Chaeto in sump or macro algae reactor?

Jimbo662 · Dec 17, 2017

Which would you go with? I had planned to get a Kessil H380 to put over my sump and just realized the macro algae reactors cost is about equal to the light. What are the pros and cons for having one over the other? I can see more room in the sump for more rock.

Cuong · Dec 17, 2017

I run a h380 over my refugium. With a reactor, you are limited in space with how much volume you can grow, thus limiting your nutrient export in my opinion. Also with an open refugium, all u need to to do is reach in and take out some chaeto. It's easier to maintain, and you get more volume (granted you have the space).

lion king · Dec 17, 2017

First depends on the size tank, the most common reactor size may handle up to a 90g; I wouldn't think it would handle much more. If I had a dedicated refugium space large enough then that would be the best way to go. I run 3 reactors and love them, one on a bc29, and on 2 90s; one reactor is a the large aquamaxx biopellet reactor.. I harvest once a month and keep my nitrates around 10 and phosphates negligible.

luckyazn6 · Dec 17, 2017

Do you use the aquamax set up from marine depot

Jimbo662 · Dec 17, 2017

I'd found the aquamaxx set up on marine depot also. My tank is 130g and I've got the Trigger Sapphire 39 sump.

jimmyzhou · Dec 17, 2017

If just chaeto in the sump. U have to clean ever 2 weeks I have the set light h380. I use mangrove and dragon breath. And other types. But won’t use chaeto. One of friend has chaeto. Full space ever 2 weeks. A lot of work.
My prices form 60days use kessile. When I got them as frag size Light. 16inch high form water

jimmyzhou · Dec 17, 2017

Jimbo662 said:
I'd found the aquamaxx set up on marine depot also. My tank is 130g and I've got the Trigger Sapphire 39 sump.

We got the same sump. I won’t use that sump for refugium

MBX5 · Dec 17, 2017

I didn’t have room in my sump for a fuge so I went with a Skimz reactor. I almos got a new sump but remembered on my old tanks cleaning the algae all over from the light. With the reactor light only it keeps other algae down so less cleaning of the whole sump. It’s only been up since Black Friday so I can’t say if I love it yet. I can say my levels are the same as my old systems with a fuge.

lion king · Dec 17, 2017

luckyazn6 said:
Do you use the aquamax set up from marine depot

I had the aquamaxx biopellet reactors laying around from a previously failed attempt at biopellets, one regular and one large. So I did outfit the small one like the one offered on marine depot, and it's a great set up. The large one I used a led strip I got from amazon with a mj1200 and have it on my higher nutrient 90.

Jimbo for a 130 i would go with the larger reactor.