BRS Phospate Reator

reef2keep: it does sound like you need some form of chemical filtration there. especially without the ability to setup a full refugium to biologically counter the nitrate swings. but for the phosphates you should probably check your source water to see what kind of phosphates you're introducing during top-off or water-changes.

isnt a BRS reactor for carbon just using a DI block full of carbon media from a RO unit instead of DI media (atleast thats what the chamber housing appears to be, the same used for RO units)? if so its not any more of a hassle than changing out your RO filters, which isnt that bad at all.

obviously its probably different kind of media in the cartridge, but those cartridges just unscrew and pull out. whereas others have to disconnect their carbon device entirely and dump out and replace the carbon media.

im personally up in the air right now with my decision between a dual-MR1, dual-phosban reactor, or a BRS setup. cost, maintenance, and messyness (as kcbrad mentioned) are my deciding factors then again in my case i have a 20gal fuge with mangroves, chaeto, graciliria, and caulerpa thriving without much algae growth in the display so its not a priority. my priority at the moment is lighting.

i just woke up so sorry for the tangent....

 

I have two one for carbon one for phosban running off a manifold. Highly reccomended no complaints.

 

Yeah, it's pretty much just that. They use the RODI unit type chambers, with some sponges in some cartridges.

I just got one a couple days ago; I don't know how well it'll work, but the recurrent cyano I have on one spot of the sand bed seems to be growing slower than before.

 

dunno what you have for a return pump, but if you have spare GPH available from it you can get a manifold/distributor PVC fitting (check out flexpvc.com they're like $3) and plumb in the return feed, the feed to the MR1, and whatever else you need to push water through (i.e. chiller). obviously want ball-valves off of the manifold to control the flow to each destination. dont need 500gph through the MR1

 

I guess it is like changing a RO filter...but I have to remove the reactor from the sump, unscrew up, take the cartridge out and dump all the carbon and GFO out. So that is what is messy. Just very wet and kind of gross. I find it messy and a total pain in the behind - but I'm sure not everyone does.

 

I'm still using RO/DI water from my LFS, which I have always assumed to be "clean" water...but then again, assumptions are the mother of all F-ups. I'll test my fresh water tonight just to be sure that is not a source.

 

As for the pump, I have a Maxijet 1200 on a BRS 2-stage reactor.

And KC - why do you have it in the sump? You can leave it outside of the sump if you have room. It'd be a bit less wet that way.

 

I use the same pump for my BRS reactor. It's what they recommend on the website.

I dunno - I was told it should go in the sump?

 

Well, the unit itself doesn't need to - it's totally sealed. The only things you need to put in the sump are the pump and the outlet from the reactor.

 

I'm not too worried about the "mess" as much as the "hassle". As long as its an easy procedure w/ minimal time consumption, then no worries for me;D Seems like you like yours w/ the exception of the mess, true?