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Review of Coral Labs Fluidised Reactor


bwilly
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Just got the FR from cookiemunster.

Washed the tube and put in 1L of Rowas Phos.

The actual product should comes with a Valve control not shown in my pic.

Cookiemunster somehow forgot to bring it. hehe..

The valve will comes in handy for controlling stronger than needed powerhead,

as well as backflow. (backflow when you off the pump to clean, replace new rowas/carbon etc)

post-14-1092504256.jpg

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;)

On the pump and the rowas start to circulate.

I noted the distribution of upward flow somehow at certain

side is not even. I can note the trace of water snaking it way

thru some side of the tube.

This could be due to the rowas stacking against each other tigher at certain

area.

All in all, there is still veru good spread of water distribution force up, except

for inherent stacking of rowas cause some areas to have more water distribution.

Two filter media in the tube, top and bottom.

The bottom one is white cotton stuff and the top one is made of coarse filter alike media.

Both are used to prevent the Rowas Phos from escaping.

post-14-1092504434.jpg

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I am using a Ehiem pump, 600L/hr flow.

Cost $39, 11watts.

Too strong a pump I do agreed with cookiemunster, will promote

grinding of the absorption media (in this case Rowas).

I set the pump to minimum in my case. :)

post-14-1092504826.jpg

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okay the base where the inlet of tubing should goes.

I have not actually got the valve control (PVC tube I believe), so it may looks different from what u see here.

The ehiem tubing that is used by the ehiem 600 is slightly smaller, and cannot fit in smartly. I used another tube to fit the ehiem one, and cable tie to secure them.

post-14-1092505130.jpg

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Looking at the base, its just a good support for the FR - nothing else, but it does conceal the PVC piping that leads to the FR tubing.

The water is flow thru the base and back to the tank via the top.

post-14-1092505382.jpg

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Close shot of the top part of the FR.

Not metal part used, and no worry on rust.

The top tubing leads back to my sump where the water flow is directed after cleansed.

In my case, I will prefer to have a longer PVC piping or a handle alike design, since the FR is suppose to be sturdy enuff to carry via the cover itself.

post-14-1092505563.jpg

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Don't suggest connecting the pipes using a cable tie...backpressure will lead to the area leaking. Just get a hose adapter...rather cheap and at least the hoses will be secured properly..

Always something more important than fish.

http://reefbuilders.com/2012/03/08/sps-pico-reef/

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Don't suggest connecting the pipes using a cable tie...backpressure will lead to the area leaking. Just get a hose adapter...rather cheap and at least the hoses will be secured properly..

hose adapator?? u mean those metal clip?

What's the different between that and cable tie?

I use cable tie to prevent the smaller ehiem tubing "run off" from the bigger tube.

It fits quite nicely, but I still don't feel really safe. So I added a cable tie to put my mind at ease.

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Rating:

Functionaility (4.5/5) - Does what it is built to do. Rowas phos should be more effective used base on the theory of how absorption goes. Will be better if there is (super) even water distribution upwards. No fault of this product, most likely inherent due to stacking of Rowas. But a food for thought for future version.

User friendly (4/5) - Pretty plug and play. Will get full marks if there is some handle or sort.. Easier to move it around. Have not seen the valve control, so can't comment on it too.

Value (4/5) - For those using expensive phosphate remover, carbon and such, you may like to just place the bag (carbon) under direct return flow.

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It's a small plastic piece. The end is shaped like the plastic piece of the FR you push the hose into. Just that this piece has 2 heads. One is smaller head to fit the smaller hose and the other is a bigger head to fit the bigger hose. ;)

Always something more important than fish.

http://reefbuilders.com/2012/03/08/sps-pico-reef/

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It's a small plastic piece. The end is shaped like the plastic piece of the FR you push the hose into. Just that this piece has 2 heads. One is smaller head to fit the smaller hose and the other is a bigger head to fit the bigger hose. ;)

oh, I got it.

Anyway the flow is like so little, nothing much on pressure.

My concern is the leaking if its not tight enuff lohz. ;)

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Not a good idea to mix. If you want to replace either one how are you going to separate them?

Rowas Phos suppose not to leech.

Gauging your own tank requirement for replacement for Rowas.

Carbon is to be replaced every month. So if your phosphate starts

to climb every month, then can lohz.. :lol:

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  • SRC Member
1 Q : can u place rowas n carbo together into the FR ?

Based on cookiemonster, it is not recommend mixing carbon with rowa together as it may absorb each other and render the active agents useless. :erm:

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Rowas Phos suppose not to leech.

Gauging your own tank requirement for replacement for Rowas.

Carbon is to be replaced every month. So if your phosphate starts

to climb every month, then can lohz.. :lol:

i bought seachem carbon , it is stated that it can last for 6 months ? so can change together with rowas........ :lol:

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Based on cookiemonster, it is not recommend mixing carbon with rowa together as it may absorb each other and render the active agents useless. :erm:

i thought the seachem seagel and contraphos are mixed products(carbon and phosphate removing media),so can i say that these products are inefficient??

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i thought the seachem seagel and contraphos are mixed products(carbon and phosphate removing media),so can i say that these products are inefficient??

The only effective phosphate removals I know of by personal experience is Rhowaphos and contraphos.

I guess if they mix it with carbon together to sell as a package they should have thought of not mixing ingredients in their products which will cancel each other out. But for mixing 2 different brands together, I think no matter what theres always a risk of them neutralising each other even to a little extent. If they are placed in different bags, I think shouldn't be too much of a problem. However if they are mixed together, then I believe some kind of self neutralising effect will happen.

However we will never know until someone conducts a proper test.

Bwilly thanks for the great review. I'll meet up with you one day to pass you the ball valve. hahaha don't know how I could have forgotten.

Fuel is right. Its better to use a dual hose nipple to connect different hose sizes together. Much safer than using cable tie. But like what you said, low pressure so not so much of a worry.

As for even spread of water, I really don't think its possible to expect even flow upwards cos if you study the flow of air bubbles, theres always a preferred direction of flow with least resistance. And anyway in this case, very slow water flow is required so it doesn't really matter. Although you don't see it, diffusion will ensure total usage of media even in the side you don't see. And because of bottom up flow, gravity doesn't compact the media so the media usage is maximised.

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its a good product. I like to see it when the rowas move like the wave..

now I got other thing to see, other than the bubbles foaming from my

skimmer..

good value for entertainment. haha...!!

but if can add a handle like those cannister filter, which can be "hidden"

when not in use, then will be bagus..!

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