New reactor design for bio pellets reactor

[Reef Pilot]

I have a Vertex UF-20 with a Mag 5 pump (also run my chiller off the same pump), and it works beautifully. I ramped mine up gradually, but eventually had the full 1000 ml Vertex pellet bag in it, and it was tumbling nicely right to the top. I have been running it now for about 6 months and have never had any pellets clumping or clogging. What's important though, is not to use the sponge filters. Instead I used a mesh both top and bottom.

[Coleus]

hmm interesting, don't you get clogging with all the mulms got created? I ran mine on deltec fr 509 with no sponge but eventually it will clog up over time.

[The Grizz]

I too have 1000 ml in my reactor and have not had them clog up but I am running a 2500 gph pump dedicated on them as well.

[Reef Pilot]

I have never had mine clog, and never clean it. The only maintenance is to pour in more pellets when it gets low (about every 3 months).

If your reactor is tumbling properly, there is no mulm. All the bacteria stays with the pellets as they slowly dissolve. I've heard that tumbling too fast is not good either.

Also, I use MB7, which seeds the right bacteria for these pellets. And I have never had a cyano problem either, and I use the full 1000 ml bag for my 100 g tank. The trick, I think, is to ramp up slowly, and heavy use of MB7 initially.

[apexifd]

I bought one of these back in November, but still have not put it online yet. Also with potential tank upgrade, I might just hold it off till then.

Will provide a quick review when I have it up and running.

[Lampshade]

Mine ran great for a year in a TLF 500. I have about 500ml in my tank. Just recently the reactor has been fine, but the HOSE is the one clogging. I have this Tee'd off my return with LOTS of flow, but so much mulm builds up in the hose that once it clogged it was continuing to clog daily for a week or 2. I replaced the hose 2 times during this only to have the new hose clog and get cleaned out, swapped direction and it would run for another day. Anyways... to fix it I changed how the TLF used flow so that i could get a better less turbulent turnover. I removed the bottom plate, and since the top plate is attached with a rubber fitting, I directed the bottom of the downspout to the edge of the reactor. This causes everything to turnover in a nice roll, seems to work well. No more clogging .

These new reactors seem to do that(just sideways), and the large spout size looks like it would provide enough flow with a smaller pump. My TLF with a MJ1200 wouldn't get anything close to the turnover I wanted because of the small openings, these would probably work well with a MJ since there would be little back pressure.

[phi delt reefer]

coleus - have a look at the new reef dynamic biopellet reactors. dedicated tumbling pump which has enough suction to pull in water from your sump as well. its hard to explain but you will understand after you see the videos on their product page. there is some very good info on bio pellets and there use that you might like to see.

http://www.reefdynamics.com/Reef-Dyn...s-p/bpr135.htm

[Coleus]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

I have never had mine clog, and never clean it. The only maintenance is to pour in more pellets when it gets low (about every 3 months).

If your reactor is tumbling properly, there is no mulm. All the bacteria stays with the pellets as they slowly dissolve. I've heard that tumbling too fast is not good either.

Also, I use MB7, which seeds the right bacteria for these pellets. And I have never had a cyano problem either, and I use the full 1000 ml bag for my 100 g tank. The trick, I think, is to ramp up slowly, and heavy use of MB7 initially.

any chance you can show us how your pellets tumble?

So i guess the key for success is fast flow and soaked pellets very well

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Coleus

any chance you can show us how your pellets tumble?

So i guess the key for success is fast flow and soaked pellets very well

OK, will try to get a vid of it and post the You-tube link here.

[Coleus]

here is link to mine http://www.youtube.com/embed/UaEi5WkkMUg

I think the tumbling is ok but eventually it will clog because of the mulms. I am using MJ1200 pump right now but if i put a higher pump, the pellets get tossed to the top and clog right there or passed through the screen.