The JNS Alpha 1 Biopellet reactor review...

[mojo]

Ok all I took the plunge into trying biopellets again. I have tried them in the past with not a lot of luck. Not sure if it was the fact I was using too many or the flow wasnt right. I have tried the TLF reactor, Geo, Avast ect.. All of them worked ok for pellets but were much better for carbon and GFO. So this time around I thought I would get an actual reactor meant for biopellets.

The two I was looking at were the Alpha 1 and the octo reactor. Both designed just for biopellets. The octo was $120 and youadd a pump. The alpha 1 was same price and came with a Sicce syncra pump. I went this route of course by the title of the review...

I chose the alpha because it came with its pump, it was meant to be set in the sump and past experience with JNS products. JNS made all the warner marine skimmers back in the day and now make the Aquamaxx line and their own as well as some other items.

The reactor came boxed up really well. Built well and exacltly what I expected. This timearound I choose the BRS pellets. Just never go wrong with Bulk reef supply items. So why not right? The reactor took me longer to unbox than it did to set it up and get it running in my tank.

I only put in about 100 ml of pellets in to start. ill bump it up to about 200 ml in a week or so.
First impression is the pump is super quiet and it twirls the pellets like nothing else. Not a little tumble. Its like a twister ! lol It appears to work really well. Time will tell for sure.

Well here are a couple pics and ill keep you posted on the results.

Mojo~

here is the tank..

 

[mojo]

ill get the actual camera out and take some pics and video. The only thing I could see anyone not liking is to add more pellets you have to take the whole reactor out. But not really all that hard to do.

Mojo~

 

[irish02bk]

update?? looking to get one

 

[secretreefer]

yeah same here.

 

[spscrazy]

hoping for a update also I'm trying to choose between this one & one by aquamaxx anyone have that one?

 

[mojo]

sorry folks, just been busy.

I can say this has been one purchase I have beenvery happy with. I have used geo reactors, TLF, and some others. They are all great for carbon and gfo. This thing really works well for the pellets. I am still running it today on my new tank and will actually be adding some more pellets to it in another week or so. For me it was between this and the octo biopellet reactor. And for the price with the pump I am very happy with my choice. I would highly suggest this reactor.

Mojo~

 

[mojo]

here it is running in my new setup
%

 

[VegasRick]

You have too much free time lol look how clean that sump is.
Why did you decide to try biopellots again? Have you been vodka dosing? Planning on adding some more fish?

 

[secretreefer]

Thanks for the update Mojo! 1smile1

 

[secretreefer]

hope you're not too busy, could you post the noticeable differences before and after the reactor? or if you have numbers could you post it? would surely appreciate it. i'm eyeing one up as i type....or anyone else wanna chime in with their JNS biopellet reactor experiences?

 

[mojo]

you to be totally honest its kind of hard to tell on a new system. with all new water ect... ButI can say it seems to work really well. I am not runningmany and will be adding another 100 ml to the reactor here soon. This time around I can say I had 1 day of cloudy water when I added it. Then it was clear. My water is clear as can be but my system is really clean. I still vote for this being one of the best bio pellet reactors out.

 

[secretreefer]

thanks!

 

[mojo]

I snappeda quick video of this for you all. Let me get it loaded.

 

[mojo]

some might think it is fast but with more pellets it will slow down some. But I had nothing but issues with pellets until I got this reactor. I think they need more flow than originally suggested.

 

[mojo]

here is the video. Just click on it.

 

[Nuocmam]

Thanks for the update and cool vid. I'm following along. I've been through the TLF reactors, Precision Marine, NextReef, and now running the Octopus reactor for the last 9 months. As you stated the others are just more suited for carbon or gfo. My Octo pellet reactor with the cone plate at the bottom has been doing a decent job of keeping the pellets tumbling with zero dead spots. Your JNS looks crazy. There's a tornado happening inside of it.

 

[xmetalfan99]

The thing I am afraid of with the spinning style reactors is all of the pellets clumping together and forming a single spinning unit of pellets.

 

[mojo]

It has channels in the bottom to keep them broke up. Its a nice unit.remember I have about 100ml in there.it will slow some when I add too it.it its the way to go in my opinion.comes with pump too.

 

[BirmJam]

I have the larger reactor which is supposed to hold 1000ml and am having issues with all the pellets not completely spinning. When I put 500 in, I would say 90% would spin with the rest getting pushed to the top where the discharge is.

Mojo, I wonder if you would be willing to try something. I believe your reactor is supposed to handle 500ml, if you have that amount, would you mind filling the reactor and seeing if you experience the same issue I am? Hopefully you don't and maybe I have a bad pump. Thanks!

 

[Eternal]

Stop the pump then tip the whole reactor to a 45 degree angle then turn the pump back on and slowly straighten the reactor. That has stopped them from going to the top for me.