Which Reactors ...BRS Deluxe or TLF ?

[drew930]

Looking for 2-3 reactors for my 120 I'm setting up soon. Going to do Carbon and GFO and thought about bio pellets later on. Was originally think just to get 2-3 TLF reactors, but then thought about getting some of the BRS Deluxe's . One thing I do like about the BRS reactor is you can mount them by screws instead of tank mount. My sump will be crowded as is. Was probably going to run off a manifold if possible. I have a Sicce 5.0 (1321gph) . If its not strong enough, then maybe I will use some maxi's instead. Did not know which to get, if anyone has suggestions please throw them my way! Thanks

 

[fredro]

I've had TLF before and now have 4 BRS reactors running off my manifold. I personally like the BRS 100x better. I think they're much sturdier, solid and less: likely to leak. In my opinion, the BRS reactors are better in every way

 

[ClownsRCoo]

I agree. I have a BRS, TLF, and vertex reactor and BRS is easiest to change and just very simple to use. To me the TLF is junk. Very cheaply made, PIA to get opened (have to take a channel lock to), leaks. I wished I never would have bought it.

 

[drew930]

Thanks for the replies ... Are you guys running the regular, dual or deluxe ? I was going to go with deluxe since I'm reading they are sleeker. I see some people running carbon and gfo in the same reactor ? This is for a 120, so I'll probably just run one for gfo and one for carbon . I've never mixed them either . Wouldn't it be hard to get the gfo to tumble while having the carbon in the same reactor ?

 

[Tigerdragon]

If you run gfo/carbon mix you dont want to tumble it will grind the carbon to dust. For pellets i would get a reactor designed for bio pellets that way less chance of clumping and plugging

 

[yellowRubi]

I run two deluxe BRS reactors, had TLF on my old setup, I like those much better, super easy to change the media, I know they say you can run GFO and Carbon in one but I don't like that idea
Iam using the Sicce pump , I went with the model that BRS recommends, but I should of going with a little stronger, as I run it at full open now on both reactors
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/piotrdrozdz/18959048599/in/dateposted-public/" title="48x36"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/284/18959048599_3a0c11361a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="48x36"></a

 

[drew930]

I'm debating whether to run them off my return , or another pump you you did ^ . I have a sicce 1.5 . Which sicce are you using ?

 

[drew930]

If you run gfo/carbon mix you dont want to tumble it will grind the carbon to dust. For pellets i would get a reactor designed for bio pellets that way less chance of clumping and plugging

Okay . I've never ran them together . I probably won't this time either . So you think I should get their biopellet reactor instead of a 3rd deluxe if I do biopellets ? Can add of net or pad to a deluxe to help with pellets ? Or is their actual pellet reactor made a little differently ?

 

[RingingEars]

I agree with the others.
I have the tlf and I'm thinking of dumping it for the brs. The brs looks more robust.

 

[dbl]

For what it's worth, I'm using the BRS dual, running off return manifold. It works well but I wish I had gone with two singles instead, so flow can be dialed in individually. One recommendation...if you go with BRS, order a extra hard shell cartridge. You can fill the extra one and swap out when it's time to change. Then you're not tied to rinsing, cleaning, etc. so quickly in order to get the reactor up and running again. I've at least found it easier and the extra was pretty inexpensive.

 

[drew930]

For what it's worth, I'm using the BRS dual, running off return manifold. It works well but I wish I had gone with two singles instead, so flow can be dialed in individually. One recommendation...if you go with BRS, order a extra hard shell cartridge. You can fill the extra one and swap out when it's time to change. Then you're not tied to rinsing, cleaning, etc. so quickly in order to get the reactor up and running again. I've at least found it easier and the extra was pretty inexpensive.

That's a good point . I might do the same !

 

[dkeller_nc]

I much prefer the TLF. IMO, a reactor should never be outside the sump, in fact anything being fed pressurized water from the return pump should at least be mounted over the sump if not directly in it.

The issue I had with the BRS reactors is that they're just water filtration housings, so the "tank" had to be screwed off and is full of water.

With the TLF, I just pop the silicone off of the reactor, place it in a bucket, and work on it in the sink - no muss, no fuss.

By the way - you can prevent the threads from locking up on any reactor by lightly greasing the threads and o-ring with a bit of silicone grease. My TLF reactor tops come off with easy hand pressure (and would require channel locks if I hadn't greased the threads and o-ring.)

 

[sleepydoc]

I have a BRS reactor that I was using for GFO and had problems with it clogging constantly. TLF seems to be better and clogging, but poorly made and prone to cracking, based on comments. As one poster said "It's an in-sump reactor only!"

 

[dadummy]

TLF for me. Had the older BRS and it was junk. I haven't used a reactor in quite some time and I am sure there are some better ones on the market.
I bet one could even find some single canisters and make the BRS ones. A few fittings, some tubing and a refillable cartridge should do the trick, or even barbed fittings and flexible tubing, save coin on some fittings

 

[Ebone]

i'm found of my brs with a mj1200 pumps

 

[yellowRubi]

I'm debating whether to run them off my return , or another pump you you did ^ . I have a sicce 1.5 . Which sicce are you using ?

I have the same pump, last time I changed them I put more media in them and the Sicce 1.5 is running full open on both, iam thinking about the Sicce 2.0 so I could dial it down if needed with the valves....

 

[KingTriton1]

I have a Sicce 1.5 that is feeding my two reactors. I personally have plenty of extra flow. I like keeping my reactors in sump (if this is even a choice).

 

[RainbowReefer]

I love how YellowRubi ran his and I am pretty sure I will be stealing that idea.

I think the BRS VS TLF rex both will do the same so its all personal preference, I see there is some negatives to the TLF rex but I love all of mine and would not see any reason to change them, neither is superior to the other in my opinion.

 

[Johnseye]

I'm debating whether to run them off my return , or another pump you you did ^ . I have a sicce 1.5 . Which sicce are you using ?

I had a separate pump but when I replumbed had it run off my return. It works exactly the same and I have one less piece of equipment to power, clean and keep in the sump.

I had a TLF and went to BRS. No regrets, the BRS reactors are solid and quality. Same as Spectrapure RODI.

 

[Johnseye]

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/piotrdrozdz/18959048599/in/dateposted-public/" title="48x36"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/284/18959048599_3a0c11361a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="48x36"></a

That's a spankin clean sump. Does it stay that way or do you clean it often?