What Reactors do u run?

[Reef264]

I am currently in a bit of a argument with myself on what Reactor to buy for my 115g, I really like Precision Marine's, I have one of there Skimmers, and it does a great job, but I also Like Nex Reef's reactor, Which one do u use? Also What Media?


Thanks,
Cody

[Palting]

I have the all in one NextReef reactors. I used to run GFO. Quit using GFO when my refugium matured. It's just on standby now. I have media trays filled with carbon, so I don't need a reactor for that. I liked the NextReef in that it was an all in one package, including the adjustable pump. Heard BRS has a good one, too.

[Reef264]

I Have not thought about BRS's reactor!I will deffinately go look at it!They are the ONE Company I don't mind giving business to...and Marine Depot..


Thanks,
Cody

[smilie14]

I love my BRS reactors. I run both carbon and GFO, but whatever you do don't go with the recommended maxijet pump... way too loud!!!

[rob1914]

I have an swc extreme ur120 on my 120 reef very nice reactor. It has a cone bottom and is made to run biopellets or any other media. Check it out i had a hard time making a decision and ended up with the swc and couldnt be happier. Good luck

[Reef264]

I appreciate the Advice, I like SWC's products, I will look into those!


Thanks,
-Cody

[Reef264]

I appreciate the Advice, I like SWC's products, I will look into those!


Thanks,
-Cody

[Reef264]

Whoops, double post.

[Lynnmw1208]

I love my BRS reactors. I run both carbon and GFO, but whatever you do don't go with the recommended maxijet pump... way too loud!!!

+1!! also get the separate reactors as I find the dual gets clogged rather quickly and doesn't allow GFO to tumble... I am really considering putting GFO into a TLF reactor.

The maxijet IS SO LOUD! the most annoying pump EVER!!! I am looking for a new one!

[Reefahholic]

So if the MJ 1200's are super loud, what you guys recommend?

For a long time, people were always recommending the MJ's.

[tmc1313]

I also have the brs dual reactor and love it. I agree the mj 1200 is loud, but only if you need to turn throttle it back, which most users do. For me it's not an issue because my sump is in the basement.

[gonpostal]

GFO (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/Granular-Ferric-Oxide-GFO-Instructions) and carbon (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/Carbon-Directions) require low flow rates. Personally, I don't see why people recommend the MJ 1200 when it has to be throttled waaay back. I have used the BRS reactor with a Mini-Jet 404 and a 606, and either one will do the job. I would go with one of those or a Maxi-Jet 400 or 600 (probably the Mini-Jet 606 or maxi-Jet 600 just to be safe).

[daplatapus]

I'm also running a BRS carbon reactor in my basement sump coupled with the MJ 1200 and I think it's way too loud as well. I also have another BRS reactor for my GFO but haven't hooked it up yet because I didn't want to plug in another MJ 1200. I would also LOVE to hear recommendations for a MaxiJet replacement if anyone has had good experience with something else.
FYI: Mine is loud even if it's wide open...

[acrohead500ppm]

are you talking all reactors??

calcium reactor- geo or korallin both great!

kalkwasser reactor- geo or PM

media reactor- BRS or PM

[ultraxr]

I absolutely love the Avast Marine Works reactors.

[Reef264]

Phosphate reactors more so, for use with different media...But I can't decided on what media to run.Some of it can be pretty pricey!40+ doll hairs!


-Cody

[MattinIdaho]

I have the BRS duel. Guess I am lucky but my MJ 1200 is not too loud and does not increase in vibration or volume when I throttle it back. Love the BRS Duel!!

[Reefahholic]

GFO (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/Granular-Ferric-Oxide-GFO-Instructions) and carbon (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/Carbon-Directions) require low flow rates. Personally, I don't see why people recommend the MJ 1200 when it has to be throttled waaay back. I have used the BRS reactor with a Mini-Jet 404 and a 606, and either one will do the job. I would go with one of those or a Maxi-Jet 400 or 600 (probably the Mini-Jet 606 or maxi-Jet 600 just to be safe).

So...the Mini-Jet 606 or maxi-Jet 600?

I wonder why BRS themselves recommend a pump that is too much for their own reactor. Who wants a loud MJ 1200 if it's as loud as you guys say it is.

Anybody have experience with the 600. I plan on running two independent reactors for Carbon and GFO, instead of the duel unit. Would two MJ 600's be more ideal?

For some of you more experienced reefers out there...how would you power two independent reactors if you had to buy some pumps right now and start fresh with the latest technology? I would like something quiet if it's possible.:worried: Any suggestions?

[TKCC]

I use the BRS dual with GFO/Carbon. Well built and great Customer Service!

[MarineSniper]

I plan on running two independent reactors for Carbon and GFO, instead of the duel unit. Would two MJ 600's be more ideal?

For some of you more experienced reefers out there...how would you power two independent reactors if you had to buy some pumps right now and start fresh with the latest technology? I would like something quiet if it's possible.:worried: Any suggestions?

This is exactly what I do. I've got about 160g total volume and run a TLF with gfo and another with carbon. Overall, they were easier to place than one large unit and I believe they work better than combining the media in one reactor, not to mention the cost is far less. I picked up a used tlf for 20 bucks!

[shifty51008]

i will 2nd the avast reactors, a great product

[swencel]

I use the BRS. It was cheap and can hold a lot of media.

[Reefahholic]

This is exactly what I do. I've got about 160g total volume and run a TLF with gfo and another with carbon. Overall, they were easier to place than one large unit and I believe they work better than combining the media in one reactor, not to mention the cost is far less. I picked up a used tlf for 20 bucks!


TLF? What pump is that and want size is yours?

[MarineSniper]

TLF? What pump is that and want size is yours?

Just a pair of 150s with MJ 1200s. Yes they hum a bit but nothing horrible, to me. Perhaps I got lucky but with 2 of those running, a Sedra 9000 and 3 return pumps; you can still hear a whisper standing right next to the tank

This is just a starter tank and it's not drilled. The overflow box, when it has a whirlpool going, is 5x louder than all the pumps combined. I'll be very happy when I move up to a drilled 210 in December. I detest that box in my tank!

[luisgo]

I use a TLF 150 for Phosban, a TLF 550 for NP Biopellets and a Simplicity reactor (blue reactor in sump under chaeto) in line with the 150 for carbon. All reactors are feed with the sump pump. I like my setup very much!

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc142/luisgo/luisgo%20album%202/20110924-06554.jpg

[Reefahholic]

Ohh yeah....TLF...Two Little Fishies!

Are those better than BRS reactors? They look a lot bigger. Is bigger better?

I noticed the Avasts reactors are $75 and up. They look sweet though.

[luisgo]

They do their job, are not expensive and are easy to open for maintenance. For the Biopellets reactor I removed the foams and added a net to kkep the pellets in the chamber.

[Reefahholic]

So why TLF over BRS? They better or what?

[MarineSniper]

Ohh yeah....TLF...Two Little Fishies!

Are those better than BRS reactors? They look a lot bigger. Is bigger better?

I noticed the Avasts reactors are $75 and up. They look sweet though.

I'm not familiar with BRS. I bought a TLF for GFO and then picked up a used one for 20 bucks that I use for carbon. I have less than $100 in the pair and they do the job well.

GEO, who make reactors, skimmers and sumps, is local so I'll go to them for a pellet reactor when I move up into the 200g range...December!

[luisgo]

BRS are very good reactors but i understand they are available from the distributor only. You will find TLF reactors in many fish stores.

[Reefahholic]

Ok, that's probably why people are getting them. They lay eyes on em in the LFS.

I love BRS stuff, those guys are top notch.

[gonpostal]

I've never used the TLF reactor, but I HAVE used the ViaAqua Poly-Reactor (http://www.marinedepot.com/ViaAqua_Poly_Reactor_%28Multi_Media_Reactor%29_Phosphate_Reactors-ViaAqua-VA3311-FIFRISPR-vi.html), which looks like the same design as the TLF. IME the BRS reactor is much easier to load and clean than the Via-Aqua. The BRS reactor is also solidly built. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one (if I needed it).

[Reefahholic]

If you listen to the videos those guys put out, you will see why their business booms. They are old school reefers who know their stuff and build easy to use, reliable, solid products at affordable prices.

[michael_in_nc]

I have two BRS reactors and they work well. I didn't get the maxi-jet pumps, more b/c I didn't want to deal with another pump in my sump. I run the reactors off my one of my main return pumps. I have a manifold with a gate valve to control the flow. Works well.

[Reefahholic]

Seems like a lot of you guys are running two return pumps. I understand it's a safety precaution, but what is the best way to do it. I would like to add another pump to my tank. Are you guys just dialing down the flow on both or just running another small one with ur main pump. That way if the main fails, then you'll have a 300gph or 500gph going.?

[SinisterReefer]

I bought a brs single reactor to run hc-gfo and love it. I did use the mj1200 and it was annoying me to the point that I wanted to take it offline. I then got the mj 600 and it is a perfect match. I too do not understand why they recommend the 1200 when the 600 does a better job on a single reactor. It also adds extra flow in my sump, so when I turn off my return pump for feeding time the water still circulates in my sump

[Reefahholic]

Sounds great! Is the MJ 600 loud. How much of a volume reduction would you say it had? In a percentage- with the MJ 1200 being 100% loud!!

[SinisterReefer]

It is a major difference in volume reduction. I've had this product for a few months now and can honestly say that the 600 will only get a tad bit noisy when the sponges in the reactor start to clog up restricting the flow of the powerhead and only then will it get noisy. Still nowhere as loud as the 1200. So what I did was rubber band a sponge to the intake on the powerhead and when I hear a slight humming sound I clean the intake sponge and that usually does the job. When you replace the media and clean the sponges in the reactor there virtually is no noise at all.

[MarineSniper]

Seems like a lot of you guys are running two return pumps. I understand it's a safety precaution, but what is the best way to do it. I would like to add another pump to my tank. Are you guys just dialing down the flow on both or just running another small one with ur main pump. That way if the main fails, then you'll have a 300gph or 500gph going.?

I have both of mine at about 50% each

It's definitely a safety issue for me. My skimmer pump is 960gph and is in the sump. The pull from it will cause the overflow to flood my sump in no time.

I woke up one morning at 0500, walked in to check the tank, opened the bottom up and it was at the brim. Started overflowing but I was there to catch it, thank God. Before the pump was in there, my overflow would stop about 30 seconds after my pumps

[Reefahholic]

Thanks for the info guys. Gotta love RC!!