calcium reactor ?

[JT3069]

I have an old east coast aquarium products dual chamber calcium reactor.
The recirculating pump went out on me and i was unable to repair it.
I ended up cutting the reactor in half and using just one chamber.
Using a 1/4inch rodi "t" for water inlet and co2.

After, losing all my co2 over the weekend while i was out of town.
I think i need to add a mj400.

One, to break the co2 bubbles up.
Two, so that it does not take so much co2 to lower the ph in the reactor.

Does anyone know how to mod a mj400 to work with 1/4inch rodi line?

I have seen this done before but can not remember how to make the
connections.

Thx for your help.

 

[sirreal63]

Replace the recirc pump, there are many that will work and is the right to make the reactor work.

 

[JT3069]

That was my first thought,but the pump was a quietone 1200.
They must have changed designs. When the pump came in the impeller front housing was different

Here are some pictures to help show the problem

 

[sirreal63]

You are not restricted to the original pump, let's see the reactor and I bet we can figure out a replacement pump.

 

[JT3069]

Below is a picture of the original and what it looks like now.
Notice the inlet and c02 entering in the bottom and the effluent and
ph probe at the top

Inlet is "t" ed of the return pump

 

[sirreal63]

You can plumb it back with PVC to get the recirc going, use a pump with 1/2" inlet and outlet and it will work like it should, you could even use poly tubing with barb fittings and get it recircing again. Draw water from the bottom and input at the top.

 

[JT3069]

That is the original design,but isn't it better to go in the bottom and out the top or side?

 

[JT3069]

Also if you look at the original picture i am using the left chamber due to the fact it has a spot for my ph probe
As well i am on a low budget due to unforseen surcumstances (it's late sry about spelling)

 

[JT3069]

The original design was rated for a 400g tank i have estimating 100g total volume
at a drip rate of one drop per 30 sec my dkh was at 16 in a sps filled tank
I figured by cuttting it in half it is still rated for 200g and cappable of handeling my tank
load with ease

 

[karsseboom]

One drop per 30 sec?? That can't be right.

 

[JT3069]

yeah thats what i said, i keep ph at 6.5 but without the pump working i guess c02 would get caught up somewhere and dissovle a good bit of media, if i shake the chamber dust always flys up

 

[karsseboom]

Ok so the only reason you have it that way is because the pump is not recirculating. Look for a new pump that has close to the same dimensions and Re-Plumb the reactor. It's very simple. Once the reactor is fixed though I would set the effluent at a broken stream so the valve doesn't get clogged.

 

[JT3069]

was think somthing like this i don't have the funds for an eheim or similar pump
trying to work with what i have

 

[karsseboom]

I would just buy a cheap non brand pond pump with close to the same dimensions and plumb it in the reactor. You can get a cheap pump on eBay that would work for around 20-30 bucks.