the more the merrier...
i'd love to do this as a workshop, where we all get together and build them as a lesson, but other than the router work for the flanges, most of the assembly is 'glue this then wait a few hours'. plus my 'workshop' is pretty tiny.
i'll do the flanges on an announced saturday afternoon so whoever does want to be part of it can.
ok, here is the list. i need everyone to pick exactly what they want. post in this thread (even if you've already posted) by this saturday (the 8th) to be in this round. i'll need the money up front to order materials, probably a check in the mail would be easiest. the prices i have listed are pretty good estimates, with the big stuff rounded up just a bit for shipping. we'll settle up later with the final actual cost, but it should be within 10 bucks either way.
i'm not trying to do this to make money, at least with this batch (you guys are my beta testers), probably any in the future i will though. so if you want one, get in now
. but if people want to chip in a bit after they are built to help with tool costs that would be cool.
Matt Anderson
1123 South Main Street Apt C
Blacksburg, VA 24060
kalk reactors-
the 2 designs to pick from are-
-a sexy one made from round 6" x 18" acrylic tube. it will have a keyhole flange made from 3/8" sheet acrylic on the top to open it up all the way as needed. it will also have a large union on top for quick & easy filling. the pump will be mounted to the in/out pvc plumbing, with unions so you can service the pump as needed. also built into the pvc plumbing will be a drain valve of some sort, so you can drain off a few inches to open it without spills. it will probably have a footprint of about 8"x10", and the flange on top will probably be just under 10" diameter. total height will be ~23" tall. i can make them shorter for whoever needs, and/or skip the flange on top (so that you just use a union to fill) to make it smaller. if size is a concern, let me know what the max size you can fit is.
parts/cost list.
pump 25
acrylic tube 45
3/8" acrylic sheet 30
blocks 5
pump unions 6
fill union 10
speedfits 6
drain valve 5
pvc 5
oring 3
screws 2
glue/polish/tape/… 3
total 145
-a less sexy one made from 6x6 square tube glued up from 1/4" flat sheet acrylic. it will use just the large union for access, no flange. but otherwise be about the same design. i can't promise 100% pretty bubble-free seams.
pump 25
1/4"sheet acrylic 25
fill union 10
speedfits 6
pump unions 6
drain valve 5
pvc 5
glue/polish/tape/… 3
total 85
can shave the pump off (and pump unions depending) if you already have another pump (maxijet) that you'd like to use. i strongly suggest the pump i have spec'd though since it has real threads and should be *much* more durable.
either kalk reactor will also need a pump to feed it freshwater from a topoff reservoir. the best way is with an autotopoff (like a litermeter or tunze osmolator), just route that through the reactor and you're set. otherwise i'd get an aqualifter and put it on a timer or floats.
calcium reactor-
pretty much exactly the same as the kalk reactor designs/costs. remember that you will also need co2/regulator (another $200) and a ph meter/controller ($75-$100) to get this up and running.
secondary chamber-
pretty much the same cost as the kalk reactor minus the pump, pvc, unions. since it only gets filled once a year at most, can probably skip the flange too and just use a large union on top to fill, your call. $85 with fill union/no flange, $95 with flange/no fill union.
can also go square body for only $45.
Michael R
