Do Algae Reactors Work, And Worth It?

[fishbox]

Just thought you guys should know that the IP67 rated led's are only submersible up to a half hour. IP68 is continuously submerged. The first number, 6, is how dust-proof it is with 6 being the highest. The second number, 7 or 8, is how it reacts to liquids. 7 is one meter depth for 30 minutes and 8 (the highest) is over one meter depth and continuously submerged. So the people on Amazon that claim their IP67 led's are waterproof are only telling half the story.

So those of you using them in your sump be mindful and may want to put the reactor on a stand. I just looked up the IP ratings from an led manufacturer, not what the people on Amazon say.

Have a link to some IP68 rated lights?

 

[Forsaken77]

Have a link to some IP68 rated lights?

I found THESE doing a quick search the other day, but it says "bare board protection IP68." So I don't know if that means just the board is IP68 or if the led's are also. Plus it doesn't come with a power supply. I emailed the company for clarification and they said this is just the info they were given. So they were no help. But they're the right spectrum and length, and assuming the whole thing is IP68, they would just need a power supply.

I also found THESE on Amazon, but they're too short, at 2.5M length, and don't come with a power supply either.

It's not easy finding an IP68 wraparound strip. It's easier to find bar strips. I think because each led has to be encapsulated. The first place couldn't even tell me what power supply they'd recommend.

So it's probably less of a hassle going with IP67 and vinyl wrapping them with a heat gun to keep the water out and light in. The guy on page 1 of this thread showed how he vinyl wrapped his. But that only applies is you're keeping it submerged in the sump. If you're keeping it outside, then it doesn't matter.

 

[Forsaken77]

I guess our discussion on this has gotten quit popular because all of the $340 Skimz models (the bigger unit) on BRS are sold out. Didn't check to see if the smaller one was gone also. If any of you bought one, please leave us a review of what you think on this thread, and please leave a review on BRS to let others know about this method. Even Marine Depot's tank build was selected to use an algae reactor over gfo and biopellets on their YouTube channel where they let the public decide what equipment is going in the tank.

I also wanted to know if anyone knows of a canister, like a zeovit reactor kinda, that doesn't have a tube going down the middle of the reactor, so it's basically an open chamber, but uses a pump and tubing to make a reactor with. Either upflow or downflow where water enters the chamber through the bottom, without the tube, and exits the top, or vice versa. I've never used a zeovit reactor and probably wouldn't spend the money on one just to build this. I just wanted to know if something like that exists. Because I have a 16" Marineland 6500k led tube that I could stick in the reactor and just drill the power cord out of the top and silicone it. I used it to grow chaeto before and it worked quite well, but obviously not in a reactor.

If not, I'll probably go with the extra large AquaMaxx reactor with 16.5 feet of grow led's and vinyl wrap it. I'm a ways off because I'm still slowly collecting all new parts for my bigger tank and have no room under my 93 cube because of the gfo reactor and waste collector for the skimmer. The large reactor is also too tall for my cube, or I'd just ditch the gfo reactor. This is going on my 180 with a much bigger cabinet.

 

[HolisticBear]

I also wanted to know if anyone knows of a canister, like a zeovit reactor kinda, that doesn't have a tube going down the middle of the reactor, so it's basically an open chamber, but uses a pump and tubing to make a reactor with. Either upflow or downflow where water enters the chamber through the bottom, without the tube, and exits the top, or vice versa

I went with a Geo's Reef Media reactor. No middle tube, works like you describe. Some of the other brands were sold out and this fits the dimensions I needed. It seems well built, no complaints

 

[Forsaken77]

I went with a Geo's Reef Media reactor. No middle tube, works like you describe. Some of the other brands were sold out and this fits the dimensions I needed. It seems well built, no complaints

That actually seems like a perfect design for what I was looking for, the universal reactor, THANKS!

Can use it either top down or upflow, has a half inch barb or hard connection screen and foam pads, and a flow control valve. That's exactly what I was looking for. Tallest one is 17 inches high and a 4 inch chamber. Right on the money. Same price as the AquaMaxx, but I prefer the tubeless design with built-in flow control barb.

Good Find! Thanks Again!

 

[Scurvy]

How long are folks keeping their reactors lit? I had been running 20 hours on w/ 4 off and my levels are down to 2ppm No3 and .034 Po4.

My reactors about half full now. Should i harvest the bulk of it in an effort to curb how much its actually pulling or just shorten the light period to 16 on, 8 off?

Thoughts??

 

[Forsaken77]

How long are folks keeping their reactors lit? I had been running 20 hours on w/ 4 off and my levels are down to 2ppm No3 and .034 Po4.

My reactors about half full now. Should i harvest the bulk of it in an effort to curb how much its actually pulling or just shorten the light period to 16 on, 8 off?

Thoughts??

So you want it to pull LESS nutrients from the water? Your levels are golden. What you could try is just putting it on a reverse photo period for when your tank lights are off. That way it'll help with the Ph swing at night and not pull out as many nutrients. I wouldn't harvest it until it's almost full, especially if you're going to reduce the light period.

Personally, I would leave it just the way it is right now and wait for it to fill up, then check your levels. It sounds like it's working just the way it should.

 

[Forsaken77]

I imagine the light bleed will be less with chaeto in it, hopefully. I have to get some chaeto in it first then I can find out the results.

The plastic isn't tinted, it's actually black acrylic. Once i see it in action I can see about the outflow from the reactor.

Have you setup the Skimz reactor yet? I was just curious about any clippings coming out and if the black acrylic is enough to prevent algae from growing in the sump. I like that it has a built-in pump. Does it have any flow control on the pump?

 

[Scurvy]

So you want it to pull LESS nutrients from the water? Your levels are golden. What you could try is just putting it on a reverse photo period for when your tank lights are off. That way it'll help with the Ph swing at night and not pull out as many nutrients. I wouldn't harvest it until it's almost full, especially if you're going to reduce the light period.

Personally, I would leave it just the way it is right now and wait for it to fill up, then check your levels. It sounds like it's working just the way it should.

Yep, its definitely working as well or better than expected! Being where my levels are now i just want to make sure i dont completely strip.

Ultimately im looking at getting to a high import/high export system by feeding aminos daily, roids a couple/three times a week as well as fish 2 or 3 times a day. I dont want to start that until after my vaca in August as its too much to trust and ask of a tank/dog/house sitter.

In the meantime ill prob cut the light cycle and see where it goes.

 

[jasonrusso]

I also made a algae reactor, used a Phosban 550 and amazon led grow lights and wrapped the whole thing in electrical tape to keep the light in here's some pics.

That's the two little fish reactor, correct.

Have you pulled out any chaeto yet? I read sometimes the lid doesn't seal properly

 

[fishbox]

That's the two little fish reactor, correct.

Have you pulled out any chaeto yet? I read sometimes the lid doesn't seal properly

Yes that's the TLF reactor. I have the same one being shipped to me. So I'd like to know about that lid issue.

 

[fishbox]

That's the two little fish reactor, correct.

Have you pulled out any chaeto yet? I read sometimes the lid doesn't seal properly

Yes that's the TLF reactor. I have the same one being shipped to me. So I'd like to know about that lid issue.

 

[fishbox]

That's the two little fish reactor, correct.

Have you pulled out any chaeto yet? I read sometimes the lid doesn't seal properly

Yes that's the TLF reactor. I have the same one being shipped to me. So I'd like to know about that lid issue.

 

[hart24601]

The one I posted is also the TLF reactor. I have been opening it a couple times a week to fuss with it and I have not noticed any issues seating and sealing the lid. I make sure to not over tighten.

 

[Eddie Rogers]

following

 

[bgoldb]

After looking at the Skimz reactor at Reefapalooza last weekend I decided I will be modding one to fit my needs. I want to run it off of a manifold vs the pump it comes with. I would love an Arid reactor but the price is nuts.

For my AIO in my living room I think I will go Aquamaxx DIY. I wonder how the black vinyl affects the LED since I'm assuming heat dissipation is gone?

Will you be modifying the Skimz reactor by removing the pump portion and hard plumbing into the bottom of the reactor? I was thinking about doing that as opposed to building a reactor with LED light strips but wasn't sure if the Skimz reactor can be modified.

 

[s2nhle]

Do these led light strip heat burn the reactor? I was almost get the strip light from amazon but I am afraid the heat would burn the acrylic. Thank you for all advice.

 

[jasonrusso]

Right now I am using my BRS reactor that I modded a bit. I don't think it is working up to my expectations so I am considering the TLF. I have lots of pod/caterpillar looking things living in the chaeto so I don't want to change that up too much! The chaeto isn't really growing but it's green. My nutrients are pretty low so maybe I shouldn't expect much growth.

 

[Sabellafella]

Not sure of its worth is using smaller reactors. I have the vertex 2.5l media reactor, almost fully packed with cheato filled 1/3 of a 5 gallon bucket. On my current setup, I would pull about the same amount of cheato either with a reactor or in my sump. Just with the reactor its more dense opposed to being free floating if i kept it in my sump

 

[Sabellafella]

This was built with 70$ the led tape was 24 dollars. No reason to why i tryed it other then being curious, i assume it helps. I get a huge ball of cheato in 2 weeks time though