GFO REACTOR RECOMMENDATIONS?

[authentic]

I am currently using a nextreef reactor(out of business),First problem ,had to cut replacement filters,now the collar inside broke free from the lid,Time for a replacement.Advice?recommendations please.I did see a very cool reactor at reefapalooza being sold by unique corals that allows you to remove from the base without disconnecting the pump,the water flows over the outside of the tube like the AVAST but im unsure of buying one because its so new,

 

[CodyRVA]

Considered a simple BRS reactor? Depending on tank size, i ran a mini with a mix of GFO and Carbon, you can run them separate as well. Well made, easy to maintain, inexpensive compared to most.

 

[authentic]

had BRS in the past,not fuly satisfied,i think there are better newer designs available

 

[zoomonster]

Yeah I have both... MR1 and BRS dual and though I use the BRS for GFO the MR1 is much better suited. I ended up using mine for something else though. That's a fairly common design and if you can't fix it you should be able to find something similar or maybe even another left over MR1 somewhere. Saltysupply I believe was somehow related to nextreef and they now sell a reactor labeled as their brand that looks near identical except black. Other than that Vertex and Pacific Sun make some. I've been looking for maybe building a bio pellet reactor. I did find a SMR1 at a local shop I may get. Basically MR1 with dark chamber.

 

[glb]

I have the two little fishies phosban reactor. It works fine, but it's a pain to clean and change out the gfo.

 

[Mrx7899]

Two little fishies is good just bought another one of Amazon for 38 bucks but they are a little bit of a pain to clean

 

[sil40sx]

I have Two little fishies as well.

 

[ScoobyFish]

Go with two little fishies, the brs one is a pain in the ying yang. You want help a cheap go diy simple and cost effective. But just go two little fishies.

 

[glb]

Go with two little fishies, the brs one is a pain in the ying yang. You want help a cheap go diy simple and cost effective. But just go two little fishies.

What's wrong with the brs one? I had thought about buying a little one.

 

[ScoobyFish]

What's wrong with the brs one? I had thought about buying a little one.

It has problems tumbling the media evenly, they'll say it's your fault cause it's not on an even surface. Nooo if you google it you'll see a lot of people have this issue. A canister for water filtration does a good reactor not make. Save yourself money and headache, get the two little fishies one.

 

[Anirban]

Two little fishies...

 

[CodyRVA]

It has problems tumbling the media evenly

Considering we're debating GFO, I thought GFO was not intended to be tumbled? I've used both the full size Dual BRS reactor and the BRS mini and have had zero issues. I'm not sure what aspect is difficult to clean or maintain about either model? Either way it's personal preference, to each their own! :cool:

 

[ScoobyFish]

Considering we're debating GFO, I thought GFO was not intended to be tumbled? I've used both the full size Dual BRS reactor and the BRS mini and have had zero issues. I'm not sure what aspect is difficult to clean or maintain about either model? Either way it's personal preference, to each their own! :cool:

depends what your definition of tumble is, GFO needs to be tumbled all be it at a slow rate in order to get the most out of it, if not , it'll clump up. The brs reactor i had would only pass water to one side, BRS knows this, sometimes it would fix when i would tilt to one side or the other, but by next day it was back at it, also i would always need to be adjusting the flow to it because it would clog up. if you had no isses with it, awesome for ya, but i and others have had this issue. I finally bought a two little fishies reactor and wished id done so from the get go. it simmers the gfo perfectly and its set it and forget it.

 

[Mrx7899]

I have the brs mini too I run carbon in it, it works good easy to clean the lid where you put the media in is hard to open sometimes and the sponge clogs but is not bad it's to little for gfo

 

[revhtree]

I personally really like the Avast Marine Spyglass reactor.

 

[zoomonster]

I still use my BRS and while not the best it works ok. My biggest complaint is fairly small capacity. I forget exactly but I can only put in about 1.5-2 cups of GFO while still having sufficient space between the GFO and the sponge for the GFO to rise and tumble leaving a gap between it and the sponge. I say tumble but when in operation it looks more like media in a real fluidized reactor. I use BRS bulk normal capacity GFO and no matter how well rinsed the sponge will clog at least once during the life of a batch of GFO. That gets even worse if you let the GFO rise to the sponge. Never though has the media clumped. Bottom line though is it is a re-purposed RODI water filter canister and there are better choices.

 

[Bunkinator]

Vertex, great quality, built in unions ,

 

[Hysa]

Keep it simple ...
Two little fishies...

To clean any piece of equipment will be a pain in the butt . So do not buy a fancy one. And get a Good wife and teach her how to clean it.

Sorry my wife is coming ..

Have to leave

 

[authentic]

has anyone taken a look at the reactor available through unique?Ultra Reef fluidized,saw it at reefapalooza,works like the avast with water spilling over the top,can be removed from sump with a 1'TURN AND YOU DONT HAVE TO DISCONNECT ANYTHING......not cheap tough..thoughts

 

[Rob's Reef]

I use the aquamaxx bio pellet reactor for my gfo... no issues