Reactors

[TreyK]

In planning my new tank, I am now considering which reactors I utilize. I am leaning toward the Reef Octopus line for Carbon GFO and BP.

In the past I used Nextreef for BP and BRS for Carbon/GFO. The NextReef was great. The BRS ones were a pain and seemed to clog all the time and always spilled water all over the sump area when trying to change out.

How do you folks using BRS Reactors keep water from spilling everywhere when changing media?

Opinions on Reef Octopus line reactors? Any other suggestions?

 

[FranktheTankTx]

I'm getting the Reef Octopus reactors too. Their stuff is top of the line...

 

[pledosophy]

I use y's two little fishes reactors and have been happy with them. Been using them a very long time.

 

[asudavew]

How do you folks using BRS Reactors keep water from spilling everywhere when changing media?

Opinions on Reef Octopus line reactors? Any other suggestions?

I mounted mine over my sump so spillage doesn't matter.
I don't remember much water spilling though.
I've need to change my media out this weekend. I'll take a short vid.

 

[TreyK]

I mounted mine over my sump so spillage doesn't matter.
I don't remember much water spilling though.
I've need to change my media out this weekend. I'll take a short vid.

That would be cool, thanks.

No room over my sump for em.

 

[slief]

I use the BRS Jumbo reactors which are hung from the framing under my tank. When I remove them, I'm just careful not to spill and I don't spill as a result. If I was worried about spilling, I'd just use a towel under them when I removing the housings.

 

[drew2007]

I highly recommend Next Reef reactor for carbon and/or gfo. Great quality and price. I used the MR1 for gfo and brs reactor for biopellets. Never had issues with either one.

 

[davidfrances]

NextReef is the only way to go for reactors. Easy setup and they do not leak, period

 

[asudavew]

Video.

http://youtu.be/LudtdjeObK8

 

[davidfrances]

Video.

http://youtu.be/LudtdjeObK8

No offense, but that looks like a PITA.

 

[asudavew]

No offense, but that looks like a PITA.

None taken. Just the way I do it. It's worse cleaning and refilling them. :hmm4:
But they function quite nicely.
And I don't have to do it often. :beer:

I'm very happy with them. And the work involved with maintaining them is minimal. I spend more time defrosting food to feed my sea kittens.

 

[tkeracer619]

I like both the vertex and the nextreef stuff as far as reactors go. The vertex is a bit better and I think worth it if you can afford it but the nextreef is the way to go on a budget.

They are about as close as you can get to a commercial reactor without paying the commercial reactor price.

Haven't seen a sea kitten reference for a while :lol:

 

[Reaper85]

I use the vertex reactors and love them. The quality is very well on these.

 

[PolyReef]

several companies can provide you with a variety of options.very few of them can be Control
By apex and another aquarium controllers.they are very pricey but they're very cool ....
http://youtu.be/k0-YJOm8kJ4

 

[DamonG]

Lol, Omg.. That's a pain.. I mean no offense either.. I would have been completely done with my media change well before you got that off.. LOL.. And I have never had spill out of the reactor(my avast), as it vacuums the water out as long as I turn valves open and then remove the lid.

I'm using the avast MR5 "kit" ( http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/youbuilt/MR-5-Kit)
and have used pretty much all mentioned except the vertex. The vertex, is a beautiful looking brand. My favorite reactor or fitting though, are those by reef dynamics. Quarter turn and the lid is off and slide, not lift (so no additional height is required) off.. Short of that, the thumbscrews aren't bad like on the avast. For the price and build, the avast is a sweet reactor. They make nice products for the price point. If I had endless budget, and they made one, I would buy a reef dynamics over anything else I have used, and he builds his stuff like a tank, and they perform ridiculously well(very well thought out as far as a system working together as one). I use his skimmer and recirc pellet reactor and love them. That is what I would choose over anything else I have seen. But short of that, I like the avast stuff for its function, quality and price..

 

[tkeracer619]

Yea, the vertex has a very good look and the build quality is fantastic. I know people who use them in commercial applications as well. I wish it had thumb screws like the nextreef instead of the screw on lid but each person has their own preference.

Media reactors are one of those things where hands on experience goes a long way.

One of the features I like about my vertex (I use it for small particle lignite carbon) is that the top sponge is held in place by a sturdy collar that has a set thumb screw. If I fill the reactor all the way to the top (I often do) it allows me to sandwich the carbon in the reactor between the two sponges so it cannot tumble. Makes rinsing and water adjustment much easier with that type of carbon. Also prevents channeling.

 

[DamonG]

Yea, the vertex has a very good look and the build quality is fantastic. I know people who use them in commercial applications as well. I wish it had thumb screws like the nextreef instead of the screw on lid but each person has their own preference.

Media reactors are one of those things where hands on experience goes a long way.

One of the features I like about my vertex (I use it for small particle lignite carbon) is that the top sponge is held in place by a sturdy collar that has a set thumb screw. If I fill the reactor all the way to the top (I often do) it allows me to sandwich the carbon in the reactor between the two sponges so it cannot tumble. Makes rinsing and water adjustment much easier with that type of carbon. Also prevents channeling.

I agree, reactors are very much hands on, and add you progress with them, you begin to see and look for things that are annoying with your previous models. I think that's why I have gone through so many of them.

I'm actually trying the recirc on the mr5.I just finished it this morning(doing my own before I buy the actual one from avast) . I am using it with gfo just to see how it goes. I love it on pellets, so I'm trying to see if it's more effective with gfo also. I believe it will be and I see already that it's actually easier to tumble(the tumble control is actually open pretty wide so the water is moving through) while at the same time I've only got a little bit of water actually exiting the unit. But it's easier to adjust for sure..

And I'm trying the rox for the first time. I will see how it goes.

 

[TreyK]

The Vertex reactor has quite a few bad reviews regarding o-rings, and sponges, but i do like the way they look and they are prices the same as the Reef octopus.. not that bad.

Any experience with the Reef octopus reactor? It doesn't look like you can sandwich carbon in them.. also looks like GFO wouldn't work well due to the strainer size.. any insight would me AWESOME!

The Nextreef reactor I had I really liked.. maybe I will just go back to that. Also the avast one looks interesting and is pretty inexpensive.. no sponges in it?

 

[DamonG]

The Vertex reactor has quite a few bad reviews regarding o-rings, and sponges, but i do like the way they look and they are prices the same as the Reef octopus.. not that bad.

Any experience with the Reef octopus reactor? It doesn't look like you can sandwich carbon in them.. also looks like GFO wouldn't work well due to the strainer size.. any insight would me AWESOME!

The Nextreef reactor I had I really liked.. maybe I will just go back to that. Also the avast one looks interesting and is pretty inexpensive.. no sponges in it?

The avast comes with both sponges and strainer discs.. And the little recirc is working great with the gfo and carbon mix...

 

[FirstContact]

I have a PM PrecisionMarine SR35 I like. The Vertex and BubbleKings look great too. Personally I like the twist off lid or a cap that screws on. Not a fan of flanges when it comes to regular frequent use. I have flanges on my kalk reactor; it's just an exta step; but, I don't need to add/change out kalk every few weeks. Lots of choices and price ranges.