BIOPELLET REACTOR COMBO KIT help

[Vinnys reef]

I ordered a dispelled reactor off of brs. And as I always do I order things then go on YouTube and look at reviews. I seen that you have to have a good skimmer and plumb in the return of the reactor into the skimmer. I have a small tank and evo 13.5 with a hang on the back refugium running a icecap k1 nano skimmer my ? Is can I just have the supply and return in the refugium or do I have to have the return plumb into a skimmer if so do you know of a skimmer I can get that will work with my small tank I seen where reefer that have my tank drilled the side and put in a sump I’m trying not to do that. I attached a top pic of my tank so you can kind of see what I’m working with

 

[Reeferdude1888]

If you have the choice to plumb it direct then that's great but if you don't you just need to direct the effluent coming from the pellet reactor to the intake of the skimmer .Im sure someone on here may have info on a skimmer that may make this possible with your setup .

 

[Vinnys reef]

Thanks or your help
ill just have to fit both pumps in my small 3rd chamber and try and fit the return line to the bottom of the 2nd chamber where the skimmer supply is

 

[Vette67]

My pellet reactor is not plumbed directly into my skimmer. But the closer you get the output of the reactor to the input of the skimmer, the better. Mine both drain into my sump. So it’s close, but not perfect. I have one manifold that feeds my skimmer and return pump, so it would be very difficult for me to plumb the bio pellets reactor directly into my skimmer. But there is no doubt that when I run the bio pellet reactor, my skimmer output increases, and becomes smellier.

 

[Vinnys reef]

Do you know of a skimmer I can buy that can be hard plumb into my tank and sit in the back area of my tank with no sump

My pellet reactor is not plumbed directly into my skimmer. But the closer you get the output of the reactor to the input of the skimmer, the better. Mine both drain into my sump. So it’s close, but not perfect. I have one manifold that feeds my skimmer and return pump, so it would be very difficult for me to plumb the bio pellets reactor directly into my skimmer. But there is no doubt that when I run the bio pellet reactor, my skimmer output increases, and becomes smellier.
[/QUOTE

 

[Vette67]

In my opinion it would be difficult. Most skimmers are pretty touchy when it comes to maintaining their level, so having 2 pumps feed one skimmer would increase the complexity of maintaining the level. I would think the best you can do is get the output of the reactor pointed directly at the input of the skimmer. But I also don’t think it’s really important to skim 100% of the reactor output. If my skimmer grabbed 50% of my bio pellet output, I’d be surprised, since my return pump isn’t that much bigger than my skimmer pump. Just aim it the best you can....

 

[Vinnys reef]

Thanks for the help I’ll try that, do you know how much media I should start with I have 14.5 gal of water in my system or the max I should use I’m seeing that I should start with half of what I will need

In my opinion it would be difficult. Most skimmers are pretty touchy when it comes to maintaining their level, so having 2 pumps feed one skimmer would increase the complexity of maintaining the level. I would think the best you can do is get the output of the reactor pointed directly at the input of the skimmer. But I also don’t think it’s really important to skim 100% of the reactor output. If my skimmer grabbed 50% of my bio pellet output, I’d be surprised, since my return pump isn’t that much bigger than my skimmer pump. Just aim it the best you can....

 

[Vette67]

Thanks for the help I’ll try that, do you know how much media I should start with I have 14.5 gal of water in my system or the max I should use I’m seeing that I should start with half of what I will need

I don’t know what the proper dose is, but it wouldn’t be much. I think I use about 2 cups in my 180. So I would start with just enough to allow the pellets to tumble in the reaction chamber. Maybe just enough to cover the bottom.

 

[Reeferdude1888]

when I used bio pellets I started with a third of what was required then 2 weeks later added another third and so on ,but you will find there is usually clear instructions on the pac that your bio pellets come in .

 

[Vinnys reef]

I got the reactor in today and hooked it up I got the return as close to the skimmer as I can i hope this works I had to move my heater out of the 3rd chamber and move it to the refug I hope the heater will work and not make my tank cool down. i have the in tank media basket in chamber one with filter floss, chemi pure blue and elite when needed the ice cap skimmer in chamber 2, and return pump in chamber 3 with the duetto ato and reactor pump,the supply pump for the refug is in the tank.
im going to let the Biopellets sit in my tank water over night should I add micro bacteria 7 in with them?

 

[Vinnys reef]

I’ll post tomorrow showing how much I used and the tumble rate to make sure it’s good

 

[Reeferdude1888]

Job well done that’s more than close enough to your skimmer intake you may have to adjust the air intake on your skimmer because of the new effluent it’s going to be taking in from your reactor once it’s fully functioning

 

[Vinnys reef]

thats all I can get it to move I have a 500 gph pump the maxjet 1200 is like under 300 gph that the pump brs said to use do you guys think I should order that one or is this ok

 

[Vinnys reef]

They are just bouncy a little bit

 

[Reeferdude1888]

Hi when I used bio pellets I always got an oversized pump and used a tap connection to control the movement of he pellets which sometimes can clump together so having the tap to udjust the flow works well and let's you fine tune the movement of the bio pellets.

 

[Vinnys reef]

Brs has nothing in stock I only order off of them so I'll have to wait for the pump to be in stock I'm thinking of taking out the pellet s and making it a carbon and gfo mix till the pump gets here the I'm doing weekly water changes on my tank now it's about 14 gal and I do 5 gal change I wanted the biopellets to keep my nitrate in check and do way less water changes what is a good level of nitrate in the tank I have lps and soft corals it at 12 when it just 25 i do the water change

 

[Reeferdude1888]

Hi a lot of ppl aim for 0.25 to 5ppm but there are reef tanks out there that thrive with higher nutrients every tank is different but the rule of thumb is 0.25 to 5ppm .