DIY CA reactor Version 2

[8BALL_99]

Thought I'd share my new toy I made the other night. I already had one Ca reactor on one system. I've been wanting another one, but since my Co2 regulator was junk I haven't bothered with another Reactor.. Since I got a new Regulator the other day I figured it was about time to build another Reactor! I decided to do this one a little different.. More like the ready made reactors you buy. Main reason for this was cause I had bought a 6'x6" acrylic pipe several months back to build a couple of green water reactors, but I decided against them.

Anyway.. The Reactor chamber is 6x19. (VERY big) Water pump is a Eheim 1250. I had tried to cut a fancy Oring groove in the top flange.. But sorry to say that I guess a V doesn't fit a O ring very well..Who knew lol. Thats what I get for trying to make due with what I could find in the shop...I plan on trying it again with a different router bit.. Since I had already welded the Flange together the easy fix was just to use a neoprene gasket like most everyone else does on their DIY reactors

Flange Reinforcement ring

Up and running leak free after a new top and Gasket

Hope that gives some of you idea's!. A comparable reactor would be Precision Marine Calcium Reactor CR622 at 579.00$ or the Premium Aquatics GEO Calcium Reactor 6x18 at 349.00$ But the GEO uses a smaller pump.. Not really sure exactly what I have in mine. I had all the parts except for the Nylon bolts Orings/Gasket. That stuff cost me about 35 bucks would have been 20 but you know the oring problem lol.. The pump runs 69.00, I think I paid about 70 for the 6' piece of Acrylic pipe. Would make 3 of these.. I probably used about 40 bucks worth of Acrylic and fittings..So I'd say No more then around 150.. Even If I would have used the entire acrylic pipe it would still be under 200 for a 6' tall reactor lol

Will

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Hey, that looks great!!

Tomoko

 

[Philip Root]

How did you cut the circles?

 

[8BALL_99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10749609#post10749609 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Philip Root
How did you cut the circles?

LoL well this took some thought.. I have a circle cutter jig for my Rotozip.. But it sucks.. Dont tell my wife she bought it for me for fathers day a few years ago... It does ok in sheet rock. But doesn't cut true cirlces in harder stuff like wood or Acrylic..

Its really very easy once you go through about 3ways that don't work.. Used wood to practice on BTW.. All I did was take a scrap board Drill a hole in it and install a 1/4 Bolt.. Then I mounted the board to my router table spacing the bolt from the edge of my router bit.. The distance between the two is Half what you want your Circle..IE 4" will make a 8" circle. I then cut a peice of Acrylic square a little large then the total diameter of the circle.. Say 8.25". Drill a 1/4 Hole in the center. Place the square on the bolt and just raise the bit into the acrylic then you just spin it till its cut out.. Perfect Circle.. You could also do this with a router with a plunge base and a board bolted to the base. Either way will do the same.. I tried it both ways, since I had to make several.

I did all the circles this way except I cut out the inside of the flange after I glued it to the Tube..This way its a exact match to the inside of the tube.. I just used a flush cut trim bit.. It took a couple of days to glue all the parts.. I cut all the pieces one night then glued the two layers of the base together and glued the bottom flange to the tube.. Also tapped any holes for plumbing.. The next night I cut out the inside of the bottom flange and trimmed the base to the final size.. I then glued the tube to the base..Let it dry over night then install all the plumbing and the pump..You don't have to do it in so many steps really. But I don't like moving or putting any pressure on acrylic joints without giving them plenty of time to setup.. With the extra rings and with the tube set down into the base like it is. The joints are very thick and strong..

 

[Nitroq2]

Very Nice!!

 

[timrandlerv10]

did you cut a notch in the base to fit the cylinder?

(man i hope that makes sense!)

 

[mltmtascp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10750729#post10750729 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 8BALL_99
LoL well this took some thought.. I have a circle cutter jig for my Rotozip.. But it sucks.. Dont tell my wife she bought it for me for fathers day a few years ago...

Crap I bought my hubby one for father's day one years. That why I no longer buy tools for the hubby.

Nice Ca reactor!

 

[8BALL_99]

Tim, If you mean did I cut a groove for the Acrylic tube to set down in.. yes Kinda. Again I just used Acrylic I had in the shop already.. So the thickest I had was 1/4. Not really thick enough for much of a groove. So what I did was cut out a peice of 1/8" Black acrylic to fit the tube. I then Glued the 1/8" acrylic to the 1/4 Clear base. I wanted the base to be black anyway.. I also made rings out of 1/4 that go around the bottem and top of the tube to help add to the glue joint.


LOL mltmtascp. Thats funny. Don't worry about it. She has bought me severals tools I use and several I dont. I like them all either way The circule cutter is ok for rough cuts. Just for something like this they have to be pretty exact.

Will