MantisShrimpMan
Active Member
I know that with a lot of equipment in this hobby- lights, return pumps, powerheads, etc.- it makes sense to buy an oversized model and run it at a lower output percentage, as opposed to relying on running a model that has a max spec at your goal level at 100% intensity.
I am new to media reactors, and I am unsure whether the logic for sizing them would be the same. Here is the specific instance I’m looking at.
For a roughly 32 gallon aquarium, if I were to run BRS high capacity GFO in an innovative marine minimax desktop media reactor: according to BRS guidelines, I’d be looking at 8 Tablespoons of GFO in the reactor. 8 tablespoons translates to 118 mL. The innovative Marine minimax desktop size listed specs say it can hold up to approximately 150 mL of media. That works out to approximately 78.6% capacity.
While I’m not an expert on the matter of GFO specifically, I’m of the view from other reefing matters that sometimes reefers have no issue going beyond usage recommendations? So, let’s just say I pack my tank dense and it ends up being a phosphate producing machine. Would it be okay, and relatable, to end up at like 10 Tablespoons for the same amount of water despite only being recommended 8? And, in that case, that puts me pretty much right up against the max that reactor can hold.
So I’m wondering if this is alright or if I would be far better off with the next size up, which holds 300mL of media.
This reminds me of what BRS always says about not under sizing nor over sizing your protein skimmer. Like, a protein skimmer meant for a 300 gallon system is gonna be suboptimal in a 60 gallon system, even if you turn down the flow. The thing is though, there are a bunch of different reactor medias and I’d imagine they all work differently in regards to success using less vs the max that a reactor can handle. Like, with bio pellets, it seems like tumbling is a good thing, so I’d imagine you’d want more vacant space in the media chamber as opposed to packing it densely.
So, are there any guidelines worth following in regards to sizing media reactors relative to desired media usage vs maximum media usage values?
I am new to media reactors, and I am unsure whether the logic for sizing them would be the same. Here is the specific instance I’m looking at.
For a roughly 32 gallon aquarium, if I were to run BRS high capacity GFO in an innovative marine minimax desktop media reactor: according to BRS guidelines, I’d be looking at 8 Tablespoons of GFO in the reactor. 8 tablespoons translates to 118 mL. The innovative Marine minimax desktop size listed specs say it can hold up to approximately 150 mL of media. That works out to approximately 78.6% capacity.
While I’m not an expert on the matter of GFO specifically, I’m of the view from other reefing matters that sometimes reefers have no issue going beyond usage recommendations? So, let’s just say I pack my tank dense and it ends up being a phosphate producing machine. Would it be okay, and relatable, to end up at like 10 Tablespoons for the same amount of water despite only being recommended 8? And, in that case, that puts me pretty much right up against the max that reactor can hold.
So I’m wondering if this is alright or if I would be far better off with the next size up, which holds 300mL of media.
This reminds me of what BRS always says about not under sizing nor over sizing your protein skimmer. Like, a protein skimmer meant for a 300 gallon system is gonna be suboptimal in a 60 gallon system, even if you turn down the flow. The thing is though, there are a bunch of different reactor medias and I’d imagine they all work differently in regards to success using less vs the max that a reactor can handle. Like, with bio pellets, it seems like tumbling is a good thing, so I’d imagine you’d want more vacant space in the media chamber as opposed to packing it densely.
So, are there any guidelines worth following in regards to sizing media reactors relative to desired media usage vs maximum media usage values?
