 25 in 8 days with the use of the reactor:dance: :applause: :thumbsup: . It stayed at about 25 for a few months now, however we now have started cycling the reactor 3 hours on 3 hours off since the weekend I'll let you now readings next week.

We use the grotech reactors (like the rest of the grotech range excellent build quality) we have made a simple addtion in the way of a non return valve which allows you to use the reactor in 'cycle mode'.

The grotech's are sump based, if you want a hang on then I know the i-aquatics based in singapore make them to order.

We sell the grotech reactors (at grea prices!!!;) :p ) and we know you can get them from CGA & STM at good prices too.
Nick sells the I aquatic range at coral culture too.

We decommissioned our reactor for a week to see if it made any difference, the day after we refired up we could see the difference in water clarity.

[Marc Foord]

thanks darren.:)

can you pm me details (link on website?) and a price for the grotech out of interest please.

thanks

marc

[Reef Encounters]

Hi Marc,

we do an ultimate reef special:



http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=194556 (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=194556)


and our reactors are here at the bottom of the page:

http://www.reef-encounters.net/70160/info.php?p=2&cat=29659


regards

[ckrhone]

I have PM'd Jez on this but just wondered what all your thoughts are. The Fauna Marin website says that no more than 400 litres an hour should pass through the ultrlith material yet a 1200 litre per hour pump comes with the reactor? Conflict of information or an oversight? What are your experiences with the reactors and have your systems suffered because of the additional flow?

Chris

[Reef Encounters]

you are correct in that the grotechs have the eheim 1250 fitted.

The concerns with running it too fast is it can strip too quickly (most notably on smaller tanks) we have not noticed any detrimental effects.

I know Ian & jez are quite (sensibly) cautious when it comes to dosages of the fm additives, particulary on systems that have been established prior to using the system. I would reccomend, (as with all the FM products) to start off and build up, I have a very strong feeling that the system is different for different tanks, and its important to watch and respond the changes that occur.
Another thing to note is that the grotechs are designed to be placed in the sump, (and although we did a test out of the sump and it worked fine) that perhaps running a lower flow rate through could perhaps be a safety measure if using out of the sump as they are not fully pressurised.
Also I imagine that with the media your are not actually getting the 1200 litres or so qouted by eheim.

We have made a very simple addtion in the way of a non return valve which allows the unit to be cycled, (be careful if purchasing a NRV to ensure it is not the spring versions often sold)

We've yet to see the I-aquatics in the flesh (watch this space!!)
The grotechs are well made and tbh good value considering you get the eheim with it.
Also look out for our own branded ones coming soon!!!!!:dance:

[maestro]

Ive seen both and for me the I aquatics are much better than the Grotechs, the design of the I aquatics is a tube within a tube to stop any stones becoming jammed, also means you can spin the reactor.