What type of media and reactors for reef?

Daddyrawg · 05/10/2018, 11:23 AM

My 90 gallon is cycling.. I am looking into having a Reef setup..
Should I get reactors and place in my sump? if so, how many and what should I use for media? when should i run them? 1 reactor or 2? what is necessary for an awesome healthy tank? carbon, gfo, biopellets? I need clarity

Sk8r · 05/10/2018, 11:56 AM

Nada, unless you have an algae problem (GFO as phosphate remover in GFO reactor) but you don't know that yet. For clarity, use a filter sock and clean it often. Any stoppage in the water flow can increase nitrates, which are not your friend. Your live rock and sand will support bacteria that do the job of ammonia removal, if your fish load is smaller than the processing capacity of your rock and sand. You do need a good skimmer, one for about 200 gallons. But that won't have any work to do until your tank has been running about a month. Don't run carbon unless you need it (soft coral). Just let the tank do the work, and read the sticky notes atop this forum.

05/10/2018, 11:23 AM	#1
Daddyrawg Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 814	What type of media and reactors for reef? My 90 gallon is cycling.. I am looking into having a Reef setup.. Should I get reactors and place in my sump? if so, how many and what should I use for media? when should i run them? 1 reactor or 2? what is necessary for an awesome healthy tank? carbon, gfo, biopellets? I need clarity

05/10/2018, 11:56 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Nada, unless you have an algae problem (GFO as phosphate remover in GFO reactor) but you don't know that yet. For clarity, use a filter sock and clean it often. Any stoppage in the water flow can increase nitrates, which are not your friend. Your live rock and sand will support bacteria that do the job of ammonia removal, if your fish load is smaller than the processing capacity of your rock and sand. You do need a good skimmer, one for about 200 gallons. But that won't have any work to do until your tank has been running about a month. Don't run carbon unless you need it (soft coral). Just let the tank do the work, and read the sticky notes atop this forum. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.