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Media reactors at LFS

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WhiteReef View Drop Down
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    Posted: July 10 2013 at 10:23am
I am looking at running a media reactor for carbon and possibly GFO. I have seen single chamber reactors at BRS and Marine Depot for about 40.00, but I wanted to know if anyone has seen them locally at any LFS.

Also I was wanting to know if you can run Purigen in a media reactor. I have been just leaving it in my sump in a one of the baffels along with the carbon. My desire to move to a media reactor is that I wanted a more efficient way to use my media.

Also does it matter if you run the reactor with a dedicated pump or off the return line from the sump?
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Laird View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Laird Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 10 2013 at 10:41am
I have a very lightly used one from BRS I'd sell for $30 FYI.

I've run them off a pump and off my return line, both work just fine as long as you have valve to control the flow.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ann_A Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 10 2013 at 12:05pm
I think aquatic dreams sometimes has reactors but don't quite me on that. Secondly, I don't know about the pyrogens, but you could try looking at the manufacturers recommendations or call them and ask. Yes, you could very easily run a reactor off of a return line. In my plans for a distant upgrade (yes I have it 100% planned out even though it's probably years away) I will be running multiple reactors off of a single return pump.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JohnnyHeavens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2013 at 9:46am
I know The Aquarium in Sandy generally has a few in stock. Last week when I dropped in they had some smaller two little fishes reactors. they also have larger reactors in single or dual chamber models. You can see a dual chamber version in my home tank thread linked in my sig.

As to plumbing and running it, it would work either way. Factors include your return pump's ability to provide the flow needed for a second route through the reactor(s) in addition to it's current operation, how much plumbing you want to modify, and if you don't mind running another pump. I like the second pump right now but I also plumbed in a few 'T' and gate valve off my returns for things just like this. At some point I hope to upgrade to a DC pump with higher capacity and at that point I will probably move my reactors to the main loop.

For a far from complete pro v con list...

Separate pump(s) 
potential pros:
-Adding the reactor(s) won't effect the existing flow to the display
-You can turn it off and replace media without effecting your flow to the display
-Should be pretty easy to plumb in and get working. Drop pump in at the end of your sump. Plumb from pump to the reactor(s) with a valve after the pump and before the reactor(s). Return water from reactor(s) to start of the sump. 
-Multiple reactors could be run without effecting the main flow of the return
potential cons:
-One more pump to buy/maintain
-Space. the pump will need to go somewhere

Plumped Inline 
potential pros:
-Less equipment
-Nice and clean
-Needs little more room in the sump
-Multiple reactors can be fed this same way but with different water flow for different media types. (if your main pump is capable)
potential cons:
-Plumbing may be more complex 
-Install is likely will require the main pump be taken offline and plumbing to be evacuated of water
-May require the main pump to be upgraded

IMO, either way a reactor is nice and has been far more effective for us than media bags/socks run in the sump. Purigen seems to be either loved or hated but it can be run in a reactor.

What I'm doing...I run a little purigen in with my GFO. In my main system I run about 3 cups of GFO and upto a cup of purigen. This is much less than the purigen ratio for my system's water volume but I've found it helps to keep the GFO from clumping and helps it tumble a little better. I also want to know early if may parameters spike and since purigen is so effective at what it does, I'm worried a full dose may mask a problem I should otherwise fix. My method is likely not the most cost effective. This mix of the two medias doesn't allow me to easily re-fresh and re-use my purigen and considering the purigen should out last the GFO by a huge factor I am not fully utilizing it's capacity when I toss it out early with my GFO.

I run two different reactors for AC and GFO that are in a separate loop from my returns but they are both reactors are fed by the same pump. First inline is the GFO reactor where the media is allowed to tumble a little. That then flows to my carbon reactor where the media is kept tighter to prevent tumbling. Running the carbon after the GFO aides in filtering dust any that was not fully rinsed from the GFO/Purigen media and should absorb the trace amounts of aluminum that purigen haters are worried about.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WhiteReef Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2013 at 10:03am
Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it.

I will probably do a duel reactor, but I also found on marine depots website a video where they run both carbon and GFO in the same chamber. They were doing a 3:1 ratio to keep the GFO from clumping. Also I will probably just run a dedicated pump to the reactor.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote love2skiutah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2013 at 10:31am
I bought a Vertex reactor from Aquatic Dreams and I absolutely love it.  It was a little on the expensive side, but I'm still glad I did it because the quality is very high.  

Personally, I would never get the dual reactor from BRS because you don't always want the flow in your GFO the same as the Carbon.  It's a little more expensive to go with 2 separate ones, but I think it's worth it because you have more control over each reactor.  

Just my 2 cents 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Laird Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2013 at 2:44pm
I tried the duel reactor from BRS and HATED it it. I like to either mix the GFO and carbon in one reactor or run two separate reactors. On my 90 gallon and my 180 gallon I ran two reactors, on my 50 gallon i'm just running one with the medias mixed.
Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums.

Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following.
50 Gallon rimless cube.
180 Gallons mixed reef paradise
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Krazie4Acans Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2013 at 2:48pm
Laird with a few fittings and some hose your can turn that BRS dual into a true dual with seperate flow controls and make it an awesome unit. I agree that having them inline like they sell them is a disaster. After making the above mentioned MOD I think it is perfect and having both reactors connected makes maintence and mounting a dream.
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