oversized media reactors?

I'm currently looking at picking up a media reactor to help pull down phosphates and possibly nitrates. I finished building my coil denitrator last night... but I'm somewhat concerned that even with the stock biocube 29 open all the way barely a steady stream came out (it was a stream for 4" then broke into rapid drops). It seems like this might wear on the motor over time. In any case, it seems like the media reactor could be used to improve my water even more.

My current question revolves around my desire for a larger tank in the future. I'm just over a year out of my PhD (knock on wood) and when I finish and get my full time job, I want to move to a larger tank... likely in the neighborhood of 300-400 gallons. I'm currently debating on equipment because if I can get some oversized equipment now, I wouldn't have to repurchase in the future. With that said, some of the things are rated around 250 gallons, so that might be a hindrance... but I digress...

NextReef MR1 Shorty
NextReef MR1 Shorty Media Reactor
It doesn't list the size it's good for, but it has to be under the 250 that this one is for...
NextReef MR1
NextReef MR1 Media Reactor

They're only $10 difference, but one would be able to make the transition towards a larger tank with me, and perhaps it wouldn't be large enough (I'm not sure if 250 gallons is close enough to 300 gallons for it to be effective). I'm not sure the Shorty would be able to go with the new tank because it might just be too under sized. What are thoughts on this? I know I'm not the only one that's envisioned saving money where possible in this hobby.

 

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You could always get the larger reactor and use the appropriate amount of media on it. I'm assuming you will be using pellets?

Bought my friend a next reef smr1 for a 34g they are rated upto 250g but using only the amount of bio pellets needed for his biolaod

 

How's it working out for them?

 

Well it's only been up and running a few months now and so far things look promising. He had a slight phosphate issue and was able to bring that down to zero testing on a Hanna phosphate meter. I got him an eheim compact pump and it really gets the pellets tumbling.

 

If your looking for a biopellet reactor pm me. If you can wait alittle bit on it I may have a very affordable solution.feel free to pm me for details

 

I don't mind spending the money for a nice quality unit. The question wasn't about how cheaply I could get one, it's if I'm going to spend ~$100 on a nice unit, could I just get an oversized unit without problems or would I need to buy two units (one now that's appropriately sized and one later that is larger for the new tank).