Easiest Media Reactor

[CoralsAddiction]

I’m looking for the easiest maintenance carbon reactor. Something that’s easier than two little fishies. I’d be nice to just dump out and put in carbon without spilling some of the media on the floor.

 

[stanlalee]

The BRS reactors have a capped center cartridge where the media goes so you should spill zero media. Even with the cap off you should spill zero

 

[vetteguy53081]

Two little fishies

 

[minus9]

I just picked up the new aquamaxx sigma 1 reactor for gfo and it's awesome. In sump, top comes off and easy to refill and rinse. It's great for gfo and carbon. Super easy to dial in the flow rate, just a simple twist of the base.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Ordered Lifegard Aquatics Turbo reactor. Hopefully it’s what I’m looking for. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Big E]

Avast- spyglass reactor has the best design I've ever seen, especially from a maintenance and flow standpoint.

You can buy a kit and save a few bucks or just buy a unit already constructed.

Spyglass Reactor Kit

The newest reactor from Avast Marine now available as a DIY Kit! We have worked for quite some time to develop the most comprehensive media reactor feature set. Combining gentle and complete fluidization, recirculating or single pass configuration options, media versatility, exceptional energy...

avastmarine.com

They also provide standard reactors which are very nice as well. I have of one the standard reactors(MR5) I put together from one of their kits..........took me about 10 minutes to put together. They have videos to show you how to do it step by step.

The reactor is well built and will last a lifetime.

Fluidized Media Reactor

Our fluidized media reactor is designed to efficiently filter water with a variety of media types. The reactor includes 2 types of filter pads for retaining different media types such as activated carbon or granular ferric oxide (GFO). The included mesh disks make this reactor an excellent...

avastmarine.com

 

[wolfen281]

I just picked up the new aquamaxx sigma 1 reactor for gfo and it's awesome. In sump, top comes off and easy to refill and rinse. It's great for gfo and carbon. Super easy to dial in the flow rate, just a simple twist of the base.

Eyeballin' that model hard right now. Thanks for the review.
Do you still like it?

 

[minus9]

Eyeballin' that model hard right now. Thanks for the review.
Do you still like it?

Yeah, it’s pretty easy to use. I still put media (usually carbon) in a mesh bag, so swapping out media is super fast. Loosen the top screw, open it up, pull the bag and replace with a new one, close the lid, tighten it up, power back on. Done. Adjusting the flow is simple, just turn the reactor body left or right.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Put it in a bag and then in the sump.

 

[Spare time]

I’m looking for the easiest maintenance carbon reactor. Something that’s easier than two little fishies. I’d be nice to just dump out and put in carbon without spilling some of the media on the floor.

BRS ones are probably the easiest no mess ones. Aquamaxx AIO style ones are not bad. The two little fishies one is terrible lol

 

[tomtsp]

Yeah, it’s pretty easy to use. I still put media (usually carbon) in a mesh bag, so swapping out media is super fast. Loosen the top screw, open it up, pull the bag and replace with a new one, close the lid, tighten it up, power back on. Done. Adjusting the flow is simple, just turn the reactor body left or right.

Great info.. thank you. What GFO are you running and are you bagging the GFO as well? Also, ever run GFO and carbon simultaneously? Thanks!

 

[minus9]

Great info.. thank you. What GFO are you running and are you bagging the GFO as well? Also, ever run GFO and carbon simultaneously? Thanks!

When I use it, it’s mostly for carbon and I bag everything for ease of use. I’ve used it with rowaphos, but very small amounts and I’ve used it for cuprisorb (to remove some excess metals that showed up). Yes, I’ve combined carbon and cuprisorb together, but I separate rowaphos and carbon so they don’t rub. I have a lot of bags for easy exchange of media.
I’ve also used it with filter floss when I use a flocculant to clear up the water. I use a DIY coral snow as a flocculant. The great thing about using bags inside the reactor is it’s so simple, just remove the lid, grab the bag, exchange with fresh media, lid back on, done. You don’t even have to shut it off during the exchange, but it is easier with the flow off. Also, controlling the flow with a simple twist is awesome.

 

[csund]

You can build your own with parts from a place like freshwatersystems.com. I initially made reactors with 1/2” lines but found them bulky and not necessary for the flow I needed. I ended up building these using 1/4” RODI tubing. I can still tumble a 1/2 cup of GFO. These use the empty cartridges from BRS.

 

[George's reef]

You can build your own with parts from a place like freshwatersystems.com. I initially made reactors with 1/2” lines but found them bulky and not necessary for the flow I needed. I ended up building these using 1/4” RODI tubing. I can still tumble a 1/2 cup of GFO. These use the empty cartridges from BRS.

can you list the parts you purchase from this site? I'm really interested in a setting like yours

 

[jft]

The New icecap media reactors are well built and easy to maintain and come with pumps that work well.