Arid Users thread

[Donovan Joannes]

PM me if you are interested to know the best way running a tank with carbon dosing. I am not selling a product, I am sharing my experiences :D. It's a DIY thing by the way.

 

[Flux Capacitor]

I’m bringing this thread back from the abyss. I’m looking at putting one of these reactors on my new tank build. Has anyone been able to have good success? Does anyone think it could be a flow issue through the unit?

My current plan is to run an m1 as my return pump, and have a manifold on it to feed the arid. Any information is appreciated!

 

[Robert's Reef]

I bought a Pax Bellum N24 for my 125 gal tank. And I'm using the recommended MJ1200 powerhead to feed it. I have had no problems with it. I thin the cheato out every to weeks. It raised my pH from 7.8 to 8.2, with the normal daily variations. My Nitrate has stabilized at 2.0. I moved to an ARID because I wanted to move toward the Triton method, and I didn't have a refugium.

Overall, I'm very pleased with it, and don't regret installing one.

Robert

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Thanks for the info Robert! One of the things I struggle with in my current tank is keeping my ph up. Its range is usually between 7.8-7.98. Having this unit not only remove the nitrates and phosphates, but also help with my ph is a big bonus. Do you rinse the cheto in tank water when you thin it out? I assume with your nitrates a 2.0 you don’t dose any, or add iron?

How has the Triton method been working for you?

Does anyone have an opinion on if I should use a dedicated pump for the reactor? Or do you think a manifold off my return would be sufficient? This would be the only thing besides the return to the tank the pump would be running.

 

[Zaffor]

I have an Arid n24 that I have been waiting to install. I also have an M1 and my neptune flow meters show only 300gph to display meaning I wouldnt have the extra headroom to flow the arid at the recommended rate. I am waiting on the red dragon 100w to release so I can change out return pump and put arid online. Check to see if your M1 can handle the flow through the arid as well as maintain your desired turnover rate

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Wow your losing a lot off of the m1, it’s suppose to push 2000gph. They advertise their chart to be around 1000 gph at 10 feet of head. Is it just running as a return? That 300 is an 85% loss, and according to the chart would mean you have 20+ feet of head. How much head do you have?

I think I’d like to get around 200-300 gph going through my sump, to get close to my skimmer pump. I’m currently running a Nyos 160, and plan to use it for my new tank. Either way the 300 gph you’re measuring has me worried it won’t be enough.

 

[Robert's Reef]

Thanks for the info Robert! One of the things I struggle with in my current tank is keeping my ph up. Its range is usually between 7.8-7.98. Having this unit not only remove the nitrates and phosphates, but also help with my ph is a big bonus. Do you rinse the cheto in tank water when you thin it out? I assume with your nitrates a 2.0 you don’t dose any, or add iron?

How has the Triton method been working for you?

Does anyone have an opinion on if I should use a dedicated pump for the reactor? Or do you think a manifold off my return would be sufficient? This would be the only thing besides the return to the tank the pump would be running.

I do dose the Manganese/Molybedium/Iron/Nitrate when I think about it. But definitely not regularly. My nitrates are in check, but my phosphate isn't. And for some reason the the AL99 isn't doing as good of job as the gfo. But Pax Bellum says not to use gfo. So, I'm struggling with keeping my phospate in check with the ARID.

I rinse the cheto out in just plain RO water, and that has worked fine for me. Since the Triton method says no water changes, I don't have tank water to use.

Robert

 

[Zaffor]

Wow your losing a lot off of the m1, it’s suppose to push 2000gph. They advertise their chart to be around 1000 gph at 10 feet of head. Is it just running as a return? That 300 is an 85% loss, and according to the chart would mean you have 20+ feet of head. How much head do you have?

I think I’d like to get around 200-300 gph going through my sump, to get close to my skimmer pump. I’m currently running a Nyos 160, and plan to use it for my new tank. Either way the 300 gph you’re measuring has me worried it won’t be enough.

My aquarium is an Elos 160 which they design for lower turnover (as you said to match the skimmer). I have 1" piping running to the return bulkhead but it is a single small return so that probably accounts for the head pressure. I remember reading somewhere that most of our pumps dont flow what we think after all the restrictions. Depending on your return you may be fine it was just something to consider. I believe the N24 was recommended to flow at 180-200 gph.

 

[Flux Capacitor]

My aquarium is an Elos 160 which they design for lower turnover (as you said to match the skimmer). I have 1" piping running to the return bulkhead but it is a single small return so that probably accounts for the head pressure. I remember reading somewhere that most of our pumps dont flow what we think after all the restrictions. Depending on your return you may be fine it was just something to consider. I believe the N24 was recommended to flow at 180-200 gph.

Oh gotcha. After thinking about it more today I think I will buy a separate pump to run a manifold, or at least a dedicated pump for one. I started looking and I think it will be either a vectra s1, or a varios-4. I’m thinking of over sizing should I wanna add some other type of reactors down the line. That should also put less stress on my return, and not interrupt that flow any.

Thanks for the input I really appreciate it!

 

[Flux Capacitor]

I do dose the Manganese/Molybedium/Iron/Nitrate when I think about it. But definitely not regularly. My nitrates are in check, but my phosphate isn't. And for some reason the the AL99 isn't doing as good of job as the gfo. But Pax Bellum says not to use gfo. So, I'm struggling with keeping my phospate in check with the ARID.

I rinse the cheto out in just plain RO water, and that has worked fine for me. Since the Triton method says no water changes, I don't have tank water to use.

Robert

In my search for information on the arid I have read that some guys have the same issue with phosphates. Maybe dosing nitrate consistently, or dosing a higher amount would help bring them down?

I believe, and I could be wrong, but you need to have high enough nitrates being removed from the water by the cheto for the phosphates to come down with them?

 

[Dogtown]

I get good growth and notice that keeping the LED bar clean with a weekly wipe down seems to help. Its easy really.

The picture below is the result of about a weeks worth of growth and the cheato was just about 40% during that time. I don't let the reactor fill to capacity because that causes the cheato to press up against the LED bar and some of that cheato can melt at the hottest points. I think that is a major reason why the instructions recommend weekly or bi-weekly maintenance.

The pump runs 24/7 and the lighting schedule is set to 12hrs at night.

The pump is rated for over 500gph but the net flow using a bucket test is only about 250gph. The quick disconnects seem to slow down the flow a bit.

Per the instructions, I dose a little iron/manganese. For that I use a Kent product of iron and manganese that only costs $8 for a large 10 oz bottle. I has lasted for 6 months so far. I also dose nitrate from time to time as per the instructions when nitrate drops below 1.

All in all, it seems to work. I no longer have to buy GFO or maintain a GFO reactor so I'm happy.

 

[Mark Teitelman]

I’m very happy with my N18

 

[CDavmd]

Glad to see good reports. I purchased my ARID N18 a year ago for my Reefer 425XL build. Life put everything on hold but I am back at it. I have decided to hard plumb it with unions onto my manifold and incorporate a flowmeter and gate valve. I'll post my progress when up and running.

 

[Ecvernon]

I just wanted add my experience.
On my 150 mixed reef with 30 fish I've been using Diy Nopox with GFO for nutrient management. I've been able to control NO3 but PO4 was a different story. It was up and down from 0.09 to 0.30 ppm with GFO. I wanted to go natural with macroalgae, but did not have space for a big enough fuge. I've been using the reactor for 1 month now and it's been working well.

It didn't work immediately and nutrients did go up Initially.
Today I harvest probably 50 percent every 6 or 7 days and it keeps my tank at 2ppm NO3 and PO4 is holding at 0.03- 0.06 ppm(I did use GFO to bring levels down innitially the stopped use)

 

[Ecvernon]

I forgot to say i'm running the N24 on a 12 hourr reverse light cycle.

I will start harvesting more algea, as taking out 1/3 as suggested by Pax Bellum it grows back quickly. These shots are 5 days growth

 

[CDavmd]

Nice reports!

I’ve not started up yet still finishing my build but I did end up plumbing the pax n18 into my manifold. During testing I was able to adjust my gate valve to achieve flow anywhere from 100 to 280gph.

Question for everyone...

Triton method with a Refugium suggests allowing some die off of the macro algae from time to time. Is anyone doing this with pax; shortening the photo period for a week let’s say once per month? Or perhaps less harvesting allowing some to die back?

Also has anyone had success growing algae’s other than Chaeto?

Thanks!

 

[Ecvernon]

@CDavmd
Sorry i'm not sure about the triton method. I know that if you allow the cheato to grow for too long in the reactor, areas close to the lights may begin to die off. Also if you allow Iron and other trace elements to be depleted the cheato may begin to die off as well.

You have a very nice setup!

 

[Ecvernon]

@CDavmd
What are you planning on running with the Aquamaxx reactors?

 

[CDavmd]

@CDavmd
Sorry i'm not sure about the triton method. I know that if you allow the cheato to grow for too long in the reactor, areas close to the lights may begin to die off. Also if you allow Iron and other trace elements to be depleted the cheato may begin to die off as well.

You have a very nice setup!

@CDavmd
What are you planning on running with the Aquamaxx reactors?

Thanks! I installed the Aquamaxx to run GAC on occasion and also have one in case of an emergency. I'm going with a kinda minimal aquascape only 45 pounds of rock so I've given thought to putting some pond matrix or siporax in one of the reactors.

 

[ksed]

I forgot to say i'm running the N24 on a 12 hourr reverse light cycle.

I will start harvesting more algea, as taking out 1/3 as suggested by Pax Bellum it grows back quickly. These shots are 5 days growth

Excellent growth for 5 days, but expect it to level off over time.