Alternative to pellet reactor

[adamsfour]

I have been using a pellet reactor for many years with success. But it’s a maintenance nightmare as every week it needs to be torn about and cleaned. Looking for an alternative. Any one have success with any other solution with less maintenance. I also have used phosban reactor but they easily get clogged. Thank for the help.

 

[mcarroll]

Seems like a macro algae reactor/refugium would give more payout for the effort....probably not a reduction in effort tho.

Is different "better"?

If reactor maintenance isn't for you maybe the refugium maintenance routine would be a better fit?

Or maybe you just need a different kind of reactor? You mentioned what you had been using previously, but what are you using currently that you aren't liking?

 

[adamsfour]

Thanks for the reply. I am running an algae scrubber. I just increased the “on” time. I have tried numerous reactor all have the same issue. I even tried different pellets. They work great but produce a lot of crap they clogs up everything.

 

[mcarroll]

Hard to imagine that someone hasn't solved the problem somehow, but I haven't used a system like that yet.

 

[adamsfour]

Hard to imagine that someone hasn't solved the problem somehow, but I haven't used a system like that yet.

Yes I totally agree. I have only found a few reefer who use them.

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

Hard to imagine that someone hasn't solved the problem somehow, but I haven't used a system like that yet.

If you mean the clogging issue, I have a new patent that covers how to actually use the "clogging" stuff to advantage, at least for chaeto reactors.

 

[Boehmtown]

Just saw something from bashsea (bio space reactor). It's a zero maintenance , biological filter.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you mean biopellets for nitrate reduction, I'd personally use soluble organic carbon dosing (e.g., vinegar or vodka) before biopellets. At the moment, my tank needs N dosing, not export.

 

[X-37B]

I use vodka for nitrate control. 7ml once a day keeps no3 @ <5 in my current 150.
For clogging when I ran a sulfer reactor I used this auto filter. Works well and I should put one on my carx, lol.

 

[Funkateer_1]

Sulfur reactor. Plug and play. Very little maintenance.

 

[JJP9398]

This is my hybrid deep sand bed/sulfur reactor. I started it Apr 1 and currently putting out 0 nitrates at 32ml/min flow rate. I wait until the ORP gets to about -250/-300 then I turn up the flow rate another 12ml/min. I dosed vodka while it was getting started but had to stop because nitrates were falling fast. I started at 75+ ppm nitrates and currently running at 12 ppm.