Phos Reactor-Three Little Fishes or Bulk Reef Supply?

[pjewett]

Hi All

Pretty sure I need to get myself one of these but as I'm short on real estate on my hex I'm trying to find the smallest reactor I can.

The Three Little Fishes model looks to be smaller then Bulk Reef's but is it as good? Are there other models out there that are smaller? My other concern is that it be tight and a high enough quality so I don't have to be paranoid about leaks.

Thanks!

 

[junglebase]

Hi All

Pretty sure I need to get myself one of these but as I'm short on real estate on my hex I'm trying to find the smallest reactor I can.

The Three Little Fishes model looks to be smaller then Bulk Reef's but is it as good? Are there other models out there that are smaller? My other concern is that it be tight and a high enough quality so I don't have to be paranoid about leaks.

Thanks!

I believe they are Two Little Fishies, unless they expanded , I have used them (I have two) and they are very reliable and small enough.. i have not used Bulk Reef's though.. so can't comment on that...

 

[KathyC]

The upside to the Bulk Reef Supply reactor is they have a model that mounts onto the wall..might help with your real estate issues. Of course it would be best to use hose clamps on any of the hoses supplying the unit that are external to the tank

To me the 2 Little Fishies is a pita as I can never 'seat' the top correctly without doing it 5+ times...argh!

 

[pjewett]

The upside to the Bulk Reef Supply reactor is they have a model that mounts onto the wall..might help with your real estate issues. Of course it would be best to use hose clamps on any of the hoses supplying the unit that are external to the tank

To me the 2 Little Fishies is a pita as I can never 'seat' the top correctly without doing it 5+ times...argh!

Yes I was considering that one as I hear good things about the quality. If not the wall I wonder if I could mount it to the wood stand in the back? That'll put it below tank level though..don't know if that's a problem?

Thanks Kathy!

 

[KathyC]

Yes I was considering that one as I hear good things about the quality. If not the wall I wonder if I could mount it to the wood stand in the back? That'll put it below tank level though..don't know if that's a problem?

Thanks Kathy!

Mounting it to the tank stand shouldn't be an issue, but to the wall would be much easier. You'd just want to be sure that the pump is of the correct size to feed the reactor (be careful with that as too much movement will cause the media to break apart and could potentiently damage/kill your tank ) with the correct amount of flow and THEN get the water back up into your tank.
Is there no way you can add a fuge to your set up so that some of this equipment can be moved down there? Your life would be oh so much easier

 

[pjewett]

Yikes this sounds precarious...I'm nervous now.

I do have a fuge but it's HOB and my only option right now as I have a hex and it's in our bedroom. My wife won't approve another tank sitting on the floor.

 

[Killerdrgn]

The bulk reef supply one is bulky but it wouldn't require clamp fittings, because they're the push in type like your RODI fittings, (john guest?). The two little fishies ones are nice and small and get the job done, but the hoses really fall off quite readily.

Also with the BRS ones it feels like you can add more into the canister than with the TLF one. Plus they're in no mess cartridges, easier to change and clean..

 

[MARCOANTONIOJR]

BRS I think they are awesome and cost about the same , I use 2 seperate ones, no leaks. you can see them hooked up on my gallery pics on the right hand side, one for carbon and one for phos.

 

[Killerdrgn]

Oh yeah and i'm sure you can drive them with just a MJ 400 instead of the MJ 900 they recommend.

 

[KathyC]

The bulk reef supply one is bulky but it wouldn't require clamp fittings, because they're the push in type like your RODI fittings, (john guest?). The two little fishies ones are nice and small and get the job done, but the hoses really fall off quite readily.

Also with the BRS ones it feels like you can add more into the canister than with the TLF one. Plus they're in no mess cartridges, easier to change and clean..

Good info..just a heads up to the OP..you don't want to load up too much on the Phosban (or whatever GFO media you chose). It is possible to remove too much phosphate at one time and shock your system in a bad way. Start slowly and then increase from there. Always follow the directions with these products.