homer1475's Biocube 29 Build Thread
- Thread starter homer1475
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DarthReefer27
New member
where do you have your BRS reactor mounted? is it higher or in the stand? i had the dual reactor set up but it seemed like a real pain (especially thinking i had to have it above the tank (no sump)) to change out and i couldn't get the GFO not to become a brick even with high flow. i bought the dual knowing i will be upgrading to a larger tank in the not too distant future and I didn't want to buy again.
soulpatch
New member
Mine is slightly above the tank on the wall behind. I run carbon and GFO mixed so no tumbling nor clumping. I will go in the stand of the larger tank though when built and be couple with at least one more reactor so I can seperate and run at different rates. I will use a manifold off of my return for that though...
DarthReefer27
New member
OK, so you have a single canister? I decided to just put cheato in the middle chamber and use a bag of carbon in my media rack until i set up my next tank. thanks for the info!
homer1475
New member
Changer mine out biweekly. Seems to work the best for me. If your running carbon and GFO mixed in the mini, it should be packed tight and not tumble. I see no decrease in flow through the reactor even when I forget to change the media. I have noticed, as soulpatch posted, make sure you clear out the bottom of the media container. If you don't, it will get plugged up and decrease flow.
Mine is mounted under the tank in the cabinet.
Mine is mounted under the tank in the cabinet.
DarthReefer27
New member
so did you use different tubing than what comes with the reactor? it didn't seem soft enough to bend. do you have any pics of where you have it mounted? I may order the BRS mini reactor to use on this tank. I thought I had to hang it on the wall behind my tank which I had done but that made it very difficult to get to. one more question. where do you have the pump? in the middle chamber? and if so, where do you have the return line? in the same middle chamber? Thanks again!
BarryV
New member
Homer this morning I was just checking things out and happened to see the the output
from my reactor was super slow. So I checked to see if I had the flow regulator closed.
it wasn't. So I did change the media, and all is well. This is the second week I have
had to change the media. I just can't see where I can go two weeks with out changing
the media in this reactor. I must be doing something wrong. By the way the insert was not plugged at all.
Barry
from my reactor was super slow. So I checked to see if I had the flow regulator closed.
it wasn't. So I did change the media, and all is well. This is the second week I have
had to change the media. I just can't see where I can go two weeks with out changing
the media in this reactor. I must be doing something wrong. By the way the insert was not plugged at all.
Barry
homer1475
New member
I used the same tubing, but bought more from the local ACE hardware. I used several elbows to get up and out of the tank, then into the hood(4 on each line). Pump is in the middle chamber, and the return is in the last.
If you scroll back in this thread, you can see exactly where its mounted.
Posted these for Barry a while back in a PM so no big deal to repost.
Notice with my setup the shelf is missing. I could put it back in, but I find it's not needed as I have a 4 drawer plastic tote sitting next to my tank for all the stuff that I would normally out in the cabinet.
Yes I know thats a tangle of wires, trust me when I say I've cleaned it up a lot since that picture was taken.
homer1475
New member
I've had an issue where an air bubble got trapped in the pump and that significantly reduced the flow. Had to shut the pump off and restart it. It happened when I first installed the elbows thinking that was the problem. It happens intermittently when I do water changes, as I only take water out of the back chamber and it uncovers the pump.
Did you rinse out the sponge on the top? I did initially have my GFO tumbling to much and it plugged up the sponge which also caused a significant decrease it output. Since changing to GFO and carbon, and packing them in tight, I haven't had the problem.
BarryV
New member
Homer I not sure whats going on. I have the pump in the first chamber, it's all the way
at the bottom. There is no way the pump is uncovered when I change water. Chamber
one is the only place I can put the pump. All i know is this is the second week the reactor has been running and I have had to change media both weeks.
Barry
at the bottom. There is no way the pump is uncovered when I change water. Chamber
one is the only place I can put the pump. All i know is this is the second week the reactor has been running and I have had to change media both weeks.
Barry
homer1475
New member
Could just be since its in your first chamber, your sucking up a lot of detritus, and putting it right into your media. I know in my tank, 90% of the detritus that makes it into the back chamber settles in the first chamber.
Maybe try putting the "strainer" on the pump and rubber band some filter floss onto that?
Maybe try putting the "strainer" on the pump and rubber band some filter floss onto that?
BarryV
New member
Yes I know, there just is not enough room in the first chamber. I'll try something. That intake filter pipe is just to long.
Thanks for your help,
Barry
