ReefTek Club

Kole, I was NOT bashing at all, simply stating a fact and that I'm having a problem and asking for some input. As far as posting problems, this was the Reeftek thread the last time I checked!! Are we only supposed to post the good things? Ask Jorge why he added a needle valve to his new reactors in the first place, maybe a few people here said they were having problems?

On another note, I'm glad I'm not the only one with this. Maybe you guys that are having less of a slowing have higher flow rates to begin with? I have a pretty low demand and my drip rate is 20 ml per minute, bubble count is 36-40 per minute, BTW, never had to touch it since I set up the reactor, EVER!! I'm also thinking maybe a build up problem, yesterday, I bumped it up, just a touch and it came pouring out, had to then cut it wat back to slow it.

Anyway, I will now email my info to Jorge and hope some others do the same, maybe we can figure this out.

Scott
 
Just set mine up the other day and I'm experiencing the same problem with the effluent slowing down. I'm feeding my reactor with a minijet, 150gph. More then sufficient for pumping 25ml/minute threw the reactor.
 
jorge said:
* This is the first time I hear from the above mentioned problem for example :(

Thanks,

Jorge
Click to expand...

Jorge that is wrong and should not have happened. You have been very responsible and attentive regarding any issues with your product. you deserved to hear about issues first not last.
I still feel that this is the right place for all of us to brainstorm issues such as this but you should have been involed from the begining as well.

you have my personal apologies

Allen
 
Let me start by saying, in no way was this an attempt to bash RT. I figured the same thing, if it I think it could be a major problem, I usually contact Jorge. If not, I usually just jump on the board and try to get ideas and answers here. :)

With that said, I have NEVER experienced the type of customer service I have been receiving from Jorge and RT!!! NEVER!!!! His customer service has been phenomenal!!! Nuff said!

I've opened the valve all the way to "flush" anything that may have been clogging the valve. I've noticed when setting it back, I do not have to open it as much to get a decent flow.

I have also emailed my parameters to Jorge also. :)
 
I'm really disapointed with the way the effluent keeps slowing down from this reactor. I regret buying it, and wouldn't recommend ReefTek reactors at this point. My drip rate slows within hours.....every day I have to re-adjust the effluent rate which is a major PITA!
 
John,

I am disappointed too that you feel this way about the ReefTek product, especially since I have not been granted the opportunity to work with you to solve the problem.

I now have a design modification that solves the problem and I am working on an implementation for existing reactors that present this issue. It will be ready early next week at which point I will contact you.


Jorge
 
JG1,
I know you have a right to your own opinion, but its not fair to bash reeftek when it seems to me that you havent even contacted jorge to resolve your problem...I think his customer service is top notch, and by him replying to these treads and seeing what customers want, shows that he stands by his product 100%...
 
I'm sorry, I was just really frustrated earlier. I tried to edit my post, but wouldn't let me after a ceratin amount of time. Sometimes when your upset you say things that you really don't mean....not making excuses for myself though. I do apologize.


The truth is I'm pleased with the reactor, just very frustrating having to speed up the effluent every couple hours. The reactor itself is top notch quality, and was very easy to dial in for my calcium/alk demands. Just this effluent rate thing is killing me.

Again, sorry Jorge. Frustration got the best of me and I stupidly vented.

The design mod seems great, and I can't wait to try it :).
 
Spoke with Jorge this evening. Seems like a nice person. Had no idea that I would even be speaking with him directly. Nice customer service.
He spent some time with me regarding the "flow probem with the effluent" and how I would be able to hard plumb the reactor to my existing PVC pipe from the return pump. Jorge stated he was working on a fix for the reactor by using a gate at the exiting end of the reactor. This will pressurize the reactor somewhat, but will keep the pressure in the reactor constant. This constant pressure in the reactor will makeup for variances with the varying pumps. He stated he was working on designs for some type of relief valve to check the buildup of pressure.
I am planning on ordering but will holdout till Jorge hammers these details out. Good luck Jorge.
Anyone got this reactor plumbed to their PVC from the return pump? Any issues? I would hate to have to use another pump just to feed the reactor. An extra pump to me is an added heat issue and a space waster in an already crowded sump.
Jorge also stated he might be able to do another group buy for people in the bay area.
 
Just to clarify, the pressure relief line will only be necessary for people that wish to plump the reactor T-ing off their return pump. This is because a return pump can put out much more pressure than what the reactor can safely handle.

Jorge
 
For how many of those having this problem was this your first reactor?

ALL reactors are a bit fiddly, some less than others, and regardless of their claims. The general flow pattern of the ReefTek and current Geo seem to work better for most than the alternatives... I did add a needle valve, but many might not need to, depending on their application and the hydraulic realities of their system (supply pump curve, head to and fall from reactor, flow rate through reactor, media type and level of fill, etc.).

I'm not saying that ReefTek reactors are perfect or better than every other out there (though for what I paid, they may be), just that they're great for the price.

Give ReefTek a chance! When another of the favored reactor producers had MANY reports of leaks, people worked with him, and now his products are very highly recommended even by those that have never used one...

Thanks Jorge!
 
Scleractinian said:
For how many of those having this problem was this your first reactor?

Click to expand...

No. This is my third reactor. First one with this problem. The other reactors I had were on larger tanks when i had them.


Reason for buying this reactor was because I was dosing B-Ionic daily and I'm leaving for Hawaii in 6 weeks for 14 days. I had no one to come over and do daily dosings, so I bought the reactor thinking I would be able to set it and forget it. However, needing to adjust the effluent rate 3 times/day defeats the purpose of me orginaly buying the reactor. I just hope Jorge's design mod works in my situation because if it doesn't I don't know what I'm going to do when I leave for Hawaii. The reactor is being fed by a minijet (150gph), and the effluent rate I'm trying to keep is approx 25ml/minute.
 
JG1 said:
No. This is my third reactor. First one with this problem. The other reactors I had were on larger tanks when i had them...

...The reactor is being fed by a minijet (150gph), and the effluent rate I'm trying to keep is approx 25ml/minute.
Click to expand...

What were the other reactor makes, and did you also try feeding them with a minijet?

Diaphragm and peristaltic pumps have always worked very well for me for reactor feed. AB sells one for about $70 through CA that, if it will push your desired flow rate, will do so constantly without any fiddling, ever. On small reactors (low flow rates) I've also had extremely good luck with the cheap AquaLifter diaphragm pumps (though you should watch these for leaks).

If you stick with a centrifugal pump, try a small maxijet or mag instead of a minijet. IIRC, the minijet has an impeller w/ 45 degree cuts at the ends of the vanes to help prevent nuking the pump if it ingests solids... the others don't.

Does anyone actually have a theory as to WHY this is happening? What's the proposed problem w/ the design or construction of the reactor?

BTW... I believe that I will be entering the Oceanic 30 Cube club today JG1... how do you like yours so far? :)
 
Hmmmm

im using a minijet (the ones that were free in IO Buckets) and have not noticed any kind of slow down in the reactor.

Im sure Jorge will get anyone that is having problems all set. He is a great guy with wonderful customer service!
 
Scleractinian said:
What were the other reactor makes, and did you also try feeding them with a minijet?

Diaphragm and peristaltic pumps have always worked very well for me for reactor feed. AB sells one for about $70 through CA that, if it will push your desired flow rate, will do so constantly without any fiddling, ever. On small reactors (low flow rates) I've also had extremely good luck with the cheap AquaLifter diaphragm pumps (though you should watch these for leaks).

If you stick with a centrifugal pump, try a small maxijet or mag instead of a minijet. IIRC, the minijet has an impeller w/ 45 degree cuts at the ends of the vanes to help prevent nuking the pump if it ingests solids... the others don't.

Does anyone actually have a theory as to WHY this is happening? What's the proposed problem w/ the design or construction of the reactor?

BTW... I believe that I will be entering the Oceanic 30 Cube club today JG1... how do you like yours so far? :)
Click to expand...

Both were Geo Reactors, the older style ones. The one I fed with a MJ400, the other a minijet.

I'm running sumpless in my 30g cube, and I'm feeding the reactor from a mini-jet thats in my AquaClear300.


About the 30g cube...awesome little tank. I really like it a lot.
 
BTW I had to throttle this reactor WAY back on this 30g cube. I'm down to 15 BPM, and about 25ml/minute effluent thats keeping my Alk at 11ish dkh, and Ca around 460ppm.

Jorge, do you think the desing mod will work in my situation? I'm just having nightmares about returning from Hawaii and the effluent completely stopped, or like 1 drip a minute..lol.
 
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