RedEyeReef
Active member
Thank you for clearing that up for me. A friend just order a CR from you, I am looking forward to seeing it in action.
ReefTek Club
- Thread starter Rebels23
- Start date
Rebels23
New member
Hey Kirk,
I think a guy by the user name 180gallon (Brent) has a dual ReefTek with pictures. He could probably help ya out.
Brent's Dual ReefTek
I think a guy by the user name 180gallon (Brent) has a dual ReefTek with pictures. He could probably help ya out.
Brent's Dual ReefTek
Last edited:
Thanks Rebels
Thanks Rebels
I've been looking at this dual chamber reactor for a week trying to figure out how it works. The water appeared to drain from the recirculation loop to the mag pump and then pumped into the bottom of the second chamber. It just didn't make sense.
Now that I've looked at those pictures you posted for me I have realized that the flange covers had been swapped.
My guess is that happened when I opened both chambers to arrange the egg crate and screens.
Dan, hang in there. It's a lot of work to have a well running tank.
If it weren't so much work, you wouldn't enjoy it quite as much.
Cheers,
Kirk
Thanks Rebels
I've been looking at this dual chamber reactor for a week trying to figure out how it works. The water appeared to drain from the recirculation loop to the mag pump and then pumped into the bottom of the second chamber. It just didn't make sense.
Now that I've looked at those pictures you posted for me I have realized that the flange covers had been swapped.
My guess is that happened when I opened both chambers to arrange the egg crate and screens.
Dan, hang in there. It's a lot of work to have a well running tank.
If it weren't so much work, you wouldn't enjoy it quite as much.
Cheers,
Kirk
I will try and post some more pictures tonight.
I had the same trouble getting the effluent constant so I ordered a needle valve (for water) from us plastics. I ordered the wrong one so the only way that I could hook it up was on the output of the second chamber. I am leaving the JG ball valve wide open and adjusting the needle valve to control the effluent outout to about 30 ml/min. I am running about 60 bubbles a min and getting CA 405 and Kh 9.6. I am going to adjust the bubble rate to try and get those number a little higher. Does anyone see a problem with limiting the output after the second chamber as opposed to before it enters the reactor??
If I had ordered the right part from US plastics which is part number 22327 (needle valve with 3/8 in and 3/8 out JG speed fittings. I would have just used a section of the input tubing to connect the needle valve before the JG fitting. I figure there should not be any warranty problems if you are just adding something before the ball valve and not actually removing it.
I also have the probe holder that salty mentioned. I have my reactor up high on a shelf above my sump. I pump water from my sump to a 10 gallon acrylic tank on the shelf that is drilled and overflows back to the sump. From that 10 gallon tank I pump the water into the reactor with a maxijet 1200. This eliminates any micro bubbles from the sump and stops the suction effect I was getting with the reactor so far above my sump. With the reactors output about 6 feet above my sump level the maxijet 1200 was having trouble supplying enough water with the slow rate that we add water to these reactors. On top of that I think that the water coming down the green tube from that high a distance was causing a suction effect that was causing pressure in the second chamber. Once the pressure inside of the second chamber was great enough it would suck air back through the green tube and air lock the reactor. Leaving the reactor on the floor next to the sump (like in the pictures above linked by rebelââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s thanks!) eliminated the suction problem but I did not have enough room to close the doors where the reactor was sitting so putting the 10 gallon up on the shelf solved all problems. I do not recommend running the dual chamber very high above the sump without a similar set up. I am sure that a few feet would be OK but the distance I was trying to run it seemed to be a problem. I am not sure if this would affect the single chamber or not. I want to restate that I think that a few feet above the sump would be fine and that with it sitting level to or below the sump you will never have this trouble.
I will try and post pictures of everything the way that it currently is tonight when I get home.
Oh yeah, I love the reactor. It is the best addition I think I have ever made to the tank. Thanks Jorge for an affordable alternative that is just as good as the high dollar reactors!!
Brent
I had the same trouble getting the effluent constant so I ordered a needle valve (for water) from us plastics. I ordered the wrong one so the only way that I could hook it up was on the output of the second chamber. I am leaving the JG ball valve wide open and adjusting the needle valve to control the effluent outout to about 30 ml/min. I am running about 60 bubbles a min and getting CA 405 and Kh 9.6. I am going to adjust the bubble rate to try and get those number a little higher. Does anyone see a problem with limiting the output after the second chamber as opposed to before it enters the reactor??
If I had ordered the right part from US plastics which is part number 22327 (needle valve with 3/8 in and 3/8 out JG speed fittings. I would have just used a section of the input tubing to connect the needle valve before the JG fitting. I figure there should not be any warranty problems if you are just adding something before the ball valve and not actually removing it.
I also have the probe holder that salty mentioned. I have my reactor up high on a shelf above my sump. I pump water from my sump to a 10 gallon acrylic tank on the shelf that is drilled and overflows back to the sump. From that 10 gallon tank I pump the water into the reactor with a maxijet 1200. This eliminates any micro bubbles from the sump and stops the suction effect I was getting with the reactor so far above my sump. With the reactors output about 6 feet above my sump level the maxijet 1200 was having trouble supplying enough water with the slow rate that we add water to these reactors. On top of that I think that the water coming down the green tube from that high a distance was causing a suction effect that was causing pressure in the second chamber. Once the pressure inside of the second chamber was great enough it would suck air back through the green tube and air lock the reactor. Leaving the reactor on the floor next to the sump (like in the pictures above linked by rebelââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s thanks!) eliminated the suction problem but I did not have enough room to close the doors where the reactor was sitting so putting the 10 gallon up on the shelf solved all problems. I do not recommend running the dual chamber very high above the sump without a similar set up. I am sure that a few feet would be OK but the distance I was trying to run it seemed to be a problem. I am not sure if this would affect the single chamber or not. I want to restate that I think that a few feet above the sump would be fine and that with it sitting level to or below the sump you will never have this trouble.
I will try and post pictures of everything the way that it currently is tonight when I get home.
Oh yeah, I love the reactor. It is the best addition I think I have ever made to the tank. Thanks Jorge for an affordable alternative that is just as good as the high dollar reactors!!
Brent
Rebels23
New member
Ok stupid me (I guess if I actually looked at the reactor, I would have realized this before speaking too early). I think I had mentioned a while back ago that I was going to cut out some egg crate and glue the window screen to the egg crate for the reactor. DUH!!! The cut out PVC comes with it already!!! :lol:
My question to Jorge is, I was looking at some foam packing for boxes last night, and was wondering if I could cut out a circle from that and use it above the egg crate to hold the media? Do you think that would restrict the flow too much? Was also looking at Fluval Filter Foam, and cutting that into a circle.
I think I might also drill some holes into the PVC pipes that hold the egg crate up to allow flow into the PVC pipes.
My question to Jorge is, I was looking at some foam packing for boxes last night, and was wondering if I could cut out a circle from that and use it above the egg crate to hold the media? Do you think that would restrict the flow too much? Was also looking at Fluval Filter Foam, and cutting that into a circle.
I think I might also drill some holes into the PVC pipes that hold the egg crate up to allow flow into the PVC pipes.
*j-cat*
Premium Member
Just received my ReefTek Double CR Today!
Just received my ReefTek Double CR Today!
Hey, good thread. I just received my double chamber calcium reactor today, but I am still in the set up stages of my 125. Just got all of the electrical done tonight @ 1:35 a.m. (DMiannay style). Ill have to wait til the plumbing is done either tomorrow or Sunday to begin installation. Where is the cheapest place to buy media / A.R.M for the CR. I am assuming it takes quite a few lbs to fill both sections of the double. Does anyone have more detailed pictures / close ups of the install. I am more visually driven when learning. Any help would be appreciated.
Just received my ReefTek Double CR Today!
Hey, good thread. I just received my double chamber calcium reactor today, but I am still in the set up stages of my 125. Just got all of the electrical done tonight @ 1:35 a.m. (DMiannay style). Ill have to wait til the plumbing is done either tomorrow or Sunday to begin installation. Where is the cheapest place to buy media / A.R.M for the CR. I am assuming it takes quite a few lbs to fill both sections of the double. Does anyone have more detailed pictures / close ups of the install. I am more visually driven when learning. Any help would be appreciated.
j-cat.....I get my ARM media from www.reefsplendor.com
Its $13.30 for a jug, but the main thing is that they dont charge you twice for shipping more then 1 container...Most other online vendors do that when you buy reactor media....
Its $13.30 for a jug, but the main thing is that they dont charge you twice for shipping more then 1 container...Most other online vendors do that when you buy reactor media....
drock59
Premium Member
ok. so first of all great thread and i cant believe i didnt see it earlier. Second, I am in the market for a calcium reactor and am having a hard time deciding what to get. I have a 90 g tank with about a 40 g sump/fuge. Does anyone have a any suggestions on what type of reeftek i should get and why i should get a reeftek and not something else? thanks
for your dual reactor, you would need 24lbs of media, each chamber holds 12lbs....You might be better off ordering the 50lb..Im sure it doesnt have a certain shelf-life...its pretty much a bag of aragonite "crushed-coral" or such, I dont think crush-coral has a certain shelf-life
