{"product_id":"aqua-medic-plankton-light-reactor-pro","title":"Aqua Medic Plankton Light Reactor PRO","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStep up from a windowsill culture to a dedicated live-food production line.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Aqua Medic Plankton Light Reactor PRO is a 50-litre acrylic culture column with an integrated 50 W, 6,200 K LED grow light, built to run continuous phytoplankton or microalgae culture at a scale that can feed several systems rather than one display tank. It's the big sibling to the 5-litre Plankton Light Reactor II — same principle, ten times the volume — for hobbyists running a frag farm, a copepod breeding operation, or a fish room that needs a standing supply of live green water rather than an occasional dose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e50-litre acrylic culture column\u003c\/strong\u003e — enough standing volume to run a continuous harvest-and-refill cycle instead of batch culturing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e50 W, 6,200 K LED light\u003c\/strong\u003e — five times the Reactor II's output, matched to the larger volume so light still reaches the centre of the column.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMEAN WELL power supply\u003c\/strong\u003e — a commercial-grade LED driver rather than a generic plug pack, built for continuous 24\/7 operation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2 m PVC air supply pipe with adjustment valve\u003c\/strong\u003e — included, so aeration is dialled in from day one rather than sourced separately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1 m PVC sampling pipe with adjustment tap\u003c\/strong\u003e — draw off a harvest without disturbing the rest of the culture or lifting the lid.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRuns on around 438 kWh a year\u003c\/strong\u003e — the 50 W LED is designed for continuous operation; at 30c\/kWh that's roughly $131 a year to run around the clock.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpec\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eValue\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCulture volume\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 50 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiameter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 300 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHeight (including light)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 1,250 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFootprint required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 500 x 500 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 W LED, 6,200 K colour temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePower supply\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMEAN WELL transformer, 230 V \/ 50 Hz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAir supply hose connection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10\/14 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSampling pipe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 m PVC, 20\/24 mm, with adjustment tap\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMarine or freshwater microalgae culture\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSKU\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAM35012\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhich Plankton Light Reactor do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlankton Light Reactor II\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlankton Light Reactor PRO\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCulture volume\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 W LED\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 W LED, 6,200 K\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFootprint\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eØ150 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eØ300 mm, 500 x 500 mm clearance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e560 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1,250 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBest for\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFeeding one display tank, or a copepod culture on the side\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFeeding multiple systems, a frag farm, or a dedicated live-food operation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eTen times the culture volume of the Reactor II isn't just \"more of the same\" — at this scale you're running a standing culture with a rolling harvest (draw off through the sampling tap, top back up) rather than growing and dumping a batch. If your feeding load is one reef tank, the II is cheaper to run and easier to fit on a shelf. If you're supplying multiple tanks, farming coral frags, or breeding copepods and rotifers as a feed source, the PRO's volume is what keeps a continuous culture from crashing between harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSetup and use\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFill with saltwater (or freshwater for infusoria culture) and a starter culture, connect the included 2 m air supply pipe to an aeration source, and run the light continuously. Aqua Medic recommends a Mistral 2000 II or a larger air pump to keep a 50-litre column properly mixed and gas-exchanged — the smaller pump sized for the Reactor II won't move enough air for this volume. Draw a harvest through the 1 m sampling pipe and its adjustment tap without opening the lid, then top the culture back up.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat's included\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlankton Light Reactor PRO acrylic culture column with 50 W LED lid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMEAN WELL power transformer (230 V \/ 50 Hz)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 m PVC air supply pipe with adjustment valve\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 m PVC sampling pipe with adjustment tap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eNot included\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAir pump — Aqua Medic specifies a Mistral 2000 II or larger for this volume; it isn't supplied\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStarter phytoplankton or microalgae culture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFertiliser or culture medium\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e hobbyists and small-scale breeders running continuous live-food culture to feed multiple tanks, a frag farm, or a copepod and rotifer breeding line that needs daily green water.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e a single lightly-stocked reef tank that only needs an occasional phytoplankton dose — the Reactor II is the right size at a fraction of the cost; running without adequate aeration, which will crash a 50-litre culture faster than a small one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare and maintenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRinse the column and lid between batches or at each full refresh to stop old growth fouling new culture. Wipe the inside acrylic wall periodically — algal film on the column wall cuts light penetration to the centre of a 300 mm-diameter culture more than it does in the smaller reactor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSafety\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMains-powered via the included MEAN WELL transformer (230 V \/ 50 Hz, which covers Australia's 230–240 V \/ 50 Hz mains) — keep the power supply and cabling clear of splashes and standing water, and route the air and sampling lines so they can't siphon back into the transformer housing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Mistral 2000 II or larger air pump, sized for the 50-litre volume\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA dosing pump, to automate feeding from the sampling tap into your system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhytoplankton or copepod starter cultures, to seed the column\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCovered by Aqua Medic's manufacturer warranty in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. At 1.25 m tall in a specialised acrylic vessel, check delivery clearance before it arrives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWhat air pump does the Reactor PRO need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eAqua Medic recommends a Mistral 2000 II or larger. The smaller pump sized for the 5-litre Reactor II won't provide enough air for a 50-litre column.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIs the power supply Australian-compatible?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt ships with a MEAN WELL transformer rated 230 V \/ 50 Hz, which covers Australia's 230–240 V \/ 50 Hz mains. Check the plug fitted to your unit matches an Australian outlet before installing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow do I harvest without disturbing the whole culture?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse the included 1 m sampling pipe and its adjustment tap to draw off what you need, then top the column back up — you don't need to open the lid or disturb the light.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCan I run this on freshwater infusoria instead of marine phytoplankton?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes — the column and light work the same way for freshwater or marine culture; only the starter culture and nutrient dosing change.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow much floor space does it actually need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eAround 500 x 500 mm at the base, with enough headroom above for the full 1.25 m height including the light — check ceiling and shelf clearance before ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aqua Medic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55285032517923,"sku":"AM35012","price":2341.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/AM35012.jpg?v=1786073128","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/aqua-medic-plankton-light-reactor-pro","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}