Reef Octopus Light Reactor: How to Setup an Algae Reactor to Lower Nutrients in Your Reef Tank

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You’ve tried everything but can’t get your Nitrates and Phosphates down. Unsightly algae are running rampant and plaguing your prized coral collection. What can you do? Is there any hope?

A natural filtration method which uses algae to fight algae has been the secret to success for thousands of aquarium hobbyists. Today we’ll share that secret with you as we introduce a brand-new solution for nutrient control from the engineers at Reef Octopus.

So the kaleidoscope of color in your once-flourishing reef tank is suddenly looking drab and monochromatic. Corals have turned brown and are no longer growing rapidly. Searching for answers, you run diagnostics by testing your Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium—only to discover they are all within ideal ranges. You check your temperature next but it’s right where it should be.

Your saltwater sleuthing leads you to suspect high nutrient levels may be the culprit. Further testing confirms it: Nitrates and Phosphates are guilty of stealing the color from your corals!

It’s a fact: high levels of Phosphates and Nitrates curtail coral growth and coloration. Keeping these parameters under control is a constant battle and a common struggle many hobbyists share. Fish waste, rotting leftover food, and poor maintenance habits all contribute to the accumulation of Nitrates and Phosphates in an aquarium.

Phosphates have a direct effect on coral growth by inhibiting the calcification process. The more Phosphates, the less likely a coral will intake calcium carbonates from the water and build its calcareous structure.

Nitrates stimulate the growth of Zooxanthellae, which accounts for the darkening or browning of corals. Excess Zooxanthellae can also outcompete the host coral for inorganic carbon, further slowing calcification. This process is exasperated when Alkalinity levels are on the lower end of the acceptable range.

To combat these contaminants, Reef Octopus developed a reactor that is purpose-built to reduce Phosphates and Nitrates and prevent them from wiping out your beloved coral garden.

And, unlike fast-acting chemical filtration or bacterial miracle cures, The Reef Octopus Light Reactor uses macroalgae to remove nutrients from your aquarium water. You heard that right: the solution to getting rid of algae is by growing algae.

Although this sort of natural filtration methodology is trending in the hobby right now, it’s a tried-and-true technique that savvy hobbyists have been practicing for quite some time by using something called a refugium.

A well-run ‘fuge is a great way to lower phosphates and nitrates. A refugium is basically just a place or space you can grow specific types of macroalgae like chaetomorpha that take in nutrients from your aquarium water. Once the macroalgae is so voluminous it fills your ‘fuge, you “harvest” it by removing a sizeable portion, thereby removing the contaminants it absorbed to fuel its growth.

Refugiums can be a hassle, though. There are in-tank versions, hang-on models—however the most effective ones are quite large—so a sump is generally required if you really want to make a dent in your nutrient levels. Beyond just occupying a lot of real estate, a refugium can make your sump messy. A sump also isn’t all that efficient at directing flow and light to your macroalgae.

An algae reactor, on other hand—like the Light Reactor from Reef Octopus—has the same sort of nutrient reduction capabilities as a refugium, only it can accomplish them using a less space with greater efficiency. And, like a refugium, an algae reactor can be a haven for beneficial copepods and Amphipods.

All oceans, lakes, and rivers are filtered by algae. Isn’t it time you take advantage of this natural filtration method to keep your aquarium clean and healthy?

Before we get into the assembly and installation of the Light Reactor, let’s take a closer look at what makes it safer and more effective than the DIY algae reactors you see in online forums and Facebook groups.

First and foremost is the reactor’s unique triangular IP67-certified waterproof LED light strip. It runs down the entire length of the reactor and sits smack dab in the center of it. Unlike DIY algae reactors where hobbyists wrap an LED strip around the outside of the reactor, the Light Reactor’s LED strip is submerged inside the unit itself. Your Chaetomorpha is bathed in three light color spectrums from t for maximum growth and nutrient consumption. The close proximity of the LED strip to the macroalgae ensures no light or power are wasted in your quest to remove harmful nutrients.

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