maldenreefer
Non-member
Parts:
- Aquatop MR-30 Reactor
- Accel Aquatics Warm-White High Output Water Resistant LED Strip Light with Transformer - 6 foot
- Zipties
- Extension cord from dollar store
- Starter macroalgae from Dong
My Somatic 60 sump lacks a true refugium area so I built a DIY external reactor that has been working great. I chose that reactor model because of it's large size and that particular led strip since it was made to be more water resistant than those that I found on Amazon. I pondered the Pax Bellum models for a moment but they're ridiculously expensive.
Essentially all you need to do is wrap the strip around the reactor and secure it with zip ties or some other form of fastening. I placed the input pump in my overflow chamber and then return line into the second skimmer chamber. The pump runs 24/7 and the led lights are on a opposite schedule of my display light. In one week, the chaeto has doubled in size so the setup seems to be working. I am considering plumbing a second reactor to this pump in order to grow just dragon's breath for my tank inhabitants but I hear the growth rate on that macroalgae to be not so great so not sure if that's worthwhile. Anyone have experience growing dragon's breath by itself?
If anyone has any questions about the build or would like help, send me a message.
Thanks.
- Aquatop MR-30 Reactor
- Accel Aquatics Warm-White High Output Water Resistant LED Strip Light with Transformer - 6 foot
- Zipties
- Extension cord from dollar store
- Starter macroalgae from Dong
My Somatic 60 sump lacks a true refugium area so I built a DIY external reactor that has been working great. I chose that reactor model because of it's large size and that particular led strip since it was made to be more water resistant than those that I found on Amazon. I pondered the Pax Bellum models for a moment but they're ridiculously expensive.
Essentially all you need to do is wrap the strip around the reactor and secure it with zip ties or some other form of fastening. I placed the input pump in my overflow chamber and then return line into the second skimmer chamber. The pump runs 24/7 and the led lights are on a opposite schedule of my display light. In one week, the chaeto has doubled in size so the setup seems to be working. I am considering plumbing a second reactor to this pump in order to grow just dragon's breath for my tank inhabitants but I hear the growth rate on that macroalgae to be not so great so not sure if that's worthwhile. Anyone have experience growing dragon's breath by itself?
If anyone has any questions about the build or would like help, send me a message.
Thanks.
