Cliff, here's an update on your Ca reactor

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10239434#post10239434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
Sweet, thanks Tim!
No problem. I'm going to make a 1 1/2 PVC T and cap two of the ends and tap them for a 1/4 Jaco fitting for in and out water and the other end of the T I will reduce to a 3/4 Fpt to screw the compression fitting into. The lid on my Calcium Reactor is to small to tap a 3/4 pipe thread in so this will have to do for my PH controller.
 
Well Cliff, I have good news and terrible news...

The good news is that the neoprene should seal just fine. And that's also the terrible news... I hooked it up to the house water line to fill it and didn't turn it off in time... :( The top was still sealed with the F****** side exploded! Guess I'll have to try again. :(

Looks good from here...

DSCN3342.jpg


Here's the explosion...

DSCN3343.jpg


DSCN3345.jpg
 
Dude, that's crazy, but you know a house has between 45-75 p.s.i. at the tap so I can see it blowing apart.
The good thing is the neoprene holds !
I guess the test wasn't a total loss but that's a real bummer.

I'd just gob some silicone on it, I can't see Cliff being that particular:rolleyes:
 
Yeah, house is 55 PSI where it was pushing in, I can't believe I didn't think about that and just let it end up pressurized. :( As for the silicone idea, sorry Chris, not gonna try to pass this off. I don't build crap and certainly don't sell crap. I'll be rebuilding it possibly out of 1/2 inch this time, if I don't have enough 1/4 inch. Sorry Cliff, just got delayed another 3 or 4 working days. On the good side, we know the neoprene holds very well, and will work just fine... I'm so bummed though, I just got this baby finished, even all polished and I went and BLEW IT UP! I can't begin to describe how p!ssed I am right now. I'll keep you posted on the new one.
 
You are suppose to blow up fireworks on the 4th, not your reactor! LOL! Sorry dude, Its kinda funny. I still feel your pain though.
 
No the silicone idea was a joke, just trying to lighten up the situation. I bet your ****ed though, I would be thats a shame.
Chris
 
Thanks for the sympathy guys. It does tell me something else I just realized. My welds are pretty damn good for the acrylic to burst all the way into the material, not just the weld. I'm still p!ssed, but at least there are some positives to come out of it.

I'm gonna build my Dad one at the same time on the next one, so that's 2 clones coming up, anyone else need a Ca reactor while I'm building them? What's a fair price? Figure this size should handle a 400g pretty easy. ;)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10275019#post10275019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
...My welds are pretty damn good for the acrylic to burst all the way into the material, not just the weld...
That is a testament of your workmanship, Eric. That sucks that it popped though(for you and me), but I guess I can wait a few more days. Hopefully this will be the last gallon I ever have to make of the 2 part. It has served me well, but I know in the longrun, I'll be happier with the reactor.
 
Is the reactor an upflow or a downflow? I guess the way it designed it doesnt matter were you put media. Maybe you can put a plate with a bunch of holes drilled into it to hold the media. And probably one more JG fitting on top with a line going back to the recirc pump so the CO2 can reenter the reactor for better usage of the CO2.
 
Thanks for your patience Cliff, I'll get started on the new one tonight.

Russ, it's both and upflow and a downflow. :) One side is Up the other side is Down, so it's the best of both worlds. I'll have to see if I have room for another fitting on the plumbing so the extra CO2 can enter the pump... Everything is so tightly fit, it's tough to get plumbed up... We'll see what I can come up with.

Here's the current plumbing connections...
plumbing.jpg

One is for CO2 in, the other is for the water in... I guess I can try to put another one on the other side of the bottom fitting.
 
They make a tee JG fitting. I know I saw them at Lowes. Just have the CO2 input and the CO2 recirc on it.
 
You dont even have to change the plumbing. Just have a line come out of the CO2 input and hit the T JG. One to the CO2 tank and one to the CO2 recirc. Better CO2 consumption with less CO2 intake which helps with the tanks Ph not dropping so much and your CO2 bottle last alittle longer too.
 
I hadn't decided on the controller yet. I'm thinking that eventually I will, though. Did you have a plan on placing a probe for it?
 
We can always drill the lid later if you want to add one. Just didn't know if you had one planned already. If you did, I would just need to know what size to drill for.
 
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