Silly question about reactor

Proteus · #1 05-21-2013, 05:40 PM

So I have a MR1 that was full of hydroton. I took it off line on thirsday as I needed the pump for my ato.
Now I realize the media will be full of dead organics and I have new media for it.
But I contemplate putting it online or not

The reactor hold 2.6 liters and I was wondering if that amount is worth running? I did not see any down fall when taking offline.

I have 25 lbs of rock in tank and 10 lbs of rubble in sump

What do you think. It's one more piece of equipment. One more plug in

spit.fire · #2 05-21-2013, 06:17 PM

What size is the tank?

Proteus · #3 05-21-2013, 06:24 PM

50 gallon total volume

The media fills a 2lbs margarine container.

spit.fire · #4 05-21-2013, 06:41 PM

IMO the hydroton helps a lot, per volume it has way more surface area for bacteria

Proteus · #5 05-21-2013, 06:45 PM

Yes. I agree. Just wanted a second opinion though I will have to use new media as the old sat static for 5 days

Thank you

mrhasan · #6 05-21-2013, 08:20 PM

Sorry to highjack but what are hydrotons? Are these fine grainy stuff that can take care of the work that LR does?

Proteus · #7 05-21-2013, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Sorry to highjack but what are hydrotons? Are these fine grainy stuff that can take care of the work that LR does?

Hydroton is expanded clay balls. About 1.5 cm across. Used in hydroponic gardening. The are very porus.

I use low flow (50gph) through reactor. Ill get a pic for u in a min

mrhasan · #8 05-21-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus99

Hydroton is expanded clay balls. About 1.5 cm across. Used in hydroponic gardening. The are very porus.

I use low flow (50gph) through reactor. Ill get a pic for u in a min

Awesome. Thanks

I once saw a grainy brown stuff in someone's reactor and he said that those things work 100 times better than LR but he couldn't remember the name so thought it might be hydroton.