insomniac2k2
Active member
Are you sure that you do not have the check valve reversed? How much flow are you running through it? No, I do not have this issue.
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LaCl Reactor
- Thread starter insomniac2k2
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Rare Angels
New member
I don't believe I have the check valve reversed, I can pull the dosing line off the inlet side of the check valve on the T with the system running and water doesn't come out the open port so the check valve must be in correctly. I didn't measure it exactly, since I just started the system up last night, but I think it's in the 5-10 gph range. Hopefully I can find the exact flow tonight after work.
insomniac2k2
Active member
What's in your reactors? If you are causing too much back pressure, the water will want to go somewhere.
Insomniac,
It's me again:lol2: I've been trying to figure out if I can make the reactor...cheap and space saving as I have minimal room under the tank.
I have a "Jumbo" BRS Carbon/GFO reactor that I'm not using...Could this work for one of the chambers?...If yes, would it be best for the mixing/contact time chamber or the floss/carbon sandwich chamber?
I also have an RO canister not being used. Would that work? It has no fittings but there is a lid.
More questions to come after your reply
Thanks!
It's me again:lol2: I've been trying to figure out if I can make the reactor...cheap and space saving as I have minimal room under the tank.
I have a "Jumbo" BRS Carbon/GFO reactor that I'm not using...Could this work for one of the chambers?...If yes, would it be best for the mixing/contact time chamber or the floss/carbon sandwich chamber?
I also have an RO canister not being used. Would that work? It has no fittings but there is a lid.
More questions to come after your reply
Thanks!
Rare Angels
New member
My set-up is just like yours, the first canister is empty then a 3 foot piece of 1/2 tubing connecting to the 2nd canister which is stuffed with floss when out a 1/2 tube to the skimmer inlet.
insomniac2k2
Active member
Odd. There may be something wrong with your check valve. You could try it without to see if it pushes the LC in, but don't run long term without one. You will overdose.
I have a spare doser I just tried and did not have issues with it either. You definitely have something working against you.
I have a spare doser I just tried and did not have issues with it either. You definitely have something working against you.
insomniac2k2
Active member
Yes, your RO canister can be used. I build all my reactors from the RO cannister parts from BRS. They sell all the fittings that you need.
I would probably use the jumbo canister for reaction and the RO canister for floss/carbon sandwitch. I would not feel that there would be benefit for having more floss and carbon to catch the precip. The more this stuff clogs, the better. It will continue to catch smaller precip.
I would probably use the jumbo canister for reaction and the RO canister for floss/carbon sandwitch. I would not feel that there would be benefit for having more floss and carbon to catch the precip. The more this stuff clogs, the better. It will continue to catch smaller precip.
Insomniac,
It's me again:lol2: I've been trying to figure out if I can make the reactor...cheap and space saving as I have minimal room under the tank.
I have a "Jumbo" BRS Carbon/GFO reactor that I'm not using...Could this work for one of the chambers?...If yes, would it be best for the mixing/contact time chamber or the floss/carbon sandwich chamber?
I also have an RO canister not being used. Would that work? It has no fittings but there is a lid.
More questions to come after your reply
Rare Angels
New member
Insomniac,
Thank you for the very prompt and informative replies! This thread is one of the best on RC !
I am going out of town later today for the weekend so I am going to turn off the doser and work with it some more next week. Thanks again and I will update you to my progress on getting things working.
Dave
Thank you for the very prompt and informative replies! This thread is one of the best on RC !
I am going out of town later today for the weekend so I am going to turn off the doser and work with it some more next week. Thanks again and I will update you to my progress on getting things working.
Dave
Rare Angels
New member
One other thing, I was able to get all the fittings needed at Buckeye Field Supply, an RC Sponsor, and they had a better selection than BRS. 
insomniac2k2
Active member
Not positive, but I wouldn't imagine why not. If they have 1/2" slip fittings that is.
One other thing, I was able to get all the fittings needed at Buckeye Field Supply, an RC Sponsor, and they had a better selection than BRS.
Great! Progress!! I was thinking the Jumbo reactor for the reaction chamber so I'm slowly getting this:eek2: Can you help me with what size pump to use? Are we looking at a maji-jet or something larger?
Do you use the rigid (black/white)tubing from BRS to go from the pump into the reaction chamber?
Since there are no fittings for the RO canister, what fittings will I need? It will be so I can connect the reaction(Jumbo) TO the sandwich(RO). And then, what fittings are needed coming out of the sandwich canister?
What tubing is used between the reaction chamber and the sandwich chamber? Coming out of the sandwhich chamber that goes to the skimmer?
Last, how much tubing is used between the 2 chambers? Can it be just a short hose/tubing or does it need to be longer?
Thanks for helping me with this Insomniac:thumbsup: Walking this 'ole woman through everything helps more than you know!!:love1:
insomniac2k2
Active member
There are only 2 products that you want to use. There is the commercial seaklear (used to be original until they decided to make more money on it). And there is Seaklear CR. I use CR. It's 66% diluted.
I'm diluting CR @ 20ml per gallon
I'm diluting CR @ 20ml per gallon
insomniac2k2
Active member
I use a T off a "reactor" pump, but if you want to use an isolated pump, you can just run something like a MJ400 with a valve. The 1/2" push to connect fittings fit right on them and then you run the rigid line right into the T, and then into the reactors. All the fittings are available at BRS or other places. You will need to shop for what you need.
You don't need long tubing. Shortest possible is fine. The reaction chamber is the important part IMO. That's where the magic happens.
To make it easy, I took the hardline that exits the final reactor and slipped some standard soft tubing over it and then ran the soft tubing into my sump where my skimmer is. I added this tubing into my little skimmer inlet "mod". I believe I linked it earlier in this thread.
You don't need long tubing. Shortest possible is fine. The reaction chamber is the important part IMO. That's where the magic happens.
To make it easy, I took the hardline that exits the final reactor and slipped some standard soft tubing over it and then ran the soft tubing into my sump where my skimmer is. I added this tubing into my little skimmer inlet "mod". I believe I linked it earlier in this thread.
rockdoc2010
In Memoriam
Just Wondering about tank size.
I have been following this tread as well as the original and it seems that everyone has a larger tank. I have a 40 gal with about a 10 gallon sump and was thinking about making one primarily for algae control as I have a low fish count and I cant say that I am impressed by my BRS dual GFO/CARBON setup. I do have a 1.1 mil BRS doser.
Lower fish count means lower fish food but I still get quite a bit of algae
But smaller volumes of water would be affected by high phosphates more quickly so I am thinking that I should give it a try.
Any comments on smaller tank size would be appreciated.
Thanks
I have been following this tread as well as the original and it seems that everyone has a larger tank. I have a 40 gal with about a 10 gallon sump and was thinking about making one primarily for algae control as I have a low fish count and I cant say that I am impressed by my BRS dual GFO/CARBON setup. I do have a 1.1 mil BRS doser.
Lower fish count means lower fish food but I still get quite a bit of algae
But smaller volumes of water would be affected by high phosphates more quickly so I am thinking that I should give it a try.
Any comments on smaller tank size would be appreciated.
Thanks
insomniac2k2
Active member
I would not use a reactor on smaller water volumes, unless you have a perpetual phosphate issue. GFO would be my first choice.
That said, you could use a LC to bring high phosphates down and then maintain them with GFO.
Don't get me wrong, LC can be a viable option, but I feel that it has a startup cost, and requires a few months of commitment to track numbers and progress.
That said, you could use a LC to bring high phosphates down and then maintain them with GFO.
Don't get me wrong, LC can be a viable option, but I feel that it has a startup cost, and requires a few months of commitment to track numbers and progress.
ok thanks, dilute 20ml per gal is ok , how much of it u dose daily. and what size tank and phos levels before usage?
insomniac2k2
Active member
My present dose rate is about 3.5 ML an hour. I dose 24/7. I see a reduction of about .01 every 3 days or so at this dose rate. Fast reduction of phosphates is not necessary IMO. The slower the better!
Maintenance dose is somewhere near 2.5ml an hour.
Maintenance dose is somewhere near 2.5ml an hour.
Thank you so very much Insomniac! I'll see about T-ing off one of the reactors. If not, I have a spare MJ600. I'll recheck to see about the inlet mod as I don't remember that:uhoh3:
I know you have a life outside this thread and just want you to know how much I appreciate your help and time!!!:thumbsup:
