Smallest tumbler/reactors for biocube 8gal

[Simulated Fish]

Hey folks as you probably know I have a bio cube 8 that I can getting up and running I'm in the market for a tumblr / reactor so I can run GFO and carbon properly. I'm ok using bags if that's the only option available but I know that those either don't work very well and come with their own host of problems. I'm having trouble finding one that will fit in the tiny little biocube back compartment any help would be appreciated.

 

Thank you!

[HarryPotter]

Maybe IM Desktop Reactor? Not sure if it can fit.

 

The BRS Mini Reactor is external and can therefor fit in any sized tank.

[GTi]

I used a BRS as an external reactor in my old tank. You can put the reactor in the stand and run the hoses in to the back chambers. You only need space for the pump in the return chamber. You'd need to trim the lid, though (if you're still using it). There's a photo of the product and how the pipes are low profile in my CADlights 34 thread somewhere towards the end (and also in my for sale ad for the reactor in the hardware classifieds forum ?)

[Simulated Fish]

I used a BRS as an external reactor in my old tank. You can put the reactor in the stand and run the hoses in to the back chambers. You only need space for the pump in the return chamber. You'd need to trim the lid, though (if you're still using it). There's a photo of the product and how the pipes are low profile in my CADlights 34 thread somewhere towards the end (and also in my for sale ad for the reactor in the hardware classifieds forum )

Unfortunately the tank is an office desk setup so I need to avoid hang ons and external options :/

[Sancho]

You dont want to tumble carbon. Chemipure blue has worked well in my 8.

[Simulated Fish]

You dont want to tumble carbon. Chemipure blue has worked well in my 8.

 

I plan on using just GFO for this application. I have intanks media basket in the mail, that is where i plan to house the carbon.

[Sancho]

I modified a cad lights pico reactor to hob on my 8 it was a pita. I don't keep SPS in the tank just mushies and a nem. The mushies like dirty water the gfo was actually keeping the water to clean. Since the chemipue blue came out that's all I have been using.

[Hig789]

The bad thing about the BRS mini reactor is that you have to run GFO and carbon mix or just carbon. I'd like to have the option to be able to run just GFO if I wanted to. That's one thing I didn't understand, isn't GFO suppose to tumble? How would you accomplish that if you are running it along with carbon?

 

 

I have a IM minimax and it does a awesome job once you get it tuned right.

[justin82185]

When you run GFO w/ carbon you usually use more carbon than GFO. I think 2:1 is pretty common. Since you mix it all together, the GFO is all separated from each other by carbon, so it doesn't have an opportunity to clump together

[Simulated Fish]

When you run GFO w/ carbon you usually use more carbon than GFO. I think 2:1 is pretty common. Since you mix it all together, the GFO is all separated from each other by carbon, so it doesn't have an opportunity to clump together

This is true but then doesnt the GFO get used up way quicker than carbon? tossing out money is not something that makes my wife happy haha

[Sancho]

Guys with bigger brains than me have pointed out that tumbling carbon is a bad idea. There are some studies out there that show a link between tumbling carbon / and the dust it creates and lateral line disease in fish. We talked about this at a local meeting a few months back. What I got out of our discussion was that they should ideally be in separate reactors. But they can be mixed in a single reactor. Carbon should not tumble and GFO needs to slightly tumble to prevent it from clumping. If mixed you want to run less GFO as it will ware the carbon to dust. That is why 2:1 is generally recommended. GFO will get used up based on how much its pulling out of your water. Some say it should last a bit longer than carbon. I am no expert on this stuff but have found that water changes and some media bags are all my 8 gallon need. I ran a reactor for a bit but like i said earlier it was more trouble than it was worth. Save yourself the headache and run a media basket.

[Simulated Fish]

Guys with bigger brains than me have pointed out that tumbling carbon is a bad idea. There are some studies out there that show a link between tumbling carbon / and the dust it creates and lateral line disease in fish. We talked about this at a local meeting a few months back. What I got out of our discussion was that they should ideally be in separate reactors. But they can be mixed in a single reactor. Carbon should not tumble and GFO needs to slightly tumble to prevent it from clumping. If mixed you want to run less GFO as it will ware the carbon to dust. That is why 2:1 is generally recommended. GFO will get used up based on how much its pulling out of your water. Some say it should last a bit longer than carbon. I am no expert on this stuff but have found that water changes and some media bags are all my 8 gallon need. I ran a reactor for a bit but like i said earlier it was more trouble than it was worth. Save yourself the headache and run a media basket.

 

 

That was my orginal idea but people seem to really be against GFO in a bag,

 

My plan was to run floss, carbon, GFO (in that order) in my media basket - should be here on Wednesday!

 

I have my new tank GHA bloom happening so i want to get the GFO in there to help speed up cleaning out the phosphate.

[Hig789]

I don't believe you tumble the carbon/GFO mix in the BRS mini reactors from what I understand. BRS recommends you change gfo once a month I believe and carbon should be changed every two weeks. So you'd be wasting a lot of GFO.

[Sancho]

 

 

That was my orginal idea but people seem to really be against GFO in a bag,

 

My plan was to run floss, carbon, GFO (in that order) in my media basket - should be here on Wednesday!

 

I have my new tank GHA bloom happening so i want to get the GFO in there to help speed up cleaning out the phosphate.

You should be fine with it in a bag. My 8 has been up for a couple years now. I had some GHA in the beginning I used a poly filter with good luck I also used PhosGard packs every now and then. But since chemipure blue came out thats all I have used. There is a link to my 8 gallon at the bottom of my sig.

[Simulated Fish]

You should be fine with it in a bag. My 8 has been up for a couple years now. I had some GHA in the beginning I used a poly filter with good luck I also used PhosGard packs every now and then. But since chemipure blue came out thats all I have used. There is a link to my 8 gallon at the bottom of my sig.

 

 

Good to hear.

 

Man that is a lot crammed into a small tank! Looks great though