Pond matrix vs ceramic rings, help!

[celebrist]

I really want to do a sand reactor and never ever have to worry about bio again

How do those handle power outages

 

[duanes]

Just like any type of filtration, sand reactors obviously stop during an outage, but the media is submerged, so if the outage is not too long, some will bacteria survive. If the outage is long, you start the cycle over.
A good sand creator will need a check valve to prevent back siphonage during an outage.
At first I built mine pressurized, but ended up open top, to make it easier to maintain.
Mine was large (4ft tall) and weighed quite a bit filled with pounds of media and gallons of water, so getting it started agin under pressure was a wrestling match. Open topped was much easier, and I could add media without shutting it down.

 

[Jhay3513]

Just like any type of filtration, sand reactors obviously stop during an outage, but the media is submerged, so if the outage is not too long, some will bacteria survive. If the outage is long, you start the cycle over.
A good sand creator will need a check valve to prevent back siphonage during an outage.
At first I built mine pressurized, but ended up open top, to make it easier to maintain.
Mine was large (4ft tall) and weighed quite a bit filled with pounds of media and gallons of water, so getting it started agin under pressure was a wrestling match. Open topped was much easier, and I could add media without shutting it down.

SHEESH I just want a small one to sit in my sump. That thing is s beast!!!!!

 

[duanes]

The one in my pic above was built to handle over 300 gallons, and some of those gallons were for crowded fry tanks. The media was aragonite which helped buffering /alkalinity, besides being surface area for bacteria.

 

[Jhay3513]

Oh ok now that makes sense. Would it work using one of the pre made reactors that the salt water community uses?