Plumbing in BRS reactor

[cdrewferd]

I just got my BRS reactor that I'm going to use to run Carbon and GFO. The reactor is going to mount in my stand. Will my MJ1200 be enough for the return like it's running now, but also be branched off to run the reactor? If I need to get a bigger pump I can do that, but I'd rather not have 2 pumps adding heat to the tank. From top of tank to reactor is maybe 2' of hose. So 4' of hose plus the reactor.

Edit: This is on my 29g BioCube so I need a pump that will fit in the back chambers.

 

[lynxone]

I had to run another pump for mine. I tried what you are suggesting and just couldn't get enough flow through the reactors.

 

[DyM]

I agree it would be minimum. Just food for thought - I use to have a few pumps in my sump, then consolidated them into one large one. was really glad I did. Now I have all three reactors, and skimmer off one and it's still throttled back.

 

[cdrewferd]

I would love to do that, problem is I'm putting this on my 29g Biocube. Sorry, should have put that in the first post. I don't have a sump and need something that will fit in the back chambers.

 

[KhensuRa]

Do you have the top on your bio cube? I ran a brs on my cube with a mj400 and it worked just fine. But I did not have the top on my tank so I just hung it off the back.

 

[cdrewferd]

Yep, top is on. In the stand is my only real option. Something like this may fit:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Aquarium...ater_Pumps-Marineland-AS1311-FIWPSBUF-vi.html

Not sure if it would be too much flow for the return side though.

 

[cdrewferd]

Anybody else have any thoughts? I might just have to go with another MJ1200. Though maybe something else that doesn't put out as much heat. Maybe get 2 of these:

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Hydor-Pico-Evolution-1200-HY00443.htm

Any thoughts?

 

[cdrewferd]

Nobody has any thoughts? If I take out my 1 MJ1200 and put in 2 Hydor's then my energy consumption will actually go down. The MJ1200 uses 20W while the Hydor uses 8. I think I'll just go with that and get this carbon and GFO running.

 

[fiji4118]

Have you tested the flow? I have my dual BRS with MJ1200 running on my 110. The flow is suppose to be light as I understand it through the reactor anyway. I have my flow cut to like 25% with the ball valve and there is about a foot of head pressure as it is mounted about my sump in my stand. If you have it cut back that much it might still be plenty of flow to the return. My .02

 

[cdrewferd]

Return isn't really my concern. My concern is the ~4' of total hose length plus going through the reactor. I don't really want to burn out my pump trying to push the water back up, or will that just take care of it self with the pressure coming into the reactor from the pump?

Might still get at least 1 Hydor to test out. Losing 12W of heat from the tank would be nice.

 

[tlsrcs]

those hydors do not look bad. id say go with that if its the same flow as the 1200s. less energy concumption means less heat.

 

[tlsrcs]

i have a 1200 going from my sump to the frag tank and it is working fine the flow is not much but the pump is handeling it just fine. it is probably 3ft of vinyl tubing