DIY Chaeto Reactor

[Manny'sReef]

Has anyone used one of these with LED strips? I have very limited sump space so I can't have a real refugium. They look very interesting and I'd like to give it a go. Any tips for limited space? Did it help your parameters? Looking for ideas on where to get black vinyl to keep the light inside the reactor.

Please post any pics of limited space and where you put yours. I have a 60 gal cube.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Has anyone used one of these with LED strips? I have very limited sump space so I can't have a real refugium. They look very interesting and I'd like to give it a go. Any tips for limited space? Did it help your parameters? Looking for ideas on where to get black vinyl to keep the light inside the reactor.

Please post any pics of limited space and where you put yours. I have a 60 gal cube.

I recently just switched over to reef from freshwater. I had built a algae reactor for my discus tank. Same concept. Worked very well for nutrient export and removing algae from display.

The only issue I would see is if you are limited for space being able to have a reactor large enough to grow enough chaeto to make an impact. How big is the tank ?

 

[Manny'sReef]

I recently just switched over to reef from freshwater. I had built a algae reactor for my discus tank. Same concept. Worked very well for nutrient export and removing algae from display.

The only issue I would see is if you are limited for space being able to have a reactor large enough to grow enough chaeto to make an impact. How big is the tank ?

It's 60 gals.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

It's 60 gals.

I'm curious as well. Looking forward to what people with experience have to say. Curious how large or a reactor it would require to make it affective

Have you considered other ways of nutrient export? Bio pellets, etc

 

[Manny'sReef]

I'm curious as well. Looking forward to what people with experience have to say. Curious how large or a reactor it would require to make it affective

Have you considered other ways of nutrient export? Bio pellets, etc

I have not, but this is something I have seen some videos on and want to know more.

 

[lion king]

Here's one from Marine Depot that would work well on a 60g: https://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx_Algae_Reactor_Package_-AquaMaxx-UJ5355-FIFRAS-vi.html
I also built one using a brs reactor that would also do well on a 60g, it handled a 90g very well for me. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brs-reactor-algae-reactor.319128/
the pic is the marine depot reactor in the cabinet of a bc29.

 

[Manny'sReef]

Here's one from Marine Depot that would work well on a 60g: https://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx_Algae_Reactor_Package_-AquaMaxx-UJ5355-FIFRAS-vi.html
I also built one using a brs reactor that would also do well on a 60g, it handled a 90g very well for me. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brs-reactor-algae-reactor.319128/
the pic is the marine depot reactor in the cabinet of a bc29.

That's excellent. Thanks for the info.

 

[Sobiech]

I set this up 2 weeks ago and it’s working out great so far. I had no room in my sump for a refugium so I’m giving this a try. As you can see it’s a mess in my cabinet and I’m limited on space.

 

[Sobiech]

Not sure if that picture loads in Mobile but it works on the web based. Sorry about that

 

[Manny'sReef]

Not sure if that picture loads in Mobile but it works on the web based. Sorry about that

Looks great. Thanks.

 

[Manny'sReef]

Has anyone put something over it (read vinyl somewhere) so the light doesn't bleed into the rest of the sump area? Would hate to start making algae in the sump.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Has anyone put something over it (read vinyl somewhere) so the light doesn't bleed into the rest of the sump area? Would hate to start making algae in the sump.

Since you still need access I don't know I would want to wrap it in anything that you would need to unwrap then redo

If it were me I would just get a piece of abs pipe, larger than the reactor, and slip it over it if that were a concern

 

[Manny'sReef]

Since you still need access I don't know I would want to wrap it in anything that you would need to unwrap then redo

If it were me I would just get a piece of abs pipe, larger than the reactor, and slip it over it if that were a concern

The idea of putting inside a large pipe is a good one. Thanks!

 

[Bayareareefer18]

The idea of putting inside a large pipe is a good one. Thanks!

No prob. Abs is rather cheap and seems like an easy solution

 

[lion king]

Has anyone put something over it (read vinyl somewhere) so the light doesn't bleed into the rest of the sump area? Would hate to start making algae in the sump.

It's not necessary, those led strips don't put out enough intensity more than just a few inches away. If you are concerned all you need to do is place a screen between the reactor and the sump to block any direct light.