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5 Best Nano Media Reactors in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Lindsey Stanton Profile Picture

By Lindsey Stanton

Aquarium Tank

If you have never thought of using a nano media reactor in your aquarium before, you might want to give it some serious consideration. Nano media reactors are really useful tools that can help filter and clean your aquarium when all else fails.

They make for a really nice backup filtration system so that your fish and plants can live healthy and happy for all of their days. Of course, there are tons of options out there that you can purchase, not all of which are the same. So, today we are here to try and help you find the best nano media reactor for your tank. Let’s get right to it!

divider fish plants 2A Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Innovative Marine MiniMax Media Reactor Innovative Marine MiniMax Media Reactor
  • Quite durable
  • Energy efficient
  • Very easy to maintain
  • Best Value
    Second place
    AquaTop Media Reactor AquaTop Media Reactor
  • Very easy to install
  • Space saver
  • Best used with bio media
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Two Little Fishies Filter Media Reactor Two Little Fishies Filter Media Reactor
  • Ideal for fairly large aquariums
  • Quite energy efficient
  • Very easy to install
  • CPR Aquatic Nano Tumbler Media Reactor CPR Aquatic Nano Tumbler Media Reactor
  • Lots of filtering power
  • Very efficient
  • Does not need an external energy source
  • Cad Lights Nano Reactor for Aquariums Cad Lights Nano Reactor for Aquariums
  • Works with various types of media
  • Good for tanks up to 50 gallons
  • Small and space friendly
  • The 5 Best Nano Media Reactors

    1. Innovative Marine MiniMax Media Reactor

    Innovative Marine MiniMax Media Reactor

    Check Price on Chewy

    In terms of nano media reactors, we think that the Innovative Marine MiniMax Media Reactor is one of the best (you can check the current price here). There is honestly not that much to say about it, but that is because it is very simple and straightforward to use.

    First and foremost, the Innovative Media Reactor can be used with GFO, carbon, and all kinds of nano bio media, which is a big bonus no doubt. It is one of the most effective nano media reactors in terms of removing ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and other harmful compounds from your aquarium.

    On that same note, this particular Media Reactor is very durable. The hard acrylic outer shell keeps it safe from various forms of damage quite well.

    What we also like about this thing is that it is extremely easy to setup. Simply place it in your aquarium wherever you like, attach it to the water pump on your filtration unit, and plug it in.

    This Media Reactor turns on automatically when hooked up to the pump and plugged into power, so that is always nice. We also like how this thing is very small and does not take up too much space at all, thus reserving prime real estate for your fish.

    What is also pretty cool about this thing is that it uses special technology to be as efficient as possible. It works to filter out a whole lot of substances while not needing very much energy to function, thus saving money on your power bill.

    What is also convenient here is that the media chamber is more or less a removable cartridge which you can be easily cleaned, maintained, and allows for easy media changing too.

    Pros
    • Does not take up much space
    • Very easy to install
    • Quite durable
    • Energy efficient
    • Does well with filtration
    • Very easy to maintain
    Cons
    • Media can fall between the inner and outer tube, creating some problems

    2. AquaTop Media Reactor

    AquaTop Media Reactor

    This is another very simple nano media reactor to have in your arsenal. It comes with the outflow and inflow tubing included, which is always nice. Just like our number one pick, the AquaTop Media Reactor is very easy to use and install. Simply hook it up to the output tube on your main filter, hook it over the edge of the aquarium, plug it in, and it is good to go. It can use a variety of media, but it is best used with biological filtration media.

    Now, what we can say about the AquaTop Media Reactor is that it actually comes with a pump included, so if you don’t want to, you technically don’t even have to hook it up to your primary filtration system. It can, in fact, work all on its own, which is very cool as far as we are concerned. On a side note, we do also like how this Media Reactor is quite the space saver.

    We do like how the O-ring creates a good seal, plus the easy-to-remove lid makes changing media and performing maintenance quite simple. The upward flow of the water in the AquaTop Media Reactor makes it very efficient in terms of filtration, plus it is quite energy efficient as well.

    What is pretty cool is that the AquaTop Media Reactor comes with a discharge filter and even has an adjustable water flow pump as well.

    Pros
    • Very easy to install
    • Built for easy maintenance
    • Great filter media efficiency
    • Good energy efficiency
    • Best used with bio media
    • Comes with a discharge filter
    • Comes with an adjustable pump, does not need to be hooked up to your filter
    • Space saver
    Cons
    • Not exactly the most durable of nano media filters

    3. Two Little Fishies Filter Media Reactor

    Two Little Fishies Filter Media Reactor

    This is another really straightforward media reactor for a small tank. Just so you know, this thing can handle tanks up to 150 gallons in size, which is quite impressive considering how small it is. The Two Little Fishies Filter Media Reactor is very small and will not take up much prime real estate in the tank, which is always nice to have.

    It does not need to be hooked up to a power source at all, which is also nice. Simply attach it to the outflow tube on your primary filtration unit. Just make sure that the flow rate is not over 30 gallons per hour because it can damage and degrade the main type of media which is supposed to be used for this Media Reactor.

    This thing is best used with PhosBan, but it works well with other types of bio media as well. We do like how the connectors can rotate by 90 degrees, making it quite easy to place properly inside your aquarium.

    Pros
    • Ideal for fairly large aquariums
    • Very easy to install
    • Does not use much space
    • Quite energy efficient
    • Does not need an external power source
    Cons
    • Not very durable

    4. CPR Aquatic Nano Tumbler Media Reactor

    CPR Aquatic Nano Tumbler Media Reactor

    The CPR Aquatic Nano Tumbler Media Reactor is actually one of our favorite options. For one, it comes with its own pump and power source, which is nifty because you do not need to attach it to your main filtration unit, which is very convenient.

    All you need to do is place it in your aquarium, insert media, and plug it in. What is also great with the CPR Aquatic Reactor is that it can be used with all kinds of coarse and granular nano media.

    We also like how this thing uses upward fluidization and is adjustable in terms of the flow. This means that you can adjust this thing to work as needed for your aquarium, plus it is very efficient and energy-friendly too. On that same note, being able to adjust the fluidization is great when you want to switch the type of media you are using (if you need some suggestions, then we have covered a good buying guide here).

    While this particular reactor does not look all that nice, it is a space saver, which is a pretty big bonus as far as we are concerned. Mounting this particular nano media reactor is as simple as using the suction cups. Finally, the CPR Aquatic Reactor is quite easy to maintain, which is something else that we like about it.

    Pros
    • Does not need to be connected to your primary filter
    • Does not need an external energy source
    • Very easy to mount and install
    • Very efficient
    • Energy efficient
    • Easy to maintain
    • Space saver
    • Lots of filtering power
    Cons
    • Durability is questionable

    5. Cad Lights Nano Reactor for Aquariums

    Cad Lights Nano Reactor for Aquariums

    Something that we like about the Cad Lights Nano Reactor is that you can hang it in your sump or install it directly in the aquarium, which is fairly convenient. This thing is easy to install in multiple ways and is even easier to maintain, both advantages that we really like. This thing is ideal for aquariums up to 50 gallons in size, which is not all that big, but it definitely gets the job done.

    The Cad Lights Nano Reactor does come with its own motor and pump, so you don’t need to connect it to your existing filtration unit, something else that we find to be very handy. This thing works with GFO, carbon, and bio-nano media, which is also something that comes in handy depending on what you need for your aquarium.

    This reactor also has a very small footprint; in other words, it is a space saver. Plus, it is an energy-efficient nano media reactor too.

    Pros
    • Small and space-friendly
    • Energy efficient
    • Good for tanks up to 50 gallons
    • Easy to install; submersed or hanging in a sump
    • Does not need to be connected to your filter
    • Works with various types of media
    Cons
    • Limited capacity
    • Does not look nice

    divider: bubblesBuyer’s Guide – Benefits Of Using A Nano Media Reactor

    Nano media reactors are definitely some very important tools to have in your arsenals. Now, they are not always necessary to have in every pond and aquarium, but they certainly do help out a whole lot.

    The main purpose of a nano media reactor is for water filtration and the removal of harmful pollutants like ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites from the water. It is a really good thing to have in your aquarium if you have a whole lot of fish and a filter that might not be able to keep up.

    If you did not already know, a nano media reactor is a chemical and biological filtration tool that can be used as a backup for your filtration unit. If your filter is not keeping up and is not removing enough ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites from the water, a nano media reactor can help pick up the slack.

    The main benefit that you get from a nano media reactor is the control of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. This helps to keep your fish safe and healthy.

    So, for one, this is great because it helps pick up slack when your normal filtration unit cannot handle the bio load in the tank. Having fewer of these bad substances in the tank helps to keep fish healthy and stops algae blooms from occurring (if you need some help controlling and removing algae in your tank, then check out this article).

    It means having to clean the tank a lot less, and it also means having to maintain and clean your primary filtration unit a lot less too. As you can see, such a simple little nano media reactor can have quite a few benefits for your fish tank.

    divider fish plants 2Conclusion

    As you can probably tell by now, nano media reactors are very useful tools, and they can help remove a lot of contaminants and impurities from your aquarium. If your primary filtration unit is not keeping up, a nano media reactor might just be the right option for you. We would recommend taking a closer look at any of the above reactors that we have reviewed as they are, in our opinion, currently some of the best options.


    Featured Image: PDPics, Pixabay

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