Pacific Sun Algae Reactor Review

[@NationalReefing]

Nice initial review! I like the CalRx port and I believe Pacfic Sun is the 1st to add this feature? The battle of the Algae Reactor design is underway wonder which brand will prevail? I may have missed this video... but be cool to see/hear more about your experience running a sulfur reactor, Thanks!

[@ParkersReef]

yeah I should do a video on the sulphur reactor, have had a few asking about it

[@colossuses]

Calc reactor port is a great idea. I want to drill one into my ALR3 reactor! How long is the tube that goes into reactor?? Cheers dude

[@ParkersReef]

They just have it dripping into the top, but I agree - would be better going towards the bottom

[@kristofdb7139]

@@ParkersReef I was looking for this information, thanks. So strange, what is the point of feeding the carx effluent right next to the outlet, the algae wont get any of the co2 this way. Best way would be to create a little venturi on the inlet where the carx connects.

[@ParkersReef]

Yep. Great idea, poor execution 😅

[@kristofdb7139]

@@ParkersReef I'm deciding between this unit and the tunze 3181. I want to run my dastaco effluent into the reactor. Do you think it would create problems if i feed it to the supply pump of either algae reactor? (calcification of the pump for example?) I'm thinking of 3D printing an inlet nozzle for the pump that attaches to the carx outlet. I really like your channel by the way, great content! Too bad you're on the opposite side of the world ;)

[@ProducerReef]

Hey Parker, Great Vid. Do u have any video with the sulfur reactor? I have one and would like more info about it...Thanks

[@ParkersReef]

Have had a few ask about it - so will do one soon

[@korbynjamison5596]

a tip: watch movies on instaflixxer. Me and my gf have been using them for watching lots of of movies recently.

[@johnnyzyaire602]

@Korbyn Jamison definitely, been watching on instaflixxer for months myself =)

[@rossthomas4125]

Hey Sam. Another nice video and looks like a good result with the chaeto. A couple of questions if I may. 1) What do you think of the cleaning/maintenance required every week? 2) Does it have to be Chaeto or could Caulerpa be used? 3) What flow rate did you have through the unit? cheers

[@ParkersReef]

Hey Ross, thanks for the questions. It takes about 5-7mins to clean out but I reckon you could just pull algae out and go again in 2 mins if you were ok with that. I also think you could leave it 4 weeks between harvests. I think if I let it go that long, I’d get those chocka-block results like you see online. I might try that now.... I was originally at 1500lph, but upped it to 3000lph and much prefer it at that speed. Seems to stop detritus sticking in the tube. I’m sure you could use caulerpa - for some reason most are using chaeto though and I didn’t want to experiment before getting a bit of experience with these reactors first.

[@rossthomas4125]

Parkers Reef yeah I wonder how much mess would build up after 4 weeks between harvests. I was thinking of giving Caulerpa a go but was wondering if others had tried it - it all seems to be Chaeto. Are you using a flow meter to monitor flow rate through the reactor?

[@theamjadjamousable]

hey man. I found a used one at a good price. do you still use it or recommend ?

[@ParkersReef]

they're fine, you need a lot of flow through them to keep them clean in my opinion though

[@federicomanglavite9897]

What has your experience been using an algae reactor with chaeto together with a Sulphur reactor? Have you been able to use them both long term? I'd have expected that the sulphur reactor would have starved the chaeto at some point. Would you suggest using a refugium together with sulphur reactor to combine NO3 reduction with PO4 reaction? Thanks!

[@ParkersReef]

yeah I still run the algae reactor and sulphur reactor together. Must admit, I don't get algae growth like I did in the first couple months with this reactor though. Could be related to the sulphur reactor, although it had been in place for a number of years before the algae reactor came along... I recommend GFO for phosphate and sulphur for nitrate, they are the two methods I have had best results with.

[@brendondawson9956]

Hey mate looking as possibly running the small version on my 430L tank. Would that unit be too small? Currently only using rowaphos in a small reactor nothing else. Would an algae reactor be a big improvement?

[@ParkersReef]

every tank seems to react to them differently, so it is hard to say. That being said, I always like a natural approach to nutrient removal - so is absolutely worth a try

[@meiersreefs188]

With the effluent port on the reactor is more for CO2 as the macro grows better with CO2 and it takes it out of the water witch then is better for your reef with less CO2. It is better to run you effluent from your Calcium reactor to a refuge anyway then straight back to the return chamber.

[@ParkersReef]

yes spot on, sorry I got lost for words when doing the video

[@meiersreefs188]

Yup just was helping out

[@Thazin-Mae2345]

hi, do you find the reactor makes your ph stabel at 8.2?

[@ParkersReef]

no I can't say I did

[@Thazin-Mae2345]

How do you keep your ph up

[@ParkersReef]

C02 scrubber, kalkwasser and fresh air

[@Thazin-Mae2345]

@@ParkersReef fresh air tried that. My aquarium is near a window. Dose nothing. Will tried kalk

[@ParkersReef]

@@Thazin-Mae2345 All the best!

[@GREGELZZ]

did you have your calcium reactor effluent dripping into it? just putting mine back on and tossing up whether to drip into the sump or into the reactor, calcium reactor input seems to be in a silly place (Near the outlet) also wondering if the positive pressure would overpower the versa pumping effluent into it

[@ParkersReef]

I did yeah despite it seeming like a silly spot. Figured it couldn’t hurt 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@EliCarter]

Question: Are you dosing on top of your CalRx?

[@ParkersReef]

I have the ability to dose, but rarely (if ever) need to

[@EliCarter]

@@ParkersReef oh! Thanks!

[@roypangallo3620]

Hi same great vid! just purchased one of these . How did you work out 1500lph sorry I’m still new to the scene😎

[@ParkersReef]

you can get a rough estimate from using a 2000lph pump or you can measure and time the outlet from the unit and then calculate it. For 1500lph, you are looking at around 4 litres per 10 seconds

[@roypangallo3620]

@@ParkersReef thank you so much mate big fan of your channel keep up the good work .. best channel in aus in my opinion 🤙🏻

[@ParkersReef]

@@roypangallo3620 cheers mate!

[@roypangallo3620]

Hey mate after using it for couple weeks I can’t seem to grow algae most of ut has dispersed!. I upped the on schedule from 12 hrs to 15 hrs any ideas on how to get it going? Thanks Sam

[@ParkersReef]

@@roypangallo3620 hey mate, are your nutrients still at a decent level? It could perhaps be starved? You may also need to add some iron and other trace as these elements are often quickly exhausted by algae reactors?

[@stevieksstuff2148]

I looking at getting one of these, what drives it ? Main pump ? Or will need an additional pump ?

[@ParkersReef]

You can feed it from a tee off your return pump or any other pump.

[@stevieksstuff2148]

@@ParkersReefprobs best with a separate pump ? what size stand alone pump would you recommend for the small size reactor, its going on a waterbox 130 getting delivered this week :-)

[@ParkersReef]

I prefer to tee off the return pump, less heat in the water and less electricity

[@ParkersReef]

Haha sorry mate, just noticed that I accidentally gave your comment a thumbs down. Fixed now 😂

[@vascojardim6703]

Hey Parker, greetings from Portugal. Love your vids. In fact, let me hit that subscribe button.... done! Are you still liking your reactor? Just bought one from Pac sun and they mad it customs size for me and delivered in about 4 days. Amazing customer service! Are you happy feeding your CaRx into the unit? Given that it is pressurized (the algae reactor) I always felt that it would push water out and therefore impact the flow rate of thr CaRX itself. Cheers

[@ParkersReef]

Hey thank you for subscribing and watching from Portugal!! I am still using it and still enjoying it. I do feed my calcium reactor into the algae reactor and due to the competing pressures it did require me to adjust the effluent tap on my calcium reactor to be more open. If you fed your calcium reactor with a peristaltic pump, it would not be an issue however

[@volteface69]

Il est super mais c'est ton aquarium ? Si oui c'est beaucoup trop complexe ton installation pour la plupart des aquariophile ... Sinon c'est TOP je suis FAN de tes vidéos !!! 👍👍👍

[@ParkersReef]

c'est mon aquarium, oui et même si j'ai quelques gadgets en marche, ils ne sont pas tous nécessaires (en plus, c'est mon aquarium, je vais donc le courir comme je le souhaite!) :)

[@volteface69]

@@ParkersReef évidemment et merci pour ce retour ... 👍👍👍

[@ParkersReef]

@@volteface69 appréciez votre audience et vos commentaires comme toujours!

[@adampape7548]

Did it raise your tank pH at all?

[@ParkersReef]

great question, to be honest - I wouldn't know. I haven't tested PH for a long time. I would think that growing chaeto from the co2 rich effluent would most definitely raise the PH though

[@medusasoasis]

Que tamaño es ? S, m o l?

[@ParkersReef]

Este fue el medio de memoria.