Bio Pellet Reactors

[Dogger]

I am interested to know what reactors are best suited for Bio Pellets. What are you using. I have just started dosing using a vertex universal uf15 but I am now hearing that the foam pads on these plug up. Thoughts.

[evoi19]

I use nextreef smr1 on a MJ1200 pump. Another popular model is the SRO pellet reactor.

[campos]

I am just finding that out for myself. I've been running warner marine ecobak pellets for 4 months now and they always seem to get stuck. I even bought a larger pump to try and get these to circulate (a 1200). Now I find out that I should not be running the foam. Nextreef makes a great reactor for these larger pellets, the SMR1. I have the Nextreef MR1 but it is not designed for the larger media (pellets). Fortunately Nextreef has a kit that converts my MR1 to a SMR1.

[lordofthereef]

I have been very happy with my two little fishies phosban reactor + maxijet 1200. I use the 150, but I don't see why their larger model couldn't work. The only mod I personally did was add some of that plastic needle-point canvas (that's not the word, but they sell it at craft stores...) to the top and bottom grates to keep the pellets from popping through the holes. Using the sponges that came with the reactor would clog things up too much.

[shifty51008]

I will be using the Avast MR5 unit with a mj1200 for mine when it comes in.

[davocean]

I just bought a two little fishies 550 w/ a minijet 606.
They sell them as a bio kit at Marinedepot.com, and they now come w/ mesh screens similar to what Lordofthereef mentioned.
I haven't hooked it up just yet, but will comment when I do.

[solitude127]

I have a Two little fishies 550 with about 750ml of pellets in there. In order for me to get a decent tumble, I'm using a mag5 pump I had laying around. I tried a MJ1200 but only got a little tumble out of it.

[davocean]

I thought a little tumble is all you really want?
They advise using only 100-200gph for flow, reason I got the minijet 606.

[shifty51008]

I have heard slow tumble, med. tumble and fast tumble. lol it is hard to know which is best.

I am going to go off the video they have here:
http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/ATB-HQ-BP

[DeLucs414]

i have a BRS Bio-Pellet reactor that came with 500ml bag of bio-pellets, you have to buy the pump separate. they recommend a maxijet 1200, which i bought. i love it, works very good after the break in period.

[shifty51008]

i have a BRS Bio-Pellet reactor that came with 500ml bag of bio-pellets, you have to buy the pump separate. they recommend a maxijet 1200, which i bought. i love it, works very good after the break in period.

how long did yours take after setting it up before you started to notice a drop in NO3 and PO4?

[solitude127]

I thought a little tumble is all you really want?
They advise using only 100-200gph for flow, reason I got the minijet 606.

When I had the MJ1200 on there, the pellets weren't even moving. But from what I've read and noticed in my tank, is that I need a decent tumble for the pellets to be effective.

[DeLucs414]

how long did yours take after setting it up before you started to notice a drop in NO3 and PO4?

it takes quite a while to notice, there has to be a build up of the bacteria which can take about 4-8 weeks. Mine took prolly 6-7 weeks to notice the drop in PO4 and NO3.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/BRS-Bio-Pellets

if u scroll down a bit they cover quite a bit of information, and if u have any other questions, contact BRS. they have always helped me and respond really fast.

When I had the MJ1200 on there, the pellets weren't even moving. But from what I've read and noticed in my tank, is that I need a decent tumble for the pellets to be effective.

my maxijet moves the pellets in my reactor quite a bit, i had to dial it down. but now its just a decent amount to get it all moving.

[barney1215]

Im using the smr1 from nextreef. Using return pump to run it.

[ChuckLawson]

I've had my best luck with an Avast MR5 (the 18") and the smaller Tunze Silence pump; tumbles great, no clogging...

[Dogger]

Can the two 90 deg. barbed fittings on the top of the SMR1 be removed and replaced with other fittings.