Help me choose a bio pellet reactor

S

SteveWong

Member
I'm planning to make the jump to a bio pellet reactor for my 155 gal system, with a total system volume around 180 gal. If I read correctly this may require up to 1L of pellets.

I'm down to the following short list:

Hang on reactors:

1. Hydra Aquatics BioPellet Reactor 2 fr-45 ($130)
500-1200 ml of media capacity
Interesting inductor design with conical bottom
Top mounted port to add more media without disassembling
2. NextReef SMR1 Solid Media Reactor ($110)
Large reaction chamber 14"x4" (2.6L)
Cool blue design (reduces algae growth)
Top down flow design (standard fluidized design)
3. Reef octopus br 110 ($160)
1l media capacity
Typical top down flow, seems highly rated


In sump:
4. JNS alpha 2 ($200)
Built in pump
Unsure of media capacity but the media chamber is 1.6L

First off, the reef octopus is more expensive than the other hang ons and has a lower 1l capacity, so it's lowest on my preferences although I know lots of people swear by it.

The in sump JNS is really interesting, and I think I can get it into my sump. It'll be tight though.

I really like hydra and the smr1. The SMR1 seems to have the highest capacity of all the units, but I find the hydra design really intriguing. Its top port to add media means it'll be easier to gradually increase or replenish the bio pellets without needing to take apart the system.

I can't find many entries about the hydra, and it seems only to be available from marine depot so I suspect the experience will be limited.
 
Last edited:
I would choose the octopus unit due to the more even flow for better tumbling. I have a next reef smr unit and had to drill more holes in the bottom tube . As bought it would tumble some and not the others.
 
I highly suggest a recirculating style, where you separate control of the tumbling and the return rate
 
What about a Aqua Maxx BioMaxx bio pellet reactor. It got great rating and ez to clean
 
imo recirculating bp reactors dont show a significant upper hand over a regular bio pellet reactor. ive been running my reef octopus bp reactor and it works great. tumbles evenly and my nitrates are always at a minimum. i have a friend that has a recirculating pb reactor and it works just as good as mine. he tells me all the time how he hates the fact that he spent more for his reactor then me and they work just alike. just my .02 good luck
 
Ok, now this turn to recirculating reactors has me thinking a bit more. I actually have an unused calcium reactor that I'll consider turning into a DIY BP reactor. I'll make a new thread but still look forward to people's input on bioreactors.

Any links to a calcium reactor --> BP reactor tutorial would be most welcome!

Thanks for the info!
 
I've been reading lots about the recirculating biopellet reactors.

I've seen a few entries suggesting that the recirculating reactors tend to build up a slime on the inside of them, coating all of the pipes inside as well as the reaction chamber.

Is this an inherent risk of the recirc design, since on the other regular designs the flow passes thru and biofilms are constantly shed via the flow and pellets rubbing? It makes sense that in a recirculating design, more of that biofilm may remain inside the reactor.

Anyone have experience with this on either traditional or recirculating designs?
 
I tried editing the above to include this info but the time expired, so here's more detail:

One user on another forum mentioned how his reactor crashed when the return tubing got clogged, and the maker of a reef-dynamics-like design mentions that recirc reactors can get anaerobic if not maintained.

See this link: http://www.foxvalleyreefclub.com/forums/showthread.php?4401-Bio-Pellets&p=41540&viewfull=1#post41540

As I think/overthink this, I'm starting to wonder if recirculating designs have these potential flaws:
1. More biofilm/sludge as users may tend to have less flow out of/thru the reactor
2. More risk of anaerobic conditions within the reactor if you set the output too slow or if the output gets plugged up, or if the intake water rate is too slow due to any number of issues

Compared to the traditional non-recirculating design, where:
1. All of the flow in goes back out, so less chance of anaerobic conditions
2. ? Is there less biofilm buildup within the reactor?

Thus, if I understand it properly, when looking at the 2 designs, a recirculating design's amount of water processing is dependent on the user-set output adjustment (but tumbling rate can be set independently), whereas a traditional reactor's processing capacity is adjusted by varying the volume of biopellets in the reactor.

Your thought
 
I would go with a Vertex reactor. I only say that because I've been using one in my sump for well over a year and it works great for bio pellets.
 
SteveWong said:
I tried editing the above to include this info but the time expired, so here's more detail:

One user on another forum mentioned how his reactor crashed when the return tubing got clogged, and the maker of a reef-dynamics-like design mentions that recirc reactors can get anaerobic if not maintained.

See this link: http://www.foxvalleyreefclub.com/forums/showthread.php?4401-Bio-Pellets&p=41540&viewfull=1#post41540

As I think/overthink this, I'm starting to wonder if recirculating designs have these potential flaws:
1. More biofilm/sludge as users may tend to have less flow out of/thru the reactor
2. More risk of anaerobic conditions within the reactor if you set the output too slow or if the output gets plugged up, or if the intake water rate is too slow due to any number of issues

Compared to the traditional non-recirculating design, where:
1. All of the flow in goes back out, so less chance of anaerobic conditions
2. ? Is there less biofilm buildup within the reactor?

Thus, if I understand it properly, when looking at the 2 designs, a recirculating design's amount of water processing is dependent on the user-set output adjustment (but tumbling rate can be set independently), whereas a traditional reactor's processing capacity is adjusted by varying the volume of biopellets in the reactor.

Your thought
Click to expand...


everything that is reef related needs maintenance,the biofilm will show up in any biopellet reactor since that is a by product of bio pellets

A Sulfur Denitrator needs to be cleaned out every 6 months or it will produce Hydrogen Sulfide
 
SteveWong said:
Ok, now this turn to recirculating reactors has me thinking a bit more. I actually have an unused calcium reactor that I'll consider turning into a DIY BP reactor. I'll make a new thread but still look forward to people's input on bioreactors.

Any links to a calcium reactor --> BP reactor tutorial would be most welcome!

Thanks for the info!
Click to expand...

When you look at the problems people have had with these reactors you find they could not "turn down" the impact these reactors have on a tank. The Reef Dynamics reactor has the ability to keep it running while seperately controling the impact on the tank. Check out the videos the LA Fish Guy has on the reef dynamics reactor.

Joe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
Confused on Algae Reactor
Replies
7
Views
723
oceanfrank
O
K
Deltec CRTT Help!
Replies
4
Views
288
Kruss7
K
Guygettnby
Nyos 220 on a 120g?
Replies
8
Views
234
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
R
Ph Control Set Up
Replies
0
Views
248
rdavidw
R
N
Is this a design flaw from Red Sea? Please help me with this sump upgrade Max e170 (Sump and tank connection)
Replies
1
Views
472
wvned
wvned
Back
Top