The other day I brought you the first of three installments from a notable article written by Jeremy Gosnell. We took a quick look into the natural system of reef keeping originally expressed by Lee Chin Eng 60 years ago. Gosnell exposed us to Eng’s ideas on the common tank husbandry practices at the time, and how we can better replicate a natural environment within our reef systems. He touched base on the benefits and downfalls of utilizing refugiums, as well as experimenting with bare bottoms as opposed to substrate. Not to keep you all hanging, today I’ll carry on with the second installment of Jeremy’s article which will provide you with alternative options to a messy, muddy, stinky fuge. So here you go – Zeolite reactors and biopellets – enjoy!
Today, technology and methodology offers a middle ground. We have enough history in reef keeping to understand that some of the principles set forth in the natural method are crucial, but reefers from around the world have tinkered enough, to know that other options are available. An example, zeolite reactors. Zeolite is nothing new, it’s a naturally occurring element and has been produced by, and used for industry, for many years. Zeolites seem like a natural fit for a reef aquarium. Certain types can absorb phosphate and nitrate, and when placed in a slow flow reactor, create the perfect home for anaerobic bacteria. The bacteria grows so prolifically on them, that they create a gray sludge known as mulm, which is shaken off and used as food for corals. If those benefits aren’t enticing enough, zeolites enhance the effectiveness of many different additives, which aid in nutrient removal on up to water clarity. A zeolite reactor can easily replace a refugium, in terms of nutrient removal, and the fringe benefit of having a coral food, in constant supply, is exciting. When zeolite media is properly rinsed before application, it’s a clean stone that doesn’t make a mess, so the only sediment you have to worry about is feeding your corals. All these benefits come at a cost, and zeolite is certainly not the perfect solution for all reefers. When initially cycling a zeolite reactor, if flow rates aren’t spot on, you either get too much of an effect, or none at all. Flow needs to be around 50 gallons per hour, but that varies and is somewhat dependent on your long term goals.
… More:
The post An In-Depth Look at the Natural System of Reef Keeping: Part Two appeared first on reefs.com.