Biopellet Reactor

[emixa]

Hello all,

So I want to get folks opinion on which one to get. I first poke I bought was a Bubble Magus. It worked for a little but stopped truly tumbling. I read some posts staying that using sponges will clog them. The design of the BM outta not that great. I read where the types that require water to flow like the Phosban is better. I even read about the Next Reef which allot of their models are now obsolete. So the only ones I see is the Reef Octopus , vertex, of CAD. I am looking for something with true tumble.

Pros and cons are welcome. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for your advice!

[windlasher]

Originally Posted by emixa

Hello all,

So I want to get folks opinion on which one to get. I first poke I bought was a Bubble Magus. It worked for a little but stopped truly tumbling. I read some posts staying that using sponges will clog them. The design of the BM outta not that great. I read where the types that require water to flow like the Phosban is better. I even read about the Next Reef which allot of their models are now obsolete. So the only ones I see is the Reef Octopus , vertex, of CAD. I am looking for something with true tumble.

Pros and cons are welcome. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for your advice!

I have three of these and I absolutely love them.

https://www.marinedepot.com/Accel_Aq...FRISBP-vi.html

The only problem I have with them is that they come with metric slip fittings and I wanted to hard plumb them into my system. I bought the 25mm to 3/4" metric converter from BRS and glued it down. Works great and tumbles like crazy.

[mcgyvr]

I'd recommend doing liquid carbon dosing instead (vinegar or vodka or a combination of both)
Much easier as you have no reactors to clog.. No pumps to run said reactors and don't need to worry about sponges clogging or perfect flowrates,etc....
Just a simple dosing pump to dump in a set amount of vinegar each day..

[solitude127]

I've been using an Aquamaxx Biopellet reactor for years. It tumbles the media great with very little flow. It does require cleaning every 6 months or so but that's about the time I add more pellets. Here's a link to it.
https://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...FRISBP-vi.html

[TigeBell]

Originally Posted by solitude127

i've been using an aquamaxx biopellet reactor for years. It tumbles the media great with very little flow. It does require cleaning every 6 months or so but that's about the time i add more pellets. Here's a link to it.
https://www.marinedepot.com/aquamaxx...frisbp-vi.html

+1

[emixa]

Originally Posted by solitude127

I've been using an Aquamaxx Biopellet reactor for years. It tumbles the media great with very little flow. It does require cleaning every 6 months or so but that's about the time I add more pellets. Here's a link to it.
https://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...FRISBP-vi.html

Thanks for the info! SO looking at this model, I see that there cut grooves. So some of the other models, I notice that theirs have a cone or concave shape at the bottom which allows for pellets to not get stuck. Do you find that the pellets get stuck in those crevices?

[solitude127]

Originally Posted by emixa

Thanks for the info! SO looking at this model, I see that there cut grooves. So some of the other models, I notice that theirs have a cone or concave shape at the bottom which allows for pellets to not get stuck. Do you find that the pellets get stuck in those crevices?

usually not because there water coming out from those ports/crevices. In all honesty, I don't think those cut grooves do anything, It's more the ports the water is coming out of.

[TigeBell]

I believe the cut grooves do help move the bio-pellets in a counter clock rotation.

As for the cone, I had a Reef Octopus biopellet reactor and didn't like it because there were dead spot in there that didn't move the bio-pellets around. Using the Aquamaxx reactor, I have not had one issue with them at all and there are no dead spots.

[GimpyFin]

Originally Posted by windlasher

I have three of these and I absolutely love them.

https://www.marinedepot.com/Accel_Aq...FRISBP-vi.html

^^Exact same reactor I use. (Used to be branded Hydra aquatics.) I've had it for about 3 years now and it works excellent. The downward flow accelerator and dome shaped bottom keep a nice fluid tumble all the time.

[windlasher]

Enough? Lol. Maxi jet 800 - running 2 of these.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fz83lifpyozd4ih/bio.m4v?dl=0


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[emixa]

Originally Posted by solitude127

usually not because there water coming out from those ports/crevices. In all honesty, I don't think those cut grooves do anything, It's more the ports the water is coming out of.

Mike,

Thank you for the input. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

[emixa]

Originally Posted by TigeBell

I believe the cut grooves do help move the bio-pellets in a counter clock rotation.

As for the cone, I had a Reef Octopus biopellet reactor and didn't like it because there were dead spot in there that didn't move the bio-pellets around. Using the Aquamaxx reactor, I have not had one issue with them at all and there are no dead spots.

David,

I appreciate your feedback on this. I figured that there must be a reason for the cut grooves for movement.

I was also looking at some on-line videos on the Reefoctopus and notice that it focuses more on (4) sides and that there might be areas (although small) that might not be as fully impacted. Thanks for your feedback.

[emixa]

Originally Posted by GimpyFin

^^Exact same reactor I use. (Used to be branded Hydra aquatics.) I've had it for about 3 years now and it works excellent. The downward flow accelerator and dome shaped bottom keep a nice fluid tumble all the time.

Brian,

Good to know. I notice that the internal flow or tumble is a bit more than the others where the water comes from the bottom up.

So looking at different models or media, there is mention that the tumble media should not be so rash. I notice that the media tumble is a bit rough or accelerated. Does that make sense? The needed bacteria is supposed to be attached to the media itself. Would this make an affect?

Also, I see that you have a ROTM? Do you have a link to that. I am a bit of a system geek. I always like looking at displays but more important, whats behind the curtain.

Thanks again!

[emixa]

Originally Posted by windlasher

Enough? Lol. Maxi jet 800 - running 2 of these.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fz83lifpyozd4ih/bio.m4v?dl=0

Aww man, nice! I appreciate your share. So the same question to yourself. I see that there is alot of tumble. Does that matter? Would the bacteria that is supposed to populate the media be affected in a negative way?

Also, do you have more pictures of your system?

[windlasher]

Originally Posted by emixa

Aww man, nice! I appreciate your share. So the same question to yourself. I see that there is alot of tumble. Does that matter? Would the bacteria that is supposed to populate the media be affected in a negative way?

Also, do you have more pictures of your system?

In the middle of a project but I'll post some in a few days.

As for the tumble, BPs are weird. In my experience, If you don't keep them tumbling pretty fast they WILL start to clump. This is probably because of the bacteria on them being sticky.

[Mtnrunner]

Anyone tried the Accel Aquatics Biopellet Media Reactors ?

I like the idea of downward flow which seems to avoid the clogging of the small openings found on upward flow designs.

[moondoggy4]

I have the Hydra version which exactly like the model shown I use a Quiet One 1200 pump and I use a small circular magnet on the inside of the reactor and when the pellets start to clump I just move the magnet around on the inside of the reactor.

Be careful not to put too many pellets in, it stripped my tank and caused my Purple Tang to get lateral lines across its head. My Vertex Omega 150 was skimming like a champ I had dried bubbles coming out of the top of the lid.

[mborn]

I use Avast Marine's Spyglass reactor. Works great!

https://avastmarine.com/collections/...ducts/spyglass