The NextReef BR1 is one huge, custom-built calcium reactor that showcases the scaling ability and custom work the team at NextReef can do. We are big fans of the mainstream line of NextReef products with the durable and quality work put in each piece and this definitely has all that and more on a large scale. With 8 in. diameter blue tubing for the body, the flat pieces were all cut on a CNC machine out of 1/2 in. cast acrylic.
The chambers will hold over six gallons of media and measure in at 42 in. in height. Since everything is plumbed through the lid, the reactors can be converted easily to hold carbon, GFO or biopellets. These beasts are driven via a Mag-Drive 5 pump with 1/2 in. clear PVC plumbing and typical white PVC for the elbows and fittings. The feed water is enters the reactor through a 3/8 in. John Guest (JG) fitting near the pump with the effluent and the CO2 and bubble counter are mounted farther up the pipe in another 3/8 in. JG fitting. The effluent is dispersed through the top via a 3/8 in. JG in the lid.
These reactors were built to spec for Butch Ringelspaugh, curator of the Pier Aquarium in St. Petersburg, Florida for a thesis project he is working on as part of a controlled and experimental setup. We’re not sure what the final project is but Butch certainly has some nice equipment to get him through it. Hopefully we can bring some more information on what he is planning and finding along the way.
Although these are pretty straight forward in design for a calcium reactor, we just liked seeing something super-sized! If you have something in mind you need and can’t find it right off the shelf, NextReef is more than willing to explore making something to suit your exact needs.
[via NextReef]
