Media Reactor Size Recomendation

[PokerReefer]

I am looking to purchase two media reactors for 80-90 Gallon total system volume reef. One will run gfo, the other carbon. I have narrowed it down to an Mr5 from Avast Marine. What size would you recommend ? The standard mr5 which is 5 cups of media. Or the 18" Mr5 which would be 8 cups of media ? Here is a link http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/mediareactors/MR-5

Thank you for any and all input.

 

[adbf]

always go bigger that way if you up grade then you don't have to buy a new one plus if you need to add more than you think you need it's available

 

[PokerReefer]

That's what I was thinking as well just am unsure if it is overkill , and will I be wasting media ?

 

[billdogg]

I agree with the bigger is better idea. Just because it can hold a given amount does not mean you have to use that much. With carbon it would not make that much difference, but using too much GFO can actually be bad.

 

[125mph]

Are you looking for a media reactor or a bio reactor? I personally like the NextReef Media Reactors. Lots of options and sizes to choose from and they work great.

 

[pentrix2]

i have the NextReef media reactor and i love it. MR1.

in all my tanks, small, medium, and large, each have their own MR1.

my media mixture is:

1/3 phoshate
2/3 carbon

 

[125mph]

Also you probably dont need two media reactors..

I put purigen on the bottom, chemipure in the middle and a mesh seperator.. then I have fluidized rowaphos on the top layer. Works great. I can see the boiling rowaphos. All in one MR1.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

You would need to run more than double recommended amounts to use more than 5 cups, so I'd get the smaller one. Have you considered the BRS dual reactor? I have used a couple media reactors and I find this one to be cost effective and efficient

 

[PokerReefer]

I was considering trying biopellets down the road. I would like to achieve a ulns. I am bb and no fuge. So the biopellets are going to come into the equation at some point. I was looking into mr1's as well. It came down to my preceived ease of changing media between the Mr5 and the Mr1. I like the unions on the Avast models. If anything I coluld just use a dedicated biopellet reactor and hybrid combo like 125 mph. I really appreciate the feed back.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

You would need to run more than double recommended amounts to use more than 5 cups, so I'd get the smaller one. Have you considered the BRS dual reactor? I have used a couple media reactors and I find this one to be cost effective and efficient

 

[moondoggy4]

Avast getting some high marks.

 

[PokerReefer]

I have decided to go with the mr5 smaller version. I watched the YouTube video of assembly and this will be plenty of reactor for my setup. Thanks for all responses.

 

[BigCity]

Also you probably dont need two media reactors..

I put purigen on the bottom, chemipure in the middle and a mesh seperator.. then I have fluidized rowaphos on the top layer. Works great. I can see the boiling rowaphos. All in one MR1.

Do you run your purigen and chemipure in bags or just loose with an extra sponge separator in between? I run this setup on my nano and it's great, so was thinking of doing the same on my new 120g. I have 2 brand new MR1's sitting here waiting to be filled with something...