Thinking about getting the IM mini max reactor.

Sabres429 · 04/04/2014, 11:52 AM

Definitely considering doing the Innovative Marine all in one Mini Max media reactor on my Nuvo 16. I'm most likely going to go with biopellets media wise.I do not have any skimmers or reactors on the tank yet and the only thing that is running on the tank is my return pump which is extremely quiet because the tank is in my bedroom. Anyone have any expierence with them? Are they quiet and do they producde micro bubbles?

Amatuer21 · 04/04/2014, 02:38 PM

I have been running one with gfo in it. I have not had a problem with micro-bubbles. Its not silent but not loud either, usually just have to move the cord around to reduce vibration. Id say that its a good purchase for the price!

Endy0430 · 04/04/2014, 03:10 PM

Been running one for about 8 months and they are excellent. No noise and no micro bubbles what so ever. Also as far as changing media is simple and clean.

TundraGuy · 04/05/2014, 05:57 AM

Great perchance for what it is. If your going to run BP in it look into getting a skimmer. Otherwise you will be dumping slim out of the back chambers of the tank. The BP feed bacteria this bacteria sluffs off of the pellets and should be removed from the water column. A skimmer will remove a lot of this left over slime. I have been running the taller aqua gadget skimmer for over a year now and enjoy its performance but would never use it in my bed room (that should dead noise) I made a better silencer and keep the air injection clean but it is the noisiest thing on the tank. When running with the air wide open and the highth set this skimmer pulls a lot of gunk!

E.intheC · 01/19/2015, 06:26 AM

Did you end up picking this up? I like the design but have only read about a few user experiences with it.

Zwickm · 01/19/2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabres429

Definitely considering doing the Innovative Marine all in one Mini Max media reactor on my Nuvo 16. I'm most likely going to go with biopellets media wise.I do not have any skimmers or reactors on the tank yet and the only thing that is running on the tank is my return pump which is extremely quiet because the tank is in my bedroom. Anyone have any expierence with them? Are they quiet and do they producde micro bubbles?

I would recommend running half carbon half GFO in the reactor over biopellets. Carbon takes out a lot of the same organic waste that a skimmer does. GFO will keep nuisance algea in check.

Biopellets are not as effective as either at accomplishing this. You can use a piece of round foam (cut yourself) in the middle of the reactor to separate the carbon and GFO as they both have different lifespans and GFO should tumble while carbon should be packed.

ExpensiveHobby · 01/19/2015, 12:07 PM

I use the desktop size on my midsize tank. Its a nice reactor. I noticed a drastic decrease in glass algae about 10 days after installing with GFO

E.intheC · 01/19/2015, 02:06 PM

I've read mixed reviews on this. The main attraction of this reactor is that it's easy to clean and change the media. some are saying that you have to remove the entire reactor in order to change the media out, N did that's the case, I may as well buy a $35 reactor and save the money. The innovative marine reactor is smaller and looks better but it's significantly more expensive.

ExpensiveHobby · 01/19/2015, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.intheC

I've read mixed reviews on this. The main attraction of this reactor is that it's easy to clean and change the media. some are saying that you have to remove the entire reactor in order to change the media out, N did that's the case, I may as well buy a $35 reactor and save the money. The innovative marine reactor is smaller and looks better but it's significantly more expensive.

You do not have to remove the entire reactor to change the media. It couldn't be simpler.

E.intheC · 01/19/2015, 04:20 PM

That's what I like about it. I just read that after time the media gets stuck in the reactor itself and you can't just remove the inner chamber. Hopefully that's not the case and was an isolated incident because it's a great idea.

gmlee · 07/21/2016, 07:39 AM

Any other comments or experiences on these??

crossi92 · 07/24/2016, 10:54 AM

I have the Midsize in my IM 30L running carbon and love it. It's silent, no micro-bubbles and couldn't be easier to change media.

aiber · 06/18/2018, 12:00 PM

I am new to reactors and considering the IM. The question I have is where the the water come out of? The top? Wouldn't that be messy? More evaporation? Please advise.

aiber · 06/19/2018, 07:54 AM

Bump

Saltyguys · 06/20/2018, 11:30 AM

The water exits below the waterline in your rear chamber so it is silent and causes no extra evaporation. I have been running GFO in my Nuvo 20 with the reactor for over three years with no problems at all. IMO you can not go wrong especially since you can get them now for $50.

aiber · 06/20/2018, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltyguys

The water exits below the waterline in your rear chamber so it is silent and causes no extra evaporation. I have been running GFO in my Nuvo 20 with the reactor for over three years with no problems at all. IMO you can not go wrong especially since you can get them now for $50.

Thanks but I am going to install it in my sump.

04/04/2014, 11:52 AM	#1
Sabres429 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: West Seneca, NY Posts: 279	Thinking about getting the IM mini max reactor. Definitely considering doing the Innovative Marine all in one Mini Max media reactor on my Nuvo 16. I'm most likely going to go with biopellets media wise.I do not have any skimmers or reactors on the tank yet and the only thing that is running on the tank is my return pump which is extremely quiet because the tank is in my bedroom. Anyone have any expierence with them? Are they quiet and do they producde micro bubbles?

04/04/2014, 02:38 PM	#2
Amatuer21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cuyahoga Falls Posts: 1,303	I have been running one with gfo in it. I have not had a problem with micro-bubbles. Its not silent but not loud either, usually just have to move the cord around to reduce vibration. Id say that its a good purchase for the price! __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: Waterbox

04/04/2014, 03:10 PM	#3
Endy0430 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Miami,FL. Posts: 806	Been running one for about 8 months and they are excellent. No noise and no micro bubbles what so ever. Also as far as changing media is simple and clean. __________________ How Can You Help Protect Coral Reefs? Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 250 Reef Octo 110 SSS Apex Controller 2 Hydra's 26

04/05/2014, 05:57 AM	#4
TundraGuy MantisOholic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,946	Great perchance for what it is. If your going to run BP in it look into getting a skimmer. Otherwise you will be dumping slim out of the back chambers of the tank. The BP feed bacteria this bacteria sluffs off of the pellets and should be removed from the water column. A skimmer will remove a lot of this left over slime. I have been running the taller aqua gadget skimmer for over a year now and enjoy its performance but would never use it in my bed room (that should dead noise) I made a better silencer and keep the air injection clean but it is the noisiest thing on the tank. When running with the air wide open and the highth set this skimmer pulls a lot of gunk! __________________ No there is no such thing as over filtering a tank. Slow is smooth, smooth is steady, and steady is fast. Current Tank Info: Enough to be considered an addict.

01/19/2015, 06:26 AM	#5
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	Did you end up picking this up? I like the design but have only read about a few user experiences with it. __________________ -Eric

01/19/2015, 12:07 PM	#7
ExpensiveHobby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Baltimore Metro Posts: 834	I use the desktop size on my midsize tank. Its a nice reactor. I noticed a drastic decrease in glass algae about 10 days after installing with GFO __________________ -Custom 4'x3'x16" rimless display tank. 3 Ocean Revive T247's, BRS Dual Reactors, ASM G4XX Skimmer, Hydor Smart Wave System, JBJ A-T-O, BRS Dosers. -Custom 6'x10"x10" fowlr, cadlights skimmer, Curr

01/19/2015, 02:06 PM	#8
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	I've read mixed reviews on this. The main attraction of this reactor is that it's easy to clean and change the media. some are saying that you have to remove the entire reactor in order to change the media out, N did that's the case, I may as well buy a $35 reactor and save the money. The innovative marine reactor is smaller and looks better but it's significantly more expensive. __________________ -Eric

01/19/2015, 04:20 PM	#10
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	That's what I like about it. I just read that after time the media gets stuck in the reactor itself and you can't just remove the inner chamber. Hopefully that's not the case and was an isolated incident because it's a great idea. __________________ -Eric

07/21/2016, 07:39 AM	#11
gmlee Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 387	Any other comments or experiences on these??

07/24/2016, 10:54 AM	#12
crossi92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 559	I have the Midsize in my IM 30L running carbon and love it. It's silent, no micro-bubbles and couldn't be easier to change media.

06/18/2018, 12:00 PM	#13
aiber Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 646	I am new to reactors and considering the IM. The question I have is where the the water come out of? The top? Wouldn't that be messy? More evaporation? Please advise. __________________ Albert Current Tank Info: 50 Gall. Cube Reef Tank

06/19/2018, 07:54 AM	#14
aiber Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 646	Bump __________________ Albert Current Tank Info: 50 Gall. Cube Reef Tank

06/20/2018, 11:30 AM	#15
Saltyguys Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Louisville Ky. Posts: 22	The water exits below the waterline in your rear chamber so it is silent and causes no extra evaporation. I have been running GFO in my Nuvo 20 with the reactor for over three years with no problems at all. IMO you can not go wrong especially since you can get them now for $50.