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Topics covered:
CALCIUM REACTORS
A Calcium Reactor is a unit which adds co2 enriched water into your aquarium, keeping the calcium levels high, for good growth and health of corals and invertebrates, which at the same time keeping the KH high, but will drop the PH!
The reactor works by co'2 gas being injected into a sealed chamber in which water is pumped from the sump, producing a co2 enriched water which then becomes an acid solution,which slowly desolves, a calcium based media which is in the reactor, releasing calcium into the solution which, being calcium enriched returns back into the aquarium.
KALKWASSER MIXER
A Kalkwasser mixer is a unit, which adds Kalkwasser into your aquarium via a top up unit. A Kalkwasser mixer is filled with RO water and about 8 table spoons of Kalkwasser powder, the amount of Kalkwasser depends on the size of your mixer (Deltec KM 500) the mixer is topped up via a seperate tank and pump filled with RO water, when the water evapourates in your aquarium the automatic top up unit turns on via a float switch and fills up you mixer which over flows into your sump adding Kalkwasser which raises your PH.
SUMP
A sump is a tank that is run underneath your aquarium, so you can run your heaters, medias out of sight, it is very convienent to work on and easy to clean. You can also run your skimmers, reactors from the Sump. The Sump is half filled with the water from your aquarium, which overflows from a hole drilled in the back or underneath of your aquarium, the water is then return to the aquarium through a pump in the Sump which has been filtered through your media, heated and skimmed. All this is done hidden away in you cabinet, so no equipment is seen in the aquarium.
EXTERNAL POWER FILTERS
An external power filter works on water being syphoned out of your aquarium, into a sealed cannister under the aquarium. The filter is full of filter media which the water runs through is then pumped back into the aquarium which becomes colonized with bacteria which converts poisoness water into safe conditions!
INTERNAL POWER FILTERS
An internal filter is fitted inside your aquarium, the water is pulled through small slots/grids in the base of your filter pulled through the filter media by a pump and then pumped out through the top of the filter, which becomes colonized with bacteria which converts poisoness water in to safe conditions. (Please note: When cleaning media, clean in aquarium water which has been syponed out for a water changed about once a month never use tap water as it will kill the bacteria which is grown on the media).
UNDERGRAVEL FILTERS
An under gravel filter is placed in the bottom of the aquarium, then gravel or sand is placed on top, with a thickness of one to four inches depending on which type of fish are to be kept. The Undergravel can be run on an air pump or power heads, the undergravel plate has one or two tubes coming out of it which can be cut to size, to suit height of aquarium, airline and airstones are put down the tube, which causes the water to be pulled through gravel, which then becomes colonized with bacteria. Power heads do the same but are a more affective way of doing it.
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT (U.V.)
A UV sterilizer UV lamp has a special quartz sleeve (envelope) that is fitted within a plastic housing. Water is fed into the plastic housing is sterilised as it flows from the aquarium by a pump and returned into the tank once it has reached the other end of the housing. Never look at the UV light without eye protection . For best results the water should be filtered, before going through the UV to get the full affectiveness of the light. This prevents a build up of suspended and organic matter obscuring the quartz sleeve and lessoning the affect of the UV rays, as a guide we recommend to change the UV bulb every five to six months. UV light can also be, to keep the water free from micro organisms and keep the water free of parisites.
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