Best Bio Pellet Reactors Review | Top Picks 2022

Bio pellets contain good bacteria that aid in maintaining a healthy ecosystem in your tank. When an aquarium has too many nitrates and ammonia, it can cause a significant amount of algae to grow, causing you to lose aquatic life. Algae is caused by too much sunlight, lights, overfeeding, and lack of maintenance. You can help maintain better water quality by using a bio pellet reactor.

What is a bio pellet reactor?

A bio pellet reactor houses bio pellets and creates a colony of healthy bacteria. The bio pellet reactor can hold several bio pellets, and as they degrade, the reactor will release the bacteria into the water. This feeds the bacteria in the tank and aids in cleaning the aquarium of unwanted substances.

Consider the bio pellet reactor a biological filtration system that eliminates nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia to keep fish healthy. You will add bio pellets to the bio pellet reactor, which will degrade over time. As a result, healthy bacteria get slowly released into the water.

When deciding which bio pellet reactor to buy, you should research what the experts have to say. But what are the best bio pellet reactors?

Best Bio Pellet Reactors

Reef Octopus BR70 Bio pellet Reactor

The Reef Octopus BR70 Bio pellet Reactor is an excellent choice for aquariums. You won’t have to have a high flow because the reactor has a fluidizing cone bottom that disperses water throughout the unit, keeping the pellets moving.

The reactor comes in three sizes to accommodate different size aquariums. It is easy to set up and will work well with regular water changes compared to others on the market. Reef Octopus has been creating high-quality bio pellet reactors for some time, and well worth the money.

The Reef Octopus BR70 Bio pellet Reactor churns the pellets and cleans the water effectively to keep the tank clean. You will have to grab a new pump and tubing. The pump size will depend on the tank size. The larger the tank, the more powerful pump you’ll need.

You can’t go wrong with the Reef Octopus BR70 Bio pellet Reactor! Your fish will thank you.

Reef Octopus Bio-Churn 120R

The Reef Octopus Bio-Churn 120R has an innovative way of breaking down the bio pellets in a suspension-style bottle. In addition, it has a direct flow pressure to encourage good movement. This reactor has its own pumps and non-flush valve control, so you can flush the media flow into the reactor.

The Reef Octopus is user-friendly and highly effective. In fact, it can bring down nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia levels close to zero – even on large tanks. There are four styles available:

• In-sump
• External
• Recirculating
• Commercial

AquaMaxx BioMaxx XL Bio Pellet Reactor

The AquaMaxx bio pellet reactor is versatile and comes in various sizes to fit different tanks. Like the Reef Octopus, it doesn’t come with the pump and tubing, so you will need to purchase the additional parts to use the reactor. However, the cost of the extra parts is worth it, considering how well the pellet reactor works.

The AquaMaxx does an excellent job of keeping the pellets in motion. This allows adequate oxygen to reach the pellets to form the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. As a result, the reviews for the AquaMaxx BioMaxx XL are mainly good, and verified purchasers agree that it is better than the competitor’s product.

The bio pellet reactor is made exceptionally well, and you can expect the parts to have a long lifespan. In addition, the plate in the container will ensure the pellets get spaced out consistently for optimum performance. Another thing we love about this pellet reactor is how easy it is to clean, so you can spend more time enjoying your aquarium than washing the reactor.

Accel Aquatics BioPellet Reactor FR-45

The FR-45 is affordable and easy to set up and maintain, saving you time and money. It offers even more value because it has a built-in flow accelerator, so you won’t need a strong pump to keep the pellets suspended. Some purchasers have used a pump as low as 260 gallons per hour with the FR-45.

This bio pellet reactor gets praised for its price, endurance, and the amount of water movement it creates is impressive. In addition, reviewers say they have had no problems with it malfunctioning or breaking. There’s nothing like setting up aquarium equipment, knowing it will last.

Which bio pellet reactor is the best?

The best would be the AquaMaxx! Each one of these reactors is affordable, heavy-duty, and reliable. However, the AquaMaxx spaces the pellets out in a way that ensures the pellets are getting enough oxygen to foster bacteria growth. It is easy to clean, a compact size, and the sizes fit most tanks. This reactor won’t disappoint!

Tips For Using a Bio Pellet Reactors

After buying your bio pellet reactor, keep in mind the following tips before you start:

• If you need to speed up the bacteria growth in your tank, you can add a bacteria strain with the first batch of pellets in the reactor.
• Nutrient levels will increase in the first week or two after adding the bio pellets. Give it about a month for the bacteria to grow to the appropriate levels.
• Don’t use a UV sterilizer until the nutrient levels have dropped because it can prevent the bacteria from growing.
• The reactor should be installed in a dark place so unwanted organisms don’t grow inside it.
• Low-quality food or an inconsistent feeding schedule can lead to high nutrient levels.

How to Setup a Bio Pellet Reactor

Bio pellet reactors are fairly easy to set up when done correctly:

1. Choose a bio pellet reactor that’s the most suited for your tank’s size and shape. For example, if you have a lot of plants and fish, you’ll need a large reactor and pump with more pellets.
2. Fill the reactor with the most suitable pellets for your fish and tank type.
3. Put the bio pellet reactor into the tank and turn it on.
4. Follow the reactor recommendation on when to add more pellets. Normally it would be within six months when it is run at full power.

Why Use a Bio Pellet Reactor?

There are many benefits to having a bio pellet reactor. It will help quicken the nitrogen cycle process when you first set up your aquarium, so you don’t have to wait as long to add fish. If you already have an established aquarium, a reactor will make up for any acquired inefficiencies, especially if you have many fish and plants and the current filtration system can’t keep up.

Bio pellet reactors are essential for lowering high levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Fish and plants thrive in clean water, free of ammonia.

Q&A

What factors will influence which bio pellet reactor to buy?

Reliability, quality, and efficiency should be the number one things to pay attention to. Sometimes going for the cheapest device on the market is appealing, but it won’t be as effective as a high-quality reactor.

How do bio pellet reactors in aquariums work?

A bio pellet reactor allows water to pass through the bio pellets. It then circulates the bacteria within the tank to keep ammonia and toxins at bay.

What is a footprint of a bio pellet reactor?

The footprint refers to how much space the reactor uses in the tank. Large bio pellet reactors’ footprint can be easily managed at 5.5 by 5.5 inches, meaning you can keep it out of sight. However, it doesn’t come with a pump and tubing, so they must be ordered.

Final Thoughts

The number one thing to consider when shopping for a bio pellet reactor is the size of the tank. If you choose a reactor that is too small for your aquarium, it won’t be able to clean and filter the water effectively. Research bio pellet reactors and see what size works the best for you.

If you are set on a specific brand, go through their website – they will have a bio pellet reactor that meets your needs. Make sure your reactor comes with the pump and tubes. If it doesn’t, order them because it won’t work without them.