Arrid reactors

[edd]

Thumb screws are a PITA. you've only been using it 6 months. wait until some salt creep gets in the threads and head. also if you don't tighten them evenly they will leak. if a small pebble gets between the gasket and the plate, you've got a leak. twist tops solve all of these issues. Not saying that your unit will do this, just speaking from 15 years exp. I've seen my fair share of thumb screw gasket lids.

My skimmer has a cleaning head and I have it connected to a 2.5g skimmate collector, i dont touch it for months and months at a time. GFO sucks I agree but I use a cup in an overflow sock so in and out is a breeze. as for water changes... I'm not sure what type of corals you keep but i would doubt that long term health of any coral with little water change and its effects would be beneficial to any animal including fish. Even if you have money to burn, you couldn't possible dose all of the major and minor trace elements found in a good salt mix. and I am of the thinking that if you cant test for it dont dose it. YMMV

i feel the twist top is a pita, i have a geo and have a major problem opening it. just ordered 2 next reef mr1. as long as you take care of the threads i never had a problem with thumb screws. to each his own i guess.

 

[james1990]

at $350 I will consider this down the road

 

[coralcruze]

as long as you take care of the threads i never had a problem

thats right... I never had any issue getting a twist top off that was fully encrusted with salt creep. cant say the same with thumb screws. have to get the needle nose out for that.

 

[coralcruze]

im considering one of these right now... but want to be sure of its limitations. I would like to know if I can grow other types of micro algae or if its limited to macros. awaiting responces to questions.

 

[Pax-Bellum LLC]

im considering one of these right now... but want to be sure of its limitations. I would like to know if I can grow other types of micro algae or if its limited to macros. awaiting responces to questions.

We welcome any testing of other algae, however,the ARID was designed for Macro Algae such as Chaeto as it closed off to the atmosphere, unlike Turf scrubbers in which you want splash zones and a constant air/algae interference. So the answer is yes, you can TRY other forms of algae however, the ARID was NOT designed for other forms.

We welcome innovation in our company and would like to see others get the most out of their reactors.

Disclaimer - The ARID Reactor was designed to use Macro Algae for Phosphate and Nutrient export, we do not support the use of other algae.


Salt Creep Issue and Thumb Screws - We use a clear lid to ensure the user can visually inspect the o-ring seal in the gland of the reactor before flow is sent through the reactor body, salt creep is a non issue with our design unless the o-ring is not properly installed or clean before installation.

 

[coralcruze]

We welcome any testing of other algae, however,the ARID was designed for Macro Algae such as Chaeto as it closed off to the atmosphere, unlike Turf scrubbers in which you want splash zones and a constant air/algae interference. So the answer is yes, you can TRY other forms of algae however, the ARID was NOT designed for other forms.

We welcome innovation in our company and would like to see others get the most out of their reactors.

Disclaimer - The ARID Reactor was designed to use Macro Algae for Phosphate and Nutrient export, we do not support the use of other algae.


Salt Creep Issue and Thumb Screws - We use a clear lid to ensure the user can visually inspect the o-ring seal in the gland of the reactor before flow is sent through the reactor body, salt creep is a non issue with our design unless the o-ring is not properly installed or clean before installation.

ok I understand the concept behind the unit a little better now. is this reactor more efficient in growing macro than a refugium? How does it differ? Is it that a controlled flow rate and light is more desirable in growing macro? I guess I'm not seeing how chaeto that is normally under water in a refugium with controlled flow differs from this reactor? Has the unit been tested and shows to grow chaeto faster? or is it simply an alternative to folks who may not have the room in thier sump to set up a refugium?

Power consumption for me has become extreamly important in connection to my reef. are there specs on the unit that I can view which would show total wattage of light? sorry for repeating what is the kelvin? type of led's? are they user replaceable? and I keep forgetting to ask, when you do your weekly maint. and remove 1/3 how hard is it to replace the core with algae back in the reactor?

as for thumb screws... I do get salt creep on everything inside the cab. Its a part of the hobby. although i try and keep it to a min. at times it has a life of its own and in that sense if it gets on the thumb screws, which it will with regular maint. (unless you are real good about spraying everything down with fresh water and i'm not), you will be dealing with creep on top of the unit and in the thumb screws. something to think about, perhaps for gen 2?

 

[Pax-Bellum LLC]

Pleaase read this thread ENTIRELY

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/pax-bellum-llc/157340-what-arid-how-does-work.html

 

[Pax-Bellum LLC]

The kelvin of the LEDS are a trade secret as they have been thoroughly researched and developed for this application. The unit consumes approximately 20 watts.

 

[Pax-Bellum LLC]

Regarding thumb screws getting stuck and snapping off. Its happened to everyone and we found out why. Its not salt creep, its actually because nylon absorbs water, a lot of water over time causing it to expand. If the thread tolerance on the flange is to tight they bind. We have made our threads with a large tolerance to allow for this expansion. That said, we are throwing around ideas for a cam lock system in the future.

Micro algae as in single cell pelagic species will not work in this system. Micro algae in high concentrations would need a firewall of uv, oxidizers, membranes and maybe lasers :smile: to keep predators and infections by bacteria, other algae.... from decimating it. And it wouldn't get to high concentrations without constant direct injection of sterile fertilizer media to keep up with its rapid growth rate. I'm sure we could make it work with enough money.

If you mean turf algae or hair algae, it has a fast growth rate because it is found in a tidal splash zone where it has access to a lot of CO2 in the air and nitrate and phosphate run off from the nearby land and rivers. It also leaks a lot of that carbon it captured from the air into the water as sugars (organics, polysaccharides) but unlike our system there is no limit to how much it can deposit into the water. A little polysaccharide is good as a flocculant for water clarity, excess will lead to yellowing and organic buildup, and imbalance in the N:K:C ratio.

I would love to see someone use an ARID on a cold water tank with cold water macro algae. Or even freshwater using java moss.

Hope this clarifies its operation a bit more for you. Thanks for your interest,

T

 

[coralcruze]

The kelvin of the LEDS are a trade secret as they have been thoroughly researched and developed for this application. The unit consumes approximately 20 watts.

I get it and totally understand. i guess i just wanted to know if i needed to block the light coming off of your unit so as not to cause algae to bloom elsewhere in the sump.

Regarding thumb screws getting stuck and snapping off. Its happened to everyone and we found out why. Its not salt creep, its actually because nylon absorbs water, a lot of water over time causing it to expand. If the thread tolerance on the flange is to tight they bind. We have made our threads with a large tolerance to allow for this expansion. That said, we are throwing around ideas for a cam lock system in the future.

Micro algae as in single cell pelagic species will not work in this system. Micro algae in high concentrations would need a firewall of uv, oxidizers, membranes and maybe lasers :smile: to keep predators and infections by bacteria, other algae.... from decimating it. And it wouldn't get to high concentrations without constant direct injection of sterile fertilizer media to keep up with its rapid growth rate. I'm sure we could make it work with enough money.

If you mean turf algae or hair algae, it has a fast growth rate because it is found in a tidal splash zone where it has access to a lot of CO2 in the air and nitrate and phosphate run off from the nearby land and rivers. It also leaks a lot of that carbon it captured from the air into the water as sugars (organics, polysaccharides) but unlike our system there is no limit to how much it can deposit into the water. A little polysaccharide is good as a flocculant for water clarity, excess will lead to yellowing and organic buildup, and imbalance in the N:K:C ratio.

I would love to see someone use an ARID on a cold water tank with cold water macro algae. Or even freshwater using java moss.

Hope this clarifies its operation a bit more for you. Thanks for your interest,

T

'Yes it does clarify a bit more... However, the bit about hair algae... why would we need "firewall of uv, oxidizers, membranes and maybe lasers :smile: to keep predators and infections by bacteria, other algae.... from decimating it"??? if you clean a turf every 7-10 days and rinse under fresh water, pods and other predators are eliminated, are they not? Typically,a light source that can grow macro can be used to grow micro as well. However, you have a point about open source of Co2 and air in tidal waters and therefor that would be difficult to replicate in the closed chamber of the arrid.

and where the heck do I know you from Tristen??? is it house of fins?

 

[PHILYD1]

i am trying to order one but know one will get back to me???????????

 

[FishLife-Aquariums]

Sometime td i will have a brochure and an info/ specifications sheep and commonly most asked questions and a lil backround info on pax bellum and fishlife aquariums and how we both got to this spot


221 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station New York

Across the street from the Walt Whitman Mall entrance

516-606-5671

 

[JonnyJ]

I'm in for a nano version.

 

[Pax-Bellum LLC]

I get it and totally understand. i guess i just wanted to know if i needed to block the light coming off of your unit so as not to cause algae to bloom elsewhere in the sump.

'Yes it does clarify a bit more... However, the bit about hair algae... why would we need "firewall of uv, oxidizers, membranes and maybe lasers :smile: to keep predators and infections by bacteria, other algae.... from decimating it"??? if you clean a turf every 7-10 days and rinse under fresh water, pods and other predators are eliminated, are they not? Typically,a light source that can grow macro can be used to grow micro as well. However, you have a point about open source of Co2 and air in tidal waters and therefor that would be difficult to replicate in the closed chamber of the arrid.

and where the heck do I know you from Tristen??? is it house of fins?

We're working on a cover.

When you said micro algae I wasn't sure if you meant unicellular free floating algae, like Nanochloropsis.

Most likely, I was a manager, and installer there for a while.

 

[coralcruze]

We're working on a cover.

When you said micro algae I wasn't sure if you meant unicellular free floating algae, like Nanochloropsis.

Most likely, I was a manager, and installer there for a while.

nope not Nanochloropsis, not free floating anything. just the stuff that grows on a turf as follows:

• Bryopsis adriatica
• Bryopsis africana
• Bryopsis australis
• Bryopsis cespitosa
• Bryopsis corticulans
• Bryopsis corymbosa
• Bryopsis cupressina
• Bryopsis cupressoides
• Bryopsis dasyphylla
• Bryopsis derbesioides
• Bryopsis dichotoma
• Bryopsis duplex
• Bryopsis eckloniae
• Bryopsis feldmannii
• Bryopsis flagellata
• Bryopsis foliosa
• Bryopsis galapagensis
• Bryopsis gemellipara
• Bryopsis halliae
• Bryopsis harveyana
• Bryopsis hypnoides
• Bryopsis implexa
• Bryopsis indica
• Bryopsis lubrica
• Bryopsis lyngbyei
• Bryopsis macraildii
• Bryopsis macrocarpa
• Bryopsis magellanica
• Bryopsis maxima
• Bryopsis minor
• Bryopsis muscosa
• Bryopsis myosuroides
• Bryopsis nana
• Bryopsis palliolatis
• Bryopsis penicillum
• Bryopsis pennata
• Bryopsis pennulata
• Bryopsis peruviana
• Bryopsis plumosa
• Bryopsis pottsii
• Bryopsis profunda
• Bryopsis pusilla
• Bryopsis ramulosa
• Bryopsis rhizophora
• Bryopsis robusta
• Bryopsis rosea
• Bryopsis ryukyuensis
• Bryopsis salvadoreana
• Bryopsis secunda
• Bryopsis spinescens
• Bryopsis stenoptera
• Bryopsis tenuis
• Bryopsis thuyoides
• Bryopsis triploramosa
• Bryopsis vestita

 

[coralcruze]

Tristen... thank you for all of your responses. i was interested in purchasing the unit. having been in the hobby for over 16 years now, I'm not a beginner or novice and have been through my fair share of worthless reactors that simply dont work or add much value to a system. so when I was asking the questions that I was... they were purely to try and understand the advantage(s) of your system over say a conventional refugium or an algae turf scrubber.

However, now I am getting PM's from your vendor insinuating that I am attemting to copy the unit and that I shouldn't be posting to a sale thread. If I wanted to copy it, I could have done so just from the photos posted. I was attempting to get educated on ARRID so I can purchase one.

Thanks for attempting to explain what you could... good luck with the unit.