New DIY Ca Reactor
- Thread starter hllywd
- Start date
hllywd
Premier World Traveler
The only issue I see so far is the bubble counter. The circulation pump flow through the PVC 4-way causes the bubbles to jiggle around and don't give a regular count. Its not a big deal since I'm using a controller. I'm not sure how to calm that flow, maybe a reducer inside the pipe before assembly...
Tim
Tim
skippysmind
Premium Member
Nice work Tim
SpSFreakFix
New member
Looks great Tim.
hllywd
Premier World Traveler
So far so good! This thing seems to use a lot more CO2 to stay at 6.6 - 6.7 pH. I hear the solenoid kick on and off much more frequently than before. KH is at 12 and the tank pH might be a little low at 8.0 but that's always been about normal for this tank. Maybe I need to build a kalk reactor next to bring that up. I out of one of the reagents for my CA test so until I get to Columbus next I don't know where that's at.
I'm seeing a lot of new growth and coraline in the past couple of weeks too. I think its a success!
Tim
I'm seeing a lot of new growth and coraline in the past couple of weeks too. I think its a success!
Tim
Do you have any additional detail in how you built this? Looks like a fine piece of reefing equipment, I have some extra acrylic tube laying around, I would like to do something like this. How did you make your flanges? Do you have pictures of the pieces not put together?
hllywd
Premier World Traveler
Rob,
I just kind of looked at a pic. Didn't have any drawings or anything, just knew what I wanted, and what would fit under my stand. I didn't document anything because it was a one off WYSIWYG kind of project for me. It's 6" extruded tube and 3/8" flat stock. I made a jig from a piece of plywood with a nail in it that I clamped to my router table to cut the circles for the flanges, they are not keyholed, only drilled and the bottom flange tapped. I couldn't find a big O-ring locally so I made a silicone gasket to seal the flanges. I had to buy a 10' stick of clear PVC for the bubble counter so I have quite a bit of that left over! But really like the pic I worked from all my PVC fitting are pretty self explanatory and standard. I suppose the UniSeals are the only other thing I couldn't get locally so I bought those when I was at Phishy Business.... The 1250 is plenty of pump but the Ehiems are pretty efficient and I found it used very reasonable. Those are my absolute favorite pumps, They'll run forever!
I have no intentions of taking this show on the road but since I have some extra tube I do intend to build a V2. That was my first acrylic project and I learned a few things. I either want buy of make some keyholed flanges with an O-ring seal, polish my edges a little nicer, and make the plumbing a little more compact. A little more of a show piece if you know what I mean
V2 will probably be very similar but with the addition of a second chamber. I think having the effluent tube at the highest point lets some CO2 end up in the tank. While I don't have a pH problem, and since I have extra 6" tube, why not?
As far as performance this thing is rock solid. My Ca is staying around 450. I'm using a Milwaukee controller and couldn't be more happy... at least until I get an ACIII!
If I can help anymore just ask, I'm not sure with what you do that I can help a lot but I can try!
Tim
I just kind of looked at a pic. Didn't have any drawings or anything, just knew what I wanted, and what would fit under my stand. I didn't document anything because it was a one off WYSIWYG kind of project for me. It's 6" extruded tube and 3/8" flat stock. I made a jig from a piece of plywood with a nail in it that I clamped to my router table to cut the circles for the flanges, they are not keyholed, only drilled and the bottom flange tapped. I couldn't find a big O-ring locally so I made a silicone gasket to seal the flanges. I had to buy a 10' stick of clear PVC for the bubble counter so I have quite a bit of that left over! But really like the pic I worked from all my PVC fitting are pretty self explanatory and standard. I suppose the UniSeals are the only other thing I couldn't get locally so I bought those when I was at Phishy Business.... The 1250 is plenty of pump but the Ehiems are pretty efficient and I found it used very reasonable. Those are my absolute favorite pumps, They'll run forever!
I have no intentions of taking this show on the road but since I have some extra tube I do intend to build a V2. That was my first acrylic project and I learned a few things. I either want buy of make some keyholed flanges with an O-ring seal, polish my edges a little nicer, and make the plumbing a little more compact. A little more of a show piece if you know what I mean
V2 will probably be very similar but with the addition of a second chamber. I think having the effluent tube at the highest point lets some CO2 end up in the tank. While I don't have a pH problem, and since I have extra 6" tube, why not?As far as performance this thing is rock solid. My Ca is staying around 450. I'm using a Milwaukee controller and couldn't be more happy... at least until I get an ACIII!
If I can help anymore just ask, I'm not sure with what you do that I can help a lot but I can try!
Tim
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