calcium reactor question

[civicss1]

i have a PM cr422 and i was wondering whats the easiest way to feed water to it,,,should i do the gravity feed from the main tank,,,i already have the return plumbed so i don't want to tap into that,,,,LMK whatcha think....

 

[Bebo77]

dont gravity feed a calcium reactor.. attach a powerhead to the feed line like a maxijet or an eheim

 

[oneil]

I just tap into my return to my tank and put a watts quick connect valve to controle flow to my reactor. I dont use gravity feed.

 

[civicss1]

what is so bad bout gravity feeding it ...just wondering....

 

[robsmith32]

ditto what oneil does..
gravity feed depends on the fact that it WILL get water from the tank, and that you have to make a siphon break,in case power failure.
One reason, i'd say to put to pump instead of siphon, is that one of the major reasons of having a ca reactor is cut down on maint. having it siphon would mean you'd have to check it all the time to make sure the siphon is working.

 

[civicss1]

very true...k ...now i have one inch returns..powered by a Gen-X mak 4....should i just use a maxi600....that will prob be easier for me ....the only hard part is finding connectors to fit on the end of the pump,,,,hmmmm

 

[robsmith32]

I prefer using return pump, already paying for its electricity.. and minimal impact to flow. and already have the pump not buying another ph adding ph heat to tank
I have a tee going to ballvalve going to a JG fitting then tube to the reactor...

 

[frank2926]

I really recommend the new eheim power head to run a reactor.
I used to use a maxi but it would need to be cleaned every 2 weeks or it would freeze up. this new eheim I have not cleaned in 6 weeks . I keep checking it every week but still no calcium build up.