Did I order the wrong pump?

[miller_time]

Hey,

I am planning on adding a TLF 150 reactor with their NPX biopellets and just received my order with my maxi-jet 1200 as I saw most people said they need large amounts of flow with the pellets.

what I failed to consider was that most posts were on large systems and I will be using this on a small system (i.e. biocube 29)

Should I look into getting a smaller pump and just keep the 1200 for when I get a larger tank?

my concern will be with heat, I didn't realize the 1200 uses 20w compared to 8.5w for the 900.

Thanks for the help!

 

[gnashty]

any heat a maxi 1200 puts off is neglible in my opinion.....although I have maxi 1200, a mag 24, and mag 18 in my sump so the maxi is the least of my worries..lol

 

[cr500_af]

You MAY find you have to dial it back with the valve, depending on the media. I run the same reactor (with carbon) off of an MJ600 and it keeps the media tumbling just fine, so a 1200 may blast it around more than you'd like... but the little valve they come with will take care of that.

 

[miller_time]

Ok thanks for info! Glad to hear I don't have to try and swap this out. Anyone have experience with TLF's pellets?

 

[acroholic]

Better to have more flow than you need for the TLF reactors than too little. You might find with a smaller pump that you don't have enough flow, particularly if the media (carbon in particular) starts getting gunked up.

 

[miller_time]

Good to know, thanks for help everyone!!

 

[rbredding]

a higher volume pump means ONE THING...


that you'll cycle more of the aquarium water through the reactor every hour than you would with a smaller pump..

that's a really really good problem to have..

 

[ralph atl]

Acroholic;621130 wrote: Better to have more flow than you need for the TLF reactors than too little. You might find with a smaller pump that you don't have enough flow, particularly if the media (carbon in particular) starts getting gunked up.

yes! :up:

 

[rskillz]

Yes, you did.

I use the TLF 100 with Bio-pellets (about 2 cups worth) and it never worked after a month with the MJ1200. The flow wasn't able to break up the clumping of the pellets once they become oatmealized (yup, just created that word). So I use a beast pump that makes them tumble and break apart.

 

[rbredding]

Rskillz;621262 wrote: Yes, you did.

I use the TLF 100 with Bio-pellets (about 2 cups worth) and it never worked after a month with the MJ1200. The flow wasn't able to break up the clumping of the pellets once they become oatmealized (yup, just created that word). So I use a beast pump that makes them tumble and break apart.

beast pump? (what size is THAT? LOL)

you think it's not enough?