Reactors & 2-Part

[jeremyjoslin]

So I've got the Apex up and running. Over the next few weeks I'll be ordering a dozen float switches and creating alarms, re-automating top-off, and building an auto-water change system.

In the meantime, I want to buy a proper system for adding 2-part (or is it 3 part: Ca/kH/Mg) and a few media reactors.

Just a poll, does it matter which peristaltic pumps I buy? Something like the BRS dual pumps with the 2-part kit should be fine, right? Should I try to find used?

And when it comes to reactors, besides the carbon for "polishing" I think I'd like to run GFO as well. Again, here, any problems with the standard dual reactor setup from BRS for these two? Does size of canister matter a whole lot?

For reference, I'm running about 175g of sumps/fuges/frags in the basement and will add a 300g DT upstairs in a few months.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

Hmmm. 24 hours without a response. In most cases, that means the OP asked a really stupid question (shoot!). I'm going to continue reading up to answer these myself, but feel free to PM me any comments as well

 

[oneradtek202]

hey man i just got this thread, so heres my opinion. not that i would know. but here it goes.

most BRS dosers, are singly 80-90 bucks so if you get three with shipping youll be up around $270ish. maybe you should get a bubble magus doser. i know pascal (blurry) has one and i think he likes his.

i would just get a bubble magus for around 300$ and for teh BRS chambers, i have two separate ones, not the combined one. idk why i did this, no good reason, i would just get teh dual one if i could do it again.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

Thanks, Brandon.

The BRS video seems to be describing the BM doser as "hobby grade" and the 2-Part Doser as "professional grade".

$240 for professional grade vs $299 for hobby grade... hmmm.

What am I missing?

As for the reactors, are the standard sizes adequate? I want to make sure I don't buy something when something else would be better... vis a vis... go with the "deluxe" or "jumbo" or Reef Octopus brand?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Thanks, Brandon.

The BRS video seems to be describing the BM doser as "hobby grade" and the 2-Part Doser as "professional grade".

$240 for professional grade vs $299 for hobby grade... hmmm.

What am I missing?

It's just marketing BS. They're both essentially hobby-grade products. Neither are "professional" or "industrial" grade. If you did want something fancy, you could cruise eBay for Masterflex or Cole Parmer brand pumps, those truly are pro-grade. And you could probably get them cheaper than the hobby pumps, but it's typically a big confusing mess to get something appropriate thanks to the vast array of options for tubing, flow rates, controls, power supplies, and so on. The hobby pumps are definitely adequate but I wouldn't expect a huge difference in performance or reliability from one brand to the other.

Regardless of which style or brand you choose, I would suggest making sure you have extra tubing on hand (or even an entire spare pump) so if you have a failure you can be up and running immediately instead of waiting a week to get tubing.

One nice thing about the BM unit is that there's an integrated controller, so you don't have to deal with a bunch of timers or taking up a bunch of controlled outlets on your main reef controller.

As for the reactors, are the standard sizes adequate? I want to make sure I don't buy something when something else would be better... vis a vis... go with the "deluxe" or "jumbo" or Reef Octopus brand?

I don't use reactors so take this with a grain of salt, but I would wonder if it might be better to have two separate reactors vs. one "dual" reactor, so you could adjust flow rates independently? Maybe someone who has used both types of setups could comment...