Best GFO Reactor

[TheSaint216]

Right now Im using a BRS reactor for GFO, no sponges, using a Maxijet 1200. Im not getting the tumble I like no matter how I throttle it. Seems like Im getting alot of flow on one side of the canister. Is the two little fishies reactor a better choice? Any other reactors that are a better choice?

 

[huuta]

phosban 150.I have the brs too but now i only use it for carbon

 

[ThaBeast]

Geo....best one I ever used

 

[DogueDeBordeaux]

I have been looking at reactors too. If you want to place it in the sump, look at the JNS reactor. It will not need a feed pump. If I had plenty of room I would look at the SRO reactors. They are videos of both on youtube.

 

[mace88]

I prefer the avast reactors over the BRS. Got a more even flow...

 

[CoralFragZ]

Is this for biopellets or GFO?

 

[TheSaint216]

GFO and might change out my BRS reactor running bio pellets to.

 

[AZDesertRat]

How much media are you running and for what size display and is it plumbed correctly so the flow is bottom up to lift the media? Too much media can cause a number of problems including compacting and bleaching of SPS corals and irritation of soft corals. 1 tablespoon or 10 grams per 10 gallons is full dose and I prefer to run 1/2 of that at all times once I get phosphates under control as a precautionary measure. I never run full dose. Also BRS has this harebrained idea to run twice as much media and ANY other supplier, manufacturer or vendor and while I use their media I will not use their lame instructions.

 

[Downbeach]

Right now Im using a BRS reactor for GFO, no sponges, using a Maxijet 1200. Im not getting the tumble I like no matter how I throttle it. Seems like Im getting alot of flow on one side of the canister. Is the two little fishies reactor a better choice? Any other reactors that are a better choice?

I've been using the BRS reactors for a few years without a problem. But, I have the older style inserts. When I wanted to give bio-plellets a try I converted my GFO reactor into a bio-pellet reactor, buy replacing my original insert with the newer style. I notices that I wasn't getting an even flow with this insert. So I removed it and found that there was a great deal of the slots that were not opened. So, I took an xacto knife and opened them. After that it was fine. I would suggest that if you're going to bio-pellets that you ultimately get a reactor made for that purpose. I put my GFO reactor back in service and use a MJ 600 for flow, with 1 1/2 cups of HC GFO, without the ball valve.

 

[WillKatt]

How much media are you running and for what size display and is it plumbed correctly so the flow is bottom up to lift the media? Too much media can cause a number of problems including compacting and bleaching of SPS corals and irritation of soft corals. 1 tablespoon or 10 grams per 10 gallons is full dose and I prefer to run 1/2 of that at all times once I get phosphates under control as a precautionary measure. I never run full dose. Also BRS has this harebrained idea to run twice as much media and ANY other supplier, manufacturer or vendor and while I use their media I will not use their lame instructions.

Agreed! I went with the BRS recommendation and bleached things pretty bad. For the longest time I believed other things were to blame, but ever since I cut back the BRS recommended dosage by 2/3rds things have started to color up and grow again and my Hanna PO4 checker now reads .01-.02 instead of .000

I have a two little fishes reactor and have the same problem of flow being stronger on one side of the canister, however it dosnt seem to affect its efficiency at all. I just crank up the flow for a few seconds every week or so to stir the media and keep it from clumping.

 

[TheSaint216]

Thanks for all the replies guys. It's funny you should mention that because I am using the full amount that BRS suggested. My reactor does have the new style canister. I have not experienced any bleaching. It does not appear to be clumping I just see a lot of tumbling on 1 side. I may not have the amount tumble right, I tried finding videos but the rate of tumble was all over the place. I can turn the reactor on its side and everything does seem fluidized though.

 

[WillKatt]

Id also like to point out that perhaps the BRS recommended dosage may be ok for some systems based on several factors such as how much feeding occurs, the types of foods being used, other additional forms of nutrient transport, etc. So in my experience its just better to start with 1/4 to 1/3 the BRS recommended dosage and go up as needed with close observation.