BRS Media Reactors

cpittmx · 12/18/2009, 12:51 PM

I am interested in the dual BRS GFO and carbon reactor that is uses the housings etc from RODI systems. I like the size of it and the ease with which it could be mounted under stand. I'm just curious if anyone is using these and what sort of results they are getting. I'm also wondering about the ability to run GFO in one housing and carbon in the other since people say that these media need different flow rates and the BRS system has them in series using the same pump so I would think flow would be the same in both housings.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

todd141 · 12/18/2009, 12:56 PM

Flow is slower in the second one, so you'd put carbon in the front, GFO in the back.

That's what I've read - I just started looking into one of these myself.

bergzy · 12/18/2009, 01:14 PM

i have used one and will that it is a pretty decent reactor. it is nothing more than a dual di cartridge system with slightly different plumbing.

it is fairly easy to use and does a great job at utilizing the media effectively.

the biggest complaint is that the sponges gets clogged and hard pretty fast. this plugs up reactor flow faster than i like.

i now use a small eheim canister filter for my carbon and gfo. it holds a ton of media if ness and is the proper slow flow.

the brs reactor is fairly easy to change but an eheim canister filter is even easier.

cardiffgiant · 12/18/2009, 01:19 PM

I'm using one, and I've been very happy with it. Changing it without spilling any water in my stand took a little practice. Having a couple of spare media chambers is helpful.

I only run carbon in mine, and have never run GFO. When I researched running GFO and using both in the same reactor I found advice consistent with what the previous poster said. The carbon can be operated at any flow rate, so the difference in flow and placement doesn't really matter for the purpose of the carbon, and running the GFO second could be helpful if the carbon becomes exhausted starts to leach.

karsco · 12/18/2009, 01:34 PM

Can't say much then already has been said. They are very easy to set up/adjust, and easy to change the media in. I run charcoal in one chamber full time, in the second I run GFO or filter media to polish the tank. I have mine hanging above my sump so if I spill a little water changing the media it goes right into the sump. Best thing on my tank for the money...

nanojg · 12/18/2009, 02:54 PM

I like mine. Very easy to set up and use and works like its supposed to.

tor101898 · 12/18/2009, 03:05 PM

great product. since everything else was said.

billdogg · 12/18/2009, 03:37 PM

I looked at the dual - ended up getting to singles that i run off the manifold supplying everything else, so no extra pumps for me. I like the ability to adjust flow in each as needed. The sponges to get clogged - i can just increase the flow as needed using ball valves.

solitude127 · 12/18/2009, 04:35 PM

Is there an option to hang off of the sump or does it have to be screwed into something?

FastFish720 · 12/18/2009, 05:08 PM

Can easily be mounted, customers seem to love them.

(Probably BRS largest wholesale account)

James77 · 12/18/2009, 05:31 PM

I also went for 2 singles as opposed to the dual, for flow control reasons. It is not that much more. Overall, great product.

maynardjames · 12/18/2009, 10:18 PM

have 1 single. love it. better quality units than others such as tlf or kent imo. good price also.

danrobberg · 12/19/2009, 01:51 AM

i have mine hung on hooks. the hoses disconnect very easily and i take it over to the sink to change the media. the gfo goes in the first chamber not the second. it is labled rite on the reactor, u can see the pic from the above post. they say the slower flow going through the carbon is a good thing because it gives the water more exposure time with the carbon. im actually going to start running reef bio pellets in mine instead of the gfo. overall great product and a great price

Colione · 12/19/2009, 02:32 AM

what pumps do you guys use to power these?

coastie81 · 12/19/2009, 12:04 PM

I have a maxi-jet 1200 running my dual reactor.

StrategicReef · 01/02/2010, 04:42 AM

Is it easy to change just one of the canister on the dual one?

Wouldn't you spill a bit because the canister is very full of water when you unscrew it?

Curtie44 · 01/02/2010, 11:28 AM

I have the dual and wish I had went with the 2 singles for flow reasons as stated above. I will probably re-plumb my dual to make it 2 singles here in the near future.

pilyo143 · 01/02/2010, 12:50 PM

If running two single reactor do you guys use one pump or two. If running one pump do you T them or daisy chain them.

connecticut cichlids · 01/02/2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrategicReef

Is it easy to change just one of the canister on the dual one?

Wouldn't you spill a bit because the canister is very full of water when you unscrew it?

the deluxe black reactors have red purge valves on top of the reactors, that when pushed, release any internal water preasure, when unscrewing the canister for media changing

StrategicReef · 01/02/2010, 01:30 PM

deluxe look good it says 13" vs 14.5" of the regular reactor which the height could be a problem, so it looks like 2 deluxe it is.

bhammer · 01/02/2010, 01:38 PM

I use singles so that I can control flow through each one of them. Filter floss, carbon and GFO is what I use in mine.

Dtronic · 01/02/2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilyo143

If running two single reactor do you guys use one pump or two. If running one pump do you T them or daisy chain them.

I have two deluxe singles (for better control of flow) and will be using maxijet 600 and 900.

Hooking them up Tuesday, got them last week.

StrategicReef · 01/02/2010, 06:02 PM

I am changing my order to two deluxe now because I think I don't have the space for the dual unit side by side.. that and the purge valve seems very handy

bhammer · 01/02/2010, 06:12 PM

pilyo143 - I have a manifold comming off my my main return pump, a reflo hammerhead. Off of that, I have four outlets for my reactors or whatever else.

12/18/2009, 12:51 PM	#1
cpittmx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ravenna, Ohio Posts: 260	BRS Media Reactors I am interested in the dual BRS GFO and carbon reactor that is uses the housings etc from RODI systems. I like the size of it and the ease with which it could be mounted under stand. I'm just curious if anyone is using these and what sort of results they are getting. I'm also wondering about the ability to run GFO in one housing and carbon in the other since people say that these media need different flow rates and the BRS system has them in series using the same pump so I would think flow would be the same in both housings. Any feedback would be appreciated.

12/18/2009, 01:14 PM	#3
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	i have used one and will that it is a pretty decent reactor. it is nothing more than a dual di cartridge system with slightly different plumbing. it is fairly easy to use and does a great job at utilizing the media effectively. the biggest complaint is that the sponges gets clogged and hard pretty fast. this plugs up reactor flow faster than i like. i now use a small eheim canister filter for my carbon and gfo. it holds a ton of media if ness and is the proper slow flow. the brs reactor is fairly easy to change but an eheim canister filter is even easier. __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

12/18/2009, 03:05 PM	#7
tor101898 Plankton27 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Staten Island,NEW YORK Posts: 582	great product. since everything else was said. __________________ Alex "The sea is everything... An emmense reservoir of nature where i roam at will...." CAPT. NEMO Current Tank Info: Marineland DD 200 gallon, custom built stand 50"L X 38"W X 33"H,I-tech 400 skimmer with tunze 9410 and 9420 pumps, custom made MRC sump, Two Vortech Mp40w.

12/18/2009, 03:37 PM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I looked at the dual - ended up getting to singles that i run off the manifold supplying everything else, so no extra pumps for me. I like the ability to adjust flow in each as needed. The sponges to get clogged - i can just increase the flow as needed using ball valves. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

12/18/2009, 04:35 PM	#9
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	Is there an option to hang off of the sump or does it have to be screwed into something? __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

12/18/2009, 12:56 PM	#2
todd141 Golf Nut Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Centerville, OH Posts: 385	Flow is slower in the second one, so you'd put carbon in the front, GFO in the back. That's what I've read - I just started looking into one of these myself.

12/18/2009, 01:19 PM	#4
cardiffgiant Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 3,455	I'm using one, and I've been very happy with it. Changing it without spilling any water in my stand took a little practice. Having a couple of spare media chambers is helpful. I only run carbon in mine, and have never run GFO. When I researched running GFO and using both in the same reactor I found advice consistent with what the previous poster said. The carbon can be operated at any flow rate, so the difference in flow and placement doesn't really matter for the purpose of the carbon, and running the GFO second could be helpful if the carbon becomes exhausted starts to leach.

12/18/2009, 01:34 PM	#5
karsco Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 645	Can't say much then already has been said. They are very easy to set up/adjust, and easy to change the media in. I run charcoal in one chamber full time, in the second I run GFO or filter media to polish the tank. I have mine hanging above my sump so if I spill a little water changing the media it goes right into the sump. Best thing on my tank for the money...

12/18/2009, 02:54 PM	#6
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	I like mine. Very easy to set up and use and works like its supposed to.

12/18/2009, 05:08 PM	#10
FastFish720 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Anoka, Minnesota Posts: 899	Can easily be mounted, customers seem to love them. (Probably BRS largest wholesale account) __________________ Jake

12/18/2009, 05:31 PM	#11
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I also went for 2 singles as opposed to the dual, for flow control reasons. It is not that much more. Overall, great product. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

12/18/2009, 10:18 PM	#12
maynardjames Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: west tennessee Posts: 1,600	have 1 single. love it. better quality units than others such as tlf or kent imo. good price also.

12/19/2009, 01:51 AM	#13
danrobberg Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 962	i have mine hung on hooks. the hoses disconnect very easily and i take it over to the sink to change the media. the gfo goes in the first chamber not the second. it is labled rite on the reactor, u can see the pic from the above post. they say the slower flow going through the carbon is a good thing because it gives the water more exposure time with the carbon. im actually going to start running reef bio pellets in mine instead of the gfo. overall great product and a great price

12/19/2009, 02:32 AM	#14
Colione Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 412	what pumps do you guys use to power these? __________________ 50 Gal Rimless T5 SPS Current Tank Info: 50 gal Rimless

12/19/2009, 12:04 PM	#15
coastie81 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mt. View, California Posts: 131	I have a maxi-jet 1200 running my dual reactor.

01/02/2010, 04:42 AM	#16
StrategicReef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,659	Is it easy to change just one of the canister on the dual one? Wouldn't you spill a bit because the canister is very full of water when you unscrew it?

01/02/2010, 11:28 AM	#17
Curtie44 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BFE Posts: 99	I have the dual and wish I had went with the 2 singles for flow reasons as stated above. I will probably re-plumb my dual to make it 2 singles here in the near future. __________________ 120G AGA Reef SWC 250 Xtreme Reeflo Barracuda 100 Gal rubbermaid Basement sump Korallin Ca Reactor Current Tank Info: 120 Gal reef

01/02/2010, 12:50 PM	#18
pilyo143 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 162	If running two single reactor do you guys use one pump or two. If running one pump do you T them or daisy chain them.

01/02/2010, 01:30 PM	#20
StrategicReef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,659	deluxe look good it says 13" vs 14.5" of the regular reactor which the height could be a problem, so it looks like 2 deluxe it is.

01/02/2010, 01:38 PM	#21
bhammer Addicted User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 743	I use singles so that I can control flow through each one of them. Filter floss, carbon and GFO is what I use in mine.

01/02/2010, 06:02 PM	#23
StrategicReef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,659	I am changing my order to two deluxe now because I think I don't have the space for the dual unit side by side.. that and the purge valve seems very handy

01/02/2010, 06:12 PM	#24
bhammer Addicted User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 743	pilyo143 - I have a manifold comming off my my main return pump, a reflo hammerhead. Off of that, I have four outlets for my reactors or whatever else.