By now we’ve seen so many different biopellet and media reactors made for aquarium use that we hesitate to tell you about new models unless they are truly standing out from the crowd, as in the new Bluefin Reactors from Triton Aquatics. Although the body of the Bluefins are made from the standard acrylic tubing, the base and tops of these reactors are made from injected molded parts which allows for some fancy new features.
Besides looking really cool and well-finished, the molded tops and bottoms of the Bluefin reactors fit together strongly. The unique contoured curves of the base of the Bluefin reactors creates a very gentle fluidizing flow which is able to suspend the finest and lightest medias at even very moderate flowrates. Conventional media reactors with just a flat interior base can get media trapped in the edges of hte tube or require a stronger flow to completely fluidize light GFOs and fine carbon.
The Keyhole flanges of the Bluefin reactors’ tops is a tried and true method of locking down tubes for aquarium use and that thick gasket is sure to reduce more leaks than a simple recessed O-ring. Some of the other models of the Bluefin reactors also have built in flow control making for a neat and tidy media reactor package. The specially designed molded parts doesn’t mean that they are cheap, but they do seem like a reactor line which is built to last.
Triton Aquatics’ Bluefin media reactors start at $89 for the shorty all the way up to more than $350 for the jumbos, available now at Aquarium Specialty.
