Here we go again, DIY Calcium Reactor

WmTasker

WmTasker

JBJ 45g Rimless
Premium Member
Back in 2005 I made a calcium reactor for my then 120g reef. It was a great little reactor: inexpensive, easy to make, and most importantly kept the calcium and ALK dead on. So I am getting back into the reef aquariums again, and I will most likely end up making another one again. Hope everyone enjoys the little DIY reactor as much today has we did back then.

Here is my supply list:




Milwakee Regulator
QuitOne 1200 pump
ARM Reactor Media
MaxiJet 1200
Reactor Chamber - Lowes
John Guest Fittings
Assorted Hoses
Drill bit and Tap
PVC parts
Barb Fittings/clamps
CO2 tank


The tools



The finished Product




I started out by glueing my pvs 1/2" thread to 1" slip adapters to the 45 degree elbows that had 1" slip on one end and 1" male threads on the other.






Next I used a 7/16th drill bit to drill one hole in one elbow and 2 in the other. I took my tap and threaded the holes to fit the 1/4" John Guest fittings. Two of the fittings are 1/4 to 1/4 and the other is 1/4 to 3/8. The 3/8 fitting is to supply water from the sump. I used this since the 3/8 hose made a better fit to the Maxijet 1200.




To finish up the elbows. I attached the barb fittings to them. The barb fittings were 1/2 male thread to 5/8 barb.

 
I then moved on to cutting the pipe for the inside of the reactor. I made the pipe 10 1/2 inches long. I used my chop saw and put about 6 slits on each side of the pipe for the water to flow through the arm media. I also put a little rubber gasket at the bottom of the pipe to help make a better fit.






I then put the pipe in place, add media and closed it up. It held about 5 lbs of media. I hooked up the hoses just to make sure everything was were it should be.




I then made my adapters for the pump. I used two more barb fitting (like the ones from above) and two 1/2" thread to thread couplings. I want together like this.




I finished up by cutting some 5/8 ID hose to length. I put them into place and put a few hose clamps on to make sure there was no leaks.



I finally hooked up my Regulator and tank. The Blue hose is my intake from the bubble counter. The MaxiJet was used to supply water from the sump to the reactor via the yellow hose. In the beginning, I just counted bubbles and tested the pH as it came out of the reactor.
 
After about a month of this I made a few modification.

1st was to move where the CO2 entered the reactor. I placed it before the pump so the impeller would have the chance to dice up the bubbles into smaller bubbles for faster distribution on the CO2.




I also added a second chamber to help increase the level of Calcium and ALK while giving the pH a chance to come down before entering the sump again.




Finally, I purchased a Milwaukee MC122 pH Controller. This was used to monitor the pH in the reactor instead of as it comes out of the reactor, then it controlled my regulator and amount of CO2. I had to find a way to get the probe into the reactor so I replace one of the elbow with a T-piece. Then I got a water tight bulkhead/port for the probe.



Hope you all enjoy this.

If you feel like reading about how the first one went and see how many people made one, then here's the first build thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=587186&highlight=day
 
I had to buy everything with the exception of the tools and it is going to cost me around 280.00. 88.00 of that is the regulator.
I will admit I have a tap, however I have never used a tap, and my threads turned out poorly. So I grinded off the threads from the 1/4 elbow and just glued them in the hole with the pipe glue. I hope this doesn't leak or I am starting over with the plumbing. Other than that it was really easy and I can't wait to fire it up and not have water spray everywhere. LOL
 
Sorry should have thanked you for the post. Great job thinking that up. I don't want to dose but I also didn't want to spend 499 on a calcium reactor.
 
Thanks for the write up hub, so I assume since you have been using it 4 months it is working out pretty well for you? I never really realized how basic calcium reactors were.
 
No I haven't been using it, my tank is still cycling, I just wanted something to do as I wait. I am still waiting on the pumps and working on getting the tanks and regulator. Other than that it is finished. I read the other thread and it appeared there are a few people using it with no issues.
I have everything ordered and that is what it cost me to build it. Still better than buying one for 300 or 400 bucks that doesn't even come with the regulator or co2 tank.
I will post some pictures as soon as I get the pumps hooked up. I am going to run it through a test mode without co2 and media to make sure nothing leaks.
 
Iv been searching for reactors, I think I'm going to give this a try, anyone here start building one also yet?
 
Very Informative post and good write up... I am very interested in trying to do this... What pump would someone recommend for using this reactor? Is this reactor a good candidate for modification for my 340+ system size wise?

Ty
 
Bumping this thread for it's worthiness! I bought all the supplies last night but had trouble finding a NPT tap. Seems Home Depot only had machine taps?? I'll try Lowes later today…..otherwise I guess I'll drill it and glue it in like Hub81 did.
 
If you can't find the tap at Lowe try a good auto parts store. Pipe threads are commonly used on cars. A good hardware store (ACE) should have them also.

To the OP, cool build too I might have to try this.
 
So I found the proper sized tap but got frustrated by the way the John Guest was fitting in there. I went with this plan instead…..

Off of the elbow I used a 1" slip to 1/2" slip adapter, then added a 1/2x1/2x1/2 tee where the center is threaded. I capped the end and used a 1/2"x1/4" threaded adapter so I could just screw in the John Guest fitting.

Pics
20131124_141453.jpg

20131124_142814.jpg
 
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