Korallin Calcium Reactor
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
I hope you guys can help me. I have read through this thread and the amount of information is exausting. I am building way to much pressure in my reactor, im afraid its going to blow.
I have a 3002.
First, is there supposed to be a rubber O ring between the reactor cap and the flange of the reactor? There is a grove there but nothing is in it, and the parts list says there is a integrated o ring.
Ok here is my setup. I have tapped my return pump and am running a 1/4" high pressure line with a inline needle valve to the inlet of the pump.
I have both out's leaving the reactor going in my sump.
the minute i turn on my co2 the rector starts to leak around the flange, even without any restriction on the outputs.
what in the heck am i doing wrong? this thing is driving me nuts...
Pleas help!
Thanks
I have a 3002.
First, is there supposed to be a rubber O ring between the reactor cap and the flange of the reactor? There is a grove there but nothing is in it, and the parts list says there is a integrated o ring.
Ok here is my setup. I have tapped my return pump and am running a 1/4" high pressure line with a inline needle valve to the inlet of the pump.
I have both out's leaving the reactor going in my sump.
the minute i turn on my co2 the rector starts to leak around the flange, even without any restriction on the outputs.
what in the heck am i doing wrong? this thing is driving me nuts...
Pleas help!
Thanks
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
I was just messing with it some more, and still have the same problem.
I have my tapped return running about 40 drips per minute, going into the pump on the reactor. I have both lines in the sump. if i adjust outlet 1 to 40 drips per minute, outlet 2 drips 4 or five times as fast, if i neck down outlet 2 to get the 2 or three drips per minute, the thing starts to hiss and leak out of the reactor flange. I dont even have the co2 on at this point.
I have my tapped return running about 40 drips per minute, going into the pump on the reactor. I have both lines in the sump. if i adjust outlet 1 to 40 drips per minute, outlet 2 drips 4 or five times as fast, if i neck down outlet 2 to get the 2 or three drips per minute, the thing starts to hiss and leak out of the reactor flange. I dont even have the co2 on at this point.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
its huge. its a genx 70 hd, but i have tapped a ballvalve that takes a 1/4" high pressure line, and in that line i installed a fine tune needle valve so i can precisly control the imput in to the pump on the reactor...
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
as far as a o ring, is there supposed to be or isnt there. It makes sense to me that there should be one, there is a grove for it, but the instructions say its "integreated" I have the optional ph probe top flange if that makes any difference, thanks for you help.
jdieck
New member
It is very diffictult to control the feed using large return pumps, their pressure is to high and needle valve can't regulate pressure.
Unless the outlet valve is fully open the restriction in the outlet will make the reactor rise up to the pressure of the pumps discharge despite the valves in the inlet. To prevent this the adjustment of the inlet shall match the one on the outlet which is very difficult to do but try it any way. Fully open the ouput valve. Adjust the inlet needle to slightly higher outlet effluent than the desired. Say 5 dpm then using the ouput adjust it to 40. That little difference will still build up some pressure but as pressure builds up the dpm in the outlet will increase slightly compensating for the inlet pressure rise.
If this does not work you will need to use a powerhead to feed the reactor.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
i will just put a power head on it. Any special size? will a maxijet 400 do the trick? And should i go and buy a o ring for the flange?
Thanks again for your help.
Thanks again for your help.
jdieck
New member
An aqualifter pump usually do well with not much hazzle. If you use a MJ because of the pressure drop with a 1/4" feed line you may need a MJ1200, just leave the hole open on the discharge adapter so the pump has more flow to cool down.
Get the O ring. It might be milimetric, if you can't find it try mcmaster.com
Get the O ring. It might be milimetric, if you can't find it try mcmaster.com
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
I have a 1200 laying around, if the aqua lifter is the ticket i will just go buy one. Im sick of fiddling with this, i want to fiddle with drip rates, not leaks LOL.
jdieck
New member
If you have one already you have nothing to loose by trying it. The trick is to find a way to connect the PH outlet adaptor (The one that holds the fan like piece without the fan piece) to the 1/4" feed line.
If you are a DIY guy and have a 1/8" NPT tap you can tap the inside of the adapter and screw in a 1/8" MNPT by John Guest quick connector and then just plug the 1/4" tubing into the John Guest.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
Yep, thats exactly what im planning on doing. I have a bag full of 1/8 JG 
I make my own o rings too, at work we sell o ring material, you slice it sqare and super glue it, walla you have any oring size you like.
I wonder what diameter i should put in there.... its annoying that it didnt come with it.
I make my own o rings too, at work we sell o ring material, you slice it sqare and super glue it, walla you have any oring size you like.
I wonder what diameter i should put in there.... its annoying that it didnt come with it.
jdieck
New member
If you refer to the diameter of the material (Thickness); If the grove is properly sized and cut then a diameter equal to the width of the grove shall be used. As it gets squeezed the O ring will expand sideways and seal against the walls of the grove.
For internal diameter of the O ring measure the ID of the grove.
If you can select the material I would use silicone for the O ring, it is softer and will seal easier than Buna N
For internal diameter of the O ring measure the ID of the grove.
If you can select the material I would use silicone for the O ring, it is softer and will seal easier than Buna N
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
I will see what i can come up with....
thanks for all your help.
thanks for all your help.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
I have my MJ1200 modded with a JG fitting, i have my fingers crossed that this is going to solve my problem
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
OK folks, thats the ticket. There is no option to not have a small pump. I have tried this reactor three different ways, one was gravity fed from above, 2 was off the return pump, and 3rd was a mj1200 modded with a JG fitting. Its perfet, perfect drip rate, perfect bubble rate and just a minor leak at the flange because there is no o ring in it.
The troubles i was having with the gravity:
inconsistand bubble rate in the bubble counter
the troubles i was having tapped in the return:
way to much pressure in the reactor, i was seriously afraid it was going to explode and hurt me.
Now for the fun part.
THANK YOU for the help.
The troubles i was having with the gravity:
inconsistand bubble rate in the bubble counter
the troubles i was having tapped in the return:
way to much pressure in the reactor, i was seriously afraid it was going to explode and hurt me.
Now for the fun part.
THANK YOU for the help.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
FWIW, the maxijet 1200 needed to be restricted as well. but it works beautifully!
