jhnrb 150 reef

[jhnrb]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

Nice John. What will the flow rate be going through that denitrator?

The Eheim pump is a recirculation pump at 168 g/hr. the drip rate will be apprx. 6 drops per second and if the rotten egg smell appears the drip rate will be increased. so full open 24 hrs, then 3 drops per second for a few days and then 6 drops a second thereafter and will check frequently in the 1st couple weeks to fine tune it if need be. The feed to the unit will be an aqualifter which is not yet here. it is on the way. feed water will be taken from the cy-294 return chamber from the main tank and returned to that chamber by drip above the water line, or, I may return it at the overflow gate of the wetdry. havent decided yet. since im running ozone may be beneficial to return it to the same area as the output of the protein skimmer that processes the ozone. we will see. need to do some more research on a couple things to confirm my opinion on where best to return it.

[Dentoid]

I've heard mixed reviews about denitrators. Keep us posted on that one!

[jhnrb]

Originally Posted by Dentoid

I've heard mixed reviews about denitrators. Keep us posted on that one!

One of the main things to remember about a denitrator is that the return is oxygen depleted and contains co2 so you need to reoxygenate the return water. so the two skimmers in the return will accomplish that as well as the path over the wet dry and bio balls which are mostely out of the water. I still have to put an air pump to the wet dry and main sump above the water lines which will come soon. probably another batt back up azoo air pump.

[Woodstock]

A refugium filled with macro algae following the denitrator would relish the high co2.

[Craig Manoukian]

Excellent point Doni. Isn't nature grand the way it all works?

[jhnrb]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

A refugium filled with macro algae following the denitrator would relish the high co2.

GOOD IDEA, HOWEVER, THE REFUGE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. I WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER THAT. ILL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT SENERIO. WILL KEEP YA POSTED. THANKS FOR THE THOUGHT.

[Craig Manoukian]

Always something to modify, eh?

[jhnrb]

Always good to receive the comments from others who evaluate from a distance and not so close to the project as to cloud the issue. but, will rethink it. as you know I have the additional 2 protein skimmers and that would also oxygenate the return very well, so will deal with it tomorrow and try and finish the electrical while im at it.

[Craig Manoukian]

Can't wait for your next update!

[jhnrb]

1st coral addition. Hydnophora. just added evening late before pic taken. lights not ramped up fully yet. just 1st light. just a quick update. will post pics of the acro digitata and the corcea clams later. so it starts. a little soon but water parameters looked so good I felt these initial additions would contribute to the system. also added 6 line wrasse, tominie tang, and quad of athias/flatheads - hawk. (one male) all doing great and eating. now out to the shed to complete electrical and concentrate on rest of the equipment. (also some green chomis. been doing just fine for 2 weeks. clams have attached and doing very well. ok will post more pic's with full illumination in a few days or do.

[sasquatch]

Reward time has arrived! all that work starting to marry up, keep the pics coming!

[Craig Manoukian]

John, good luck with the clam. Barry at clamsdirect.com recommends a year old cycled/stable tank with a lagoonal water column which is higher in nitrates. Less than 3" requies target feeding.

[lcstorc]

I hope that hydnophora does better for you than mine is for me. Mine is bleaching and is on the sand under 150MH lighting. It started bleaching almost immediately so keep an eye on it. Also while I haven't seen it from mine they are supposed to have a long sting so be careful what you put around it.

[cheeks69]

Wow beautiful color on the Hydno !
Do you think the denitrator is necessary ? Are you using it because you plan to have a heavy bio-load ? The people I know that have used them have had alot of trouble and eventually stopped using them. It can be complicated to dose food for anaerobic bacteria because you never know for certain how the bacterial population is.

[jhnrb]

Originally Posted by Craig Manoukian

John, good luck with the clam. Barry at clamsdirect.com recommends a year old cycled/stable tank with a lagoonal water column which is higher in nitrates. Less than 3" requies target feeding.

The system has enough nitrate in the water collum, and phosphate for the clams, also, I am feeding the clams. The system has enough water volume to easily handle the initial load. although not very matured, I am running a redox of 310 and it is rising slowly. initially I put in 3 large ocean prawns to start the cycle, I also dosed it with a bio boost, and clarifyer not necessarily in that order. nitrates are at 5 and ammonia is at 0 and nitrites at .15. I tend to watch the animals and see how they react. its sometimes hard to explain but depending on how the animals are reacting depends on what I do. at present all is looking ok. will see how it goes. I guess I forgot to say I do feed my systems, I am not of the camp to starve the animals, hence , the equipment at hand to offset the other if needed and when the bio load approaches the capacity of the water volume. Thanks for the comment and the info. I do appreciate all thoughts.