More questions.... sorry

[PhunFishGuy]

Can someone please explain to me what a fluidized bed and a calcium reactor are? Also, would it be helpful to run water returning from the sump through a UV light?

 

[Navarre]

A fliudised bed filter is a chamber that contains a substrate (many used fine sand). Water is passed through this chamber and the substrate becomes semi/solid and constantly movine. The water passes throgh the substrate and back into the tank and leaves the substrate behind. However the substrate has so many tiny surfaces that it contains millions of baceteria and is a very effective filter... However it has a drawback... Nitrates, it handles the other forms extremly well and produces nitrates fast but it has no way of reducing the nittrates so they are known to be somewhat nitrate factories.

Calcium reactor is similar to a bed filter in construction but it has a substrate in it that produces calcium when water is passed through it. Basically the water is pumped in a loop and the main body never enters tha tnak.. a small syphon tube runs from the reacter and also another runs into the reactor. THe main body is pumped around the chamber and rich calium is produced but this is a very low PH so the syphon tubes only alow a small amount back into the tank at a time (drips at a time) this way the tank doesnt sufer a PH crash. Many people run CO2 units alongside reacters to get even better results.

 

[fraservet]

uv lights are very useful - but they are no substitute for good husbandry.
if you get one, it must be for marine aquariums and not a pond one.

are you new to marine keeping?
if so I would consider starting off with something fairly simple.
things like calcium reactors are very useful for keeping some corals, but not necessary in most beginners tanks.

if you let us know exactly what you are trying to accomplish, we can give specific advice.

 

[PhunFishGuy]

Thanks for all of that. I really appreciate it.
What Im trying to accomplish is this:
I would like to create a sump for a 225 gallon tank. I would like this sump to include a space for bio balls, carbon sacks, live rock/mud/calupera, protein skimmer, sponges... etc. Basically anything that would be recommended for a marine tank, reguardless of cost.
Thanks!

 

[PhunFishGuy]

Also what is a denitrator? Or rather... what is an easy way to make one?

 

[Navarre]

It is a chamber similar to a calium reactor which has a special substrate in it. The watrer passes through this chamber very slowly and it becomes a very poor oxygen environment. This promotes Nitrogen producing bacteria which will feed on the nitrates.

Very good system but live rock does the job also.. and also acts as tank decor.

 

[PhunFishGuy]

You are my hero. Thankyou.