Trouble with Aquamaxx hob media reactor

[RobMay]

Lots of rave reviews for the Aquamaxx reactors, but the "easy to clean" really have me perplexed. I've had nothing but trouble working this thing. I can't figure out how to rinse the media (I use matrix carbon and phosguard together) without then making it impossible to load into the reactor...it gets wet and sticks to whatever it's on). Now I rinse the media in a wire basket, let it dry on a paper towel for forever, and then I can pour it easily into the reactor. There has to be an easier way.

Likewise, I find emptying the reactor to be extremely difficult. No matter how carefully I pack the media, some beads will invariably get jammed between the cylinder body and the edge of the plastic insert rings. Removing the inner parts becomes nealy impossible without scratching the body.

How can so many other people have no trouble with this thing? What am I doing wrong? For the price I paid, it should work well without having to mod it too much (I already swapped out the garbage barb fittings that came with it).

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Can you post a link to which model that you have?

 

[RobMay]

Here it is:

Aquamaxx hob media reactor

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Funny that is the one that I am looking at for my IM Lag0on 25 tank. Are you using the sponge? I like to use the needle point circle disc instead of the sponges, that should keep the bits from getting trapped. Buy a funnel and cut the hole about the same size as of the opening, that will help in loading the media in the reactor.

 

[RobMay]

Funny that is the one that I am looking at for my IM Lag0on 25 tank. Are you using the sponge? I like to use the needle point circle disc instead of the sponges, that should keep the bits from getting trapped. Buy a funnel and cut the hole about the same size as of the opening, that will help in loading the media in the reactor.

Thanks. I tried the circle wheel without the sponge. I still had trouble removing the media (it jammed again), and the small holes in the bottom plate kept getting clogged with media. Even though they're bulky and ugly, the BRS media reactor with the inner chamber was easier maintenance for me. Dump the media in the central chamber, rinse the media while it's in the chamber, and drop it back in the reactor. Of course, this reactor could be a pita to unscrew/loosen up. I'd love to see a video of someone putting seachem carbon matrix in the Aquamaxx reactor and then proceed to simply pull out the media...I'm having a hard time believing it's possible.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

These
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/phosban-reactor-npx-screen.html
Have you tried these.

 

[RobMay]

These
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/phosban-reactor-npx-screen.html
Have you tried these.

Thanks. I was thinking of something like that. Hope the holes are smaller than those on the bottom of the inner plate, so the Matrix Carbon doesn't clog it. Do you know if they sell a fine nylon mesh? That's what the BRS reactor had and it worked well. Your idea is better in a way as it has more rigidity. Not sure I'd switch to aquamaxx carbon...Seachem is the bomb. I'll never go back to bulk carbon...way too dusty for me.

 

[jd371]

I have the same reactor. I rinse the media the same as you but I just let it drain instead of drying it out over a period of time. When I'm ready to fill the reactor I place one of those salifert testing vials over the center tube so no media can fall in and start pouring. Like you mentioned media sticks to the sides so I have a foot long piece of 1" PVC that slides over the center tube I use that with the sponge to press the media down like a plunger, the PVC also helps setting the sponge in place on the bottom plate if it sticks before you pour the media. For cleaning I use the same PVC to hold the media in place with a sponge while I dump the water out. Then over the garbage I slide out the whole thing and dump the media. I use Matrix Carbon also and so it doesn't clog the plate I use it in a media bag.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I use zip ties to hold the needle point disk to the inner plate, if that is too large use two needle points.

https://www.amazon.com/Seachem-Matr...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BEYKR5CZJSYNDC8FC940 Is this what you use? Is it like ROX from BRS?