The Reactor BIO-PELLETS Filter BP-130 by Bubble Magus

The Bubble Magus BP-130 is a fluidised bed / bio-pellet reactor / media reactor designed for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. It allows you to use various media such as bio-pellets, carbon, resins, zeolite, etc., by fluidising them so that the media is gently tumbled by water flow. This increases contact between water and the media, improving filtration (especially for nitrates & phosphates).

It’s built from acrylic and other materials that are safe for saltwater, so it won’t corrode, and the pump is also suitable for marine use. In freshwater, it works the same way to fluidise bio-pellets, carbon, or other filter media.

The only things you’ll need to adjust between saltwater and freshwater setups are:

• The type and amount of media you put inside (for example, GFO is typically used in marine tanks for phosphate control; freshwater tanks might use different resins or carbon).

• The flow rate depending on the media’s density and the tank’s needs.

Key Specifications 

The Bubble Magus BP-130 Bio-Pellets Filter has an internal media capacity of roughly 2 litres, making it suitable for moderate amounts of biopellets or other filter media. It is fitted with a Rock WP1000 pump, which provides a steady flow for proper fluidisation while drawing about 20 watts of power, so it runs efficiently.

Its body measures approximately 176 × 220 × 500 mm (length × width × height), which makes it tall but with a relatively small footprint for use inside a sump. The reactor is recommended for aquariums of up to about 800 litres, whether marine or freshwater, depending on the bioload.

Although designed primarily for biopellets, the BP-130 can also be used with other media such as carbon, GFO, activated carbon, or even certain resins or rocks if configured correctly, making it a versatile filtration option.

Features & Benefits

• Versatility of media: Not just bio-pellets. You can use it with different filtration media (as above) which makes it useful in different filtration setups.

• Good flow & mixing: The pump and internal design keep the media well fluidised, which avoids dead spots and gives consistent filtration.

• Space-efficient: Relatively compact given its filtering capacity; height is the largest dimension. Useful for sump or external setups.

• Low power draw: 20 W is modest given what the reactor does.

Things to Watch / Limitations for the Reactor BIO-PELLETS Filter BP-130 by Bubble Magus

• Requires maintenance: You’ll need to clean periodically; bio-pellet reactors can degrade or clog, or media can break down etc. Also need to check pump performance and fluidisation.

• Initial setup sensitivity: The flow rate, amount of media, and how fluidised the bed is will impact how well it reduces nitrates / phosphates. If media doesn’t tumble enough, performance drops.

• Media cost: Bio-pellets or specialized media (e.g. GFO) cost, so operational expense should be considered.

• Noise / vibration: With the pump, depending on installation, you might get some vibration or noise, especially if not mounted well. (This is general with these reactors.)

• Oxygen demand: biopellets host bacterial colonies which consume oxygen; ensure good aeration / avoid oxygen drops.

• Footprint / height: reactor is quite tall (~ 50 cm) so sump needs vertical clearance.

Practical Tips

• Use bio-pellets of good quality; ensure they are rinsed/prepared per manufacturer’s instructions.

• Adjust flow so that the media gently tumbles without being slammed; too much flow can damage the media or cause excessive wear.

• Monitor nutrient levels (nitrate, phosphate) to gauge how well it’s working. Changes won’t always be immediate.

• If using other media such as carbon or GFO, make sure to swap or regenerate media appropriately.

• Clean pump and intake occasionally to avoid restrictions.