$200, my day off, and my new diy calcium reactor!

[WmTasker]

samvarf

Is the alkalinity of 15DKH the alk of the tank or the effluent? My tank is at a pH of 8.2, cal of 400 ppm, and an alk of 16 DKH. It has been at that since I set up the calcium reactor, and I have seen no negative effects on the reefs. Everything is growing like nuts.

Did you ever get you bubble count under control? I finally got mine under control. I started off with the large black knob turned completely CCW till no co2 was coming out, I opened the needle valve all the way CCW. (some co2 came out but finally stopped) I turned the black knob till bubbles started coming out of the counter (rapid boil). The second gauge read about 1 psi. I finally just adjusted the needle valve down till I got the bubble count to about 80 /min.

 

[samvanrf]

WmTasker

Alkalinity of 14 dKH is of my tank water. Yours is 16. Isn't it too high? My bubble count is under control. I am just concerned for Alk of 14 dKH. Some articles suggested Alk maximum is 14 dKH

 

[craby]

My tank PH is 8.2, effluent PH is 6.6, 80 bmp, but my ALK is way high as well @ 15 dkH. I believe natural sea water is between 8-9 dkH. I don't know why it's shot up as when I was using a MRC CR6 reactor my ALK was around 11 dkH. I have used a kalk reactor plumbed into my RO/DI unit for top off w/ float switch along w/ both the MRC & DIY reactors. I dunno what could be different between the (2) reactors.

 

[samvanrf]

Yesterday, I made 2 changes: 1) Set the effluent dripping rate at 25 ml/min 2) Solenoid was activated only 12 hours. Today params are: Calc 400 Alk 11.8 dKH. I am much more comfortable with this mid point of Alk. Today, I am running with solenoid ON all the time but keep 25ml/min drip rate. We'll see what Alk is tomorrow

 

[trmiv]

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and build one of these. I'm so tired of dosing b-ionic in addition to dripping kalk. I can't seem to meet my tanks demand for alk no matter what I do. This reactor certainly seems to be able to maintain alk!

 

[impur]

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and build one of these. I'm so tired of dosing b-ionic in addition to dripping kalk. I can't seem to meet my tanks demand for alk no matter what I do. This reactor certainly seems to be able to maintain alk!

I hear ya there. Everyday i consider building this after i dump another glass full of baking soda/RO water into my tank.

 

[samvanrf]

trmiv and impur,

Do it and you will be happy for not worrying about adding calc/alk 4 days a week like I did. In addition to calc/alk the calc reactor also adds other trace elements in the tank. It's been only 5 days and I see my corals open up more with much better colors. WmTasker, thanks again for such a great idea

 

[trmiv]

Yea I'm sold on it, I just need to get the money together. Maybe next paycheck, I have some OT coming and a rebate coming back.

samvanrf, hey, fellow fremont resident!

 

[samvanrf]

Yea trmiv, I did not notice we live in the same city

 

[magma01]

i just read this thread from beginning to finish. so much to digest. so do people think the best way is to go with the original design? there have been many diff. mods to the original.
if someone can sum up the best way to build one, it would be very much appreciated.

 

[samvanrf]

Here are some close-up pictures after 6 days with the calcium reactor which really bring out nice colors I did not see before

 

[WmTasker]

samvanrf Very nice colors. What are the two in the bottom pic?

magma01 The only thing that I plan on doing different is to put some holes in the ribs of the lid to help keep bubbles from building up in the lids. I like having the co2 input right before the pump also.

 

[samvanrf]

samvanrf Very nice colors. What are the two in the bottom pic?

Tube Anamones

 

[elephen]

They are sexy under atinics.

 

[DRZL-sauras]

Damn I'm sleepy just read this monster and its about to be 3 AM. DAMN I love reefing ...I have made my own miniscule suggestion to this project.

Anyone think of adding a DIY bioball needlewheel to the propellors of their CR recirc pumps. You know to chop up the bubbles more effectively.. any DIY EAP skimmer guys know what I mean...

Photos from qwintus..

Theres a bunch of people whove done them on Mags and other pumps. Best of all its in the same easy to do spirit of this CR. And it usually eliminates the loudness of the caveating (sp.?) of a normal impeller crackle of mixing air(CO2) and water.

So, dice?

 

[DRZL-sauras]

BTW anyone use the larger media in their DIY CR? Or am I going to have to be the first?

 

[em21701]

I think I'm going to try that bioball mod, I can't stand listening to the pump. Also, I used crushed coral gravel instead of reactor media and it works just fine. The only difference is that the reactor media has been sorted so that it is all the same size.

 

[samvanrf]

Theres a bunch of people whove done them on Mags and other pumps. Best of all its in the same easy to do spirit of this CR. And it usually eliminates the loudness of the caveating (sp.?) of a normal impeller crackle of mixing air(CO2) and water.

So, dice? [/B]

Would it work on Quiet One 1200 pump and where can I get it?

 

[WmTasker]

DRZL-sauras

Do you know if this modification will affect the water output of the pump? Im sure it would cut down the output.

 

[samvanrf]

I think I'm going to try that bioball mod, I can't stand listening to the pump. Also, I used crushed coral gravel instead of reactor media and it works just fine. The only difference is that the reactor media has been sorted so that it is all the same size.

Yes, the noise of the pump is annoying. Anyone knows where to get this bioball needle wheel?