DIY calcium reactor w/ internal pump
- Thread starter tptp279
- Start date
chadfarmer
Premium Member
heat would be a problem
h20cooled
Premium Member
I would be worried about 2 things;
1- will you have enough flow to push the water through the media?
2- will you have access to the pump for servicing?
Personably I prefer a stronger pump to a weaker one, I think that a lot of reactors don't have enough flow and because of that waste a lot of Co2.
Rich
1- will you have enough flow to push the water through the media?
2- will you have access to the pump for servicing?
Personably I prefer a stronger pump to a weaker one, I think that a lot of reactors don't have enough flow and because of that waste a lot of Co2.
Rich
revance
New member
Heat won't be a problem... it will heat the water in the reactor, but you aren't moving water from your tank through the reactor fast enough to have a noticeable effect on your tank.
The problem I see is how you plan on getting the power cord to the powerhead and still keep the reactor sealed. You could do it non-sealed and have the water "overflow" from the reactor to your tank (it would have to overflow because there would be no pressure build up in the reactor). I doubt that would be very efficient though because you would lose a lot of co2. Not gonna be much fun refilling that co2 cylinder all the time.
You don't save that much money with a powerhead... just get a small mag or eheim. Just spend the extra $20 and be glad you aren't shelling out $400 for a premade calcium reactor.
The problem I see is how you plan on getting the power cord to the powerhead and still keep the reactor sealed. You could do it non-sealed and have the water "overflow" from the reactor to your tank (it would have to overflow because there would be no pressure build up in the reactor). I doubt that would be very efficient though because you would lose a lot of co2. Not gonna be much fun refilling that co2 cylinder all the time.
You don't save that much money with a powerhead... just get a small mag or eheim. Just spend the extra $20 and be glad you aren't shelling out $400 for a premade calcium reactor.
stugray
Premium Member
You mean like this one?
I used a tiny pump:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TA3191
It's been running for months. I have filled it three times with no issues.
Stu
I used a tiny pump:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TA3191
It's been running for months. I have filled it three times with no issues.
Stu
