Grotech is a company you don’t here too much about on this side of the pond. Well known for their high-tech gadgets the PhytoBreeder certainly lives up to this.
When initially hearing the term “Phytoplankton Reactor” a few may think of the Zinn Reactor. A very cool concept that can work well, but the sealed feature of [...]
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Grotech is a company you don’t here too much about on this side of the pond. Well known for their high-tech gadgets the PhytoBreeder certainly lives up to this.
When initially hearing the term “Phytoplankton Reactor” a few may think of the Zinn Reactor. A very cool concept that can work well, but the sealed feature of the Grotech unit makes it more applicable for those of us without “Fish Rooms”.
The new PhytoBreed2 model is more compact than it’s predecessor by having the light source within the vessel. The PhytoBreed2 200 holds 11 liters while the 250 holds 18 liters total volume. Both use a 21w bulb to grow the phyto. This bulb is controlled to provide optimum photo-periods for the unit while a magnetic stirrer keeps the phyto in constant motion.
Unlike the Zinn Reactor, the PhytoBreeder can provide a continuous source of live phytoplankton to to your reef. Grotech states that under optimal conditions up to 30% of the PhytoBreed’s volume can be added to the system. Which means, depending on the model 3, 5, or 6 liters of Phyto can be added in a single day. This is all automized by the PhytoControl unit:
The PhytoControl unit is a controllable dosing pump. It doses the phyto at your desired rate multiple times a day by drawing in aquarium water first, and putting out the phyto solution directly to your tank. (It operates much like a calcium reactor, with the output being phytoplankton instead of ca/alk effluent.) By taking in aquarium water the phyto is able to utilize the nitrate and phosphate as fertilizer. The second pump module on the unit is for precise dosing of PhytoFood, a nutrient solution to help sustain the culture.
Here’s an image of Pieter van Suijlekom’s unit in action on his impressive curved glass reef. His unit provides 5L’s of phyto a day.
Which contributes to this end result:
This great gadget can help provide a continuous food source to your reef, but at quite a price. The PB200 retails for $820 USD, while the PB250 goes for $870 USD. These do come with PhytoFood and PhytoStart, but as you know the unit is not complete without the PhytoControl, which is sold separately for $590 USD. (Food and Start are also available separately for $25USD each)
With those prices in mind it is out of reach for most, but still a very nice piece of equipment.
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